OBTAINING A CRIMINAL RECORD CERTIFICATE IN GREECE

Law office ANNA IGNATENKO & Associates
6 days ago
2 min read

A Certificate of No Criminal Record (Criminal Record Certificate) is an official document issued by the Ministry of Justice of the Hellenic Republic. It attests to whether an individual has a criminal record within the territory of Greece. The certificate may be used both domestically and abroad, provided it has undergone the required legalization process.

A Certificate of No Criminal Record is required for employment in public institutions (ministries, municipalities, etc.), in private companies where reliability checks are necessary (such as security personnel, teachers, bank employees), as well as for work in kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and other institutions. Furthermore, this certificate is often required when applying for visas to various countries, submitting applications for citizenship, and in judicial and administrative procedures—for example, in cases of adoption, custody arrangements, court appointments, and similar situations.

There are two types of Certificates of No Criminal Record in Greece:

For General Use — intended for administrative and civil purposes, including employment, immigration procedures, submission of documents to government authorities, and similar matters.

For Judicial Use — issued exclusively for courts, public prosecutors, investigative authorities, and similar institutions.

It is essential to indicate the purpose of the certificate when submitting an application, as this determines both the competent issuing authority and the scope of the document.

A Certificate of No Criminal Record in Greece can be obtained through: the Ministry of Justice, the First Instance Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Citizen Service Centers (KEP), or the online portal gov.gr — for applicants with a TAXISnet account.

Validity of the Certificate

There is no legally established validity period for a Certificate of No Criminal Record. In practice, most authorities and consulates accept a certificate issued within the three months preceding the date of submission.

Use of the Certificate Outside Greece

For use abroad, a Certificate of No Criminal Record must be properly legalized and accompanied by an official translation, prepared either by a lawyer accredited in Greece or by a licensed translator.

Our law office provides a comprehensive range of services for obtaining a Certificate of No Criminal Record in Greece. We manage the submission of applications, ensure the legalization of documents for use abroad, and provide their official translation. We guarantee the proper preparation of the certificate, ensuring its legal validity both within Greece and internationally.