Greece to Issue 10-Year Valid Passports From September 1

The move, previously warned by the country’s Minister of Citizen Protection, Takis Theodorikakos, has been announced by the Greek embassies worldwide, which have warned Greek citizens living abroad that now they can obtain passports that are valid for twice the time they were until now, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

“The Embassy of Greece in Ljubljana informs the public that in accordance with Law 4962/Government Gazette 148 cl. A’/28.07.2022, the validity of ordinary Greek passports issued as of September 1 2022, is increased from five years (as is currently the case for adults) to ten years for all Greek citizens who have reached the age of 14,” the Greek embassy has announced for the country’s citizens living in Slovenia.

The same also points out that children until the age of 14 will obtain passports that are valid for only a period of three years and no longer.

In the meantime, up until August 31, passports will continue to be issued with the same validity as now, that of five years.

AtoZSerwisPlus.com had reported at the end of July this year that during an interview on the SKAI show “Mismatches”, Minister Theodorikakos had revealed that Greece would start issuing ten-year valid passports, which according to him, would result in substantial financial and administrative savings.

The Minister had also pointed out that Greece was one of the last European Union Member States, as well as world countries, that still issued passports with validity shorter than ten years.

“It will mean less bureaucracy for Greek citizens, especially Greeks abroad. It will free up police time. Both the state and citizens will benefit,” the Minister said at the time, highlighting the benefits of such a move.

The fees for obtaining a Greek passport valid for ten years will remain the same, at €85 per application per a new passport for its renewal. This means that obtaining a Greek passport will become cheaper, as passport holders will pay only €85 for ten years and not €170 (€85 twice every five years).

The majority of the rest of EU countries have their passports valid for ten years, like Italy, where renewing or obtaining a passport for the first time costs €116. In Denmark, on the other hand, passports are issued with a validity of seven years and cost only €65.

The Greek passport is the world’s eighth most powerful, as its holders can visit the majority of world countries visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival. According to the Henley Passport Index, which ranks world passports based on the number of countries that they enable their holder to enter visa-free or with a visa on arrival, in mid-2022, Greeks need a visa to travel to 38 countries but can visit another 185 visa-free or with a visa on arrival.