U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece

Notarial Appointment Guidelines

• Submitting your document:  Please bring ALL pages of the document to be notarized UNSIGNED and assembled in the CORRECT ORDER. Pages to be signed should be marked in advance with a post-it or other marker. If pages should be attached to each other, indicate so with a paperclip. Bring instructions from the document receiver in the state of jurisdiction if provided.
• What am I signing?  Ensure that you understand the contents of your document. The notarizing officer cannot explain them, assemble them for you, or provide legal advice.
• Witnesses: Notarizing officers and Embassy staff are prohibited from acting as witnesses. If your document requires witnesses, you need to bring them.  Occasionally the requesting entity stipulates that the witnesses should not be relatives; read your document carefully because the Embassy does not determine who can or cannot sign as a witness.  Witnesses must bring valid government issued identification.  A passport is preferred, but national IDs and drivers’ licenses are acceptable in most cases. The ID must be valid, contain the signature of the witness and an identifiable photo, and be clearly readable and unaltered.
• Third party attendees: Third-party attendees may include attorneys, interpreters/translators, family members, and/or caregivers. There are no restrictions on who may accompany an applicant to an appointment (other than the third party must meet security requirements).
• Identification: Bring valid government issued identification at the time of your visit. A passport is preferred, but national IDs and drivers’ licenses are acceptable in most cases. Your ID must be valid, contain your signature and an identifiable photo, and be clearly readable and unaltered. If signing as a representative of a company, provide documentation (such as the articles of incorporation) to verify your legal or business identity. Please note that Greek IDs must be issued within the last decade to be considered valid. 
• Fees:  The fee per Consular Seal with notary signature is USD $50 or the equivalent in Euro (48€).  At the Embassy, fees may be paid in Euro or USD cash, or with the use of a physical bank card. Personal checks are not accepted.  At the Consulate General in Thessaloniki, which has no cashiering capability, payments must be made by bank checks in Euros only made out to the “US EMBASSY ATHENS”
• It is your responsibility to review your documents to ensure all notarizations you requested are complete before you depart. No records are kept for this service; if additional notarial services are needed, a new appointment and fee payment (unless the document is exempted under law) are required.
• For questions concerning your appointment date, please email AthensAmericanCitizenServices@state.gov (include code E99 on the subject line).
•  For questions concerning your document, please send a scanned copy of the entire document to AthensAmericanCitizenServices@state.gov (include code E99 on the subject line).
• You also may consider using the Greek system for notarial services, which some may find a more convenient and less expensive option.  The local KEP (Citizen Service Centers in Greece) may notarize your document and assist you with obtaining the Greek Apostille stamp from the local Security General of the Decentralized Administration.

Note: Due to the number and complexity of documents being prepared for customers, please note you can expect the process to take approximately 90 minutes, though that can vary depending on the number of people ahead of you and the complexity of their or your documents.

Schedule/cancel your appointment in Athens
Schedule/cancel your appointment in Thessaloniki

Frequently Asked Questions

I want to schedule an appointment for notary services.

Every person signing a document to be notarized must schedule an online appointment.  Several names may be entered on the appointment form at the same date and time (witnesses, co-signers).  We do not accept walk-ins.

Athens Notarial Appointment

Thessaloniki Notarial Appointment

I need witnesses to sign the documents.

Notarizing officers and employees at the Embassy are prohibited from witnessing your signature.  If your document requires witnesses, you need to bring your own (along with their proof of identity).  Prior to your arrival, please make sure that the witnesses may indeed sign the documents.  For example, some documents such as Wills may not be signed by certain family members.

Does the Embassy provide translation services?

The Embassy does not provide translation services.  You may request an official translation from a certified translator https://metafraseis.services.gov.gr/  in Athens or contact the closest Greek consulate in the United States for guidance.

I am getting married in Greece.  What documents do I need?

The U.S. Embassy provides this general marriage on getting married in Greece; however, you MUST contact the city hall where the marriage will be held to confirm their requirements as they may differ throughout Greece.

What is the Apostille?

Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, notarials, court orders, or any other document issued by a public authority, so that they can be recognized in foreign countries.

More information on Apostilles

I am a U.S. citizen who married in Greece.  May I register my marriage at the Embassy?

The U.S. Embassy does not register marriages performed in Greece because marriage regulations are determined state-by-state.  You should register your marriage in the state where you will be residing in the United States.  Check with your local town or city hall in advance as requirements can vary depending on state and local laws.  For more information please see the Department of State website pages on marriage abroad.

How do I obtain a copy of a U.S. birth certificate?

You may order your birth certificate or other state-issued document from the National Center for Health Statistics or through vitalcheck, depending on the state that issued your document.

Can the Embassy certify or renew my driver’s license?

The Embassy cannot certify the validity of a U.S. driver’s license or renew it.  You should contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state that issued your license.

May I execute a will at the Embassy?

The role of U.S. Department of State officers in connection with the execution of wills is limited.  22 CFR 92.81 prohibits notarizing officers from writing wills or accepting a will for safekeeping.  Notarizing officers also are prohibited from witnessing wills or obtaining witnesses for a person desiring to have a will executed at a Foreign Service post.  Notarizing officers may, however, acknowledge the signatures of testators and or witnesses to self proving wills.  The testator and all the witnesses (who have already witnessed the will) appear together before the notarizing officer.

My name is different on my U.S. and Greek passports, and I need a letter stating the names refer to the same person (Taftoprosopia).

The U.S. Embassy cannot provide a letter or statement concerning the differences in your name as they appear on your passports.  We can notarize your sworn statement on this matter; however, we recommend that you verify whether the entity requesting the document will accept your affidavit before scheduling a notarial appointment.  A potential solution may be to apply for a new passport with both of your names listed in it.

I need a sample Power of Attorney.

Example of a POA form for Athens
Example of a General POA form for Athens 
Example of a POA form for Thessaloniki
Example of a General POA form for Thessaloniki

I need to make a Sworn Statement.

Example of an affidavit for Athens
Example of an affidavit for Thessaloniki