Where Do I Get an Apostille for My Greek Citizenship Application?

An apostille is an internationally recognized certification that authenticates a document for use in another country. For a Greek citizenship by descent application, every document issued outside Greece must be apostilled before Greek authorities will accept it. Where you get the apostille depends entirely on which country the document was issued in, not where you currently live or where you are submitting your application.

What Is an Apostille and Why Is It Required

Greece is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means documents bearing an apostille stamp from any other member country are automatically accepted as legally authentic in Greece without any further legalization. Greece is a member of the Apostille Convention, which means documents bearing an Apostille stamp are automatically accepted in Greece without additional legalization. Without a properly affixed apostille, Greek authorities will reject the document, which adds significant delays to your case.

Getting an Apostille in the United States

In the United States, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State of the state where the document was originally issued, not by a federal body. This means if your birth certificate was issued in New York, you apply to the New York Secretary of State. If your parents' marriage certificate was issued in California, you apply to the California Secretary of State. Each state has its own process, fees, and processing times, which typically range from two to eight weeks depending on the state and whether expedited processing is available.

Getting an Apostille in Australia

In Australia, apostilles are issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the federal level, or in some cases by state-level authorities depending on the document type. Processing times are typically four to six weeks. Australian Greek consulates in Sydney and Melbourne can also provide certified Greek translations of standard vital records, which is a useful combination to know about.

Getting an Apostille in Canada

Canada is a member of the Hague Convention, and apostilles are issued through Global Affairs Canada for federal documents and through provincial authorities for documents issued at the provincial level. Birth and marriage certificates are typically provincial documents, so the relevant provincial authority is your starting point.

Getting an Apostille in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, known as the FCDO. The process can be done by post or through an authorized agent. Processing times vary but are generally faster with an expedited service.

What If Your Country Is Not Part of the Hague Convention

If the document was issued in a country that has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille process is replaced by consular legalization. In this case the document must be authenticated through the Greek consulate in that country rather than through an apostille authority. If you are unsure whether your country is a Hague Convention member, the Hague Conference on Private International Law maintains an official list of signatory countries at hcch.net.

A Common Confusion: Apostille Order and Translation

Some consulates require documents to be apostilled before they are translated into Greek. Others require the translation first. This is not standardized across all Greek consulates and getting the order wrong can mean having to start the process again. Confirm the specific requirement with your consulate before beginning.

How GetGreece Handles Apostilles

Apostille processing is one of the steps GetGreece manages as part of the overall citizenship case. The team coordinates apostille requests for each document based on its country of origin, ensures the correct order of apostille and translation for your specific consulate, and reviews every document before submission to confirm it meets Greek authorities' requirements. Book your document case review consultation and let GetGreece handle the apostille logistics so nothing gets submitted incorrectly.