For military service reasons "permanent residents of the United States" are those who fulfill all of the following conditions:

a) Have primary and permanent residence in the United States since birth (that is, to permanently reside and have their domiciliation abroad for more than 180 days in a calendar year since birth)

b) Have primary and permanent residence in the United States for at least 11 years (that is, to permanently reside and have their domiciliation in the United States for more than 180 days in the last 11 consecutive years)

c) Have settled in the United States for employment reasons for at least 7 years (that is, to permanently reside and have their domiciliation abroad for more than 180 days in the last 7 consecutive years for reasons of employment).

A permanent resident is a person who has maintained a domicile abroad (i.e. outside Greece) for at least 11 consecutive years or has maintained employment abroad for at least 7 consecutive years.

Exceptionally, adult males registered as full-time students at public Greek tertiary education institutions are allowed to stay in Greece for more than 6 months.

In addition, all males born of Greek parents in United States, while having maintained a permanent residence abroad, are eligible to serve in the Hellenic Armed Forces for a reduced 3-month term.

Those who settled after their birth and maintained at least 11 consecutive years of permanent residence abroad or settled for employment reasons and maintained at least 7 consecutive years of permanent residence abroad, are eligible to serve the Hellenic Armed Forces for 6 months, which can be served in a minimum of three 2-month segments.

Those who have avoided military service (draft dodgers) are eligible to apply for a passport in Greece and abroad.

Permission is granted to draft dodgers to stay in Greece for a period of 30 days in a calendar year.  By order of the Minister of National Defense, stays may be extended up to 3 months, in any event of force majeure (i.e. wars, natural disasters etc.) in the applicant’s place of permanent residence.

In the event of local or national elections, the Ministers of National Defense and Interior may jointly decide to grant permission to enter and stay in Greece for up to 40 days.

For males of 35 years of age or older, a sole mandatory 45-day basic training is served, while they are entitled to buy off the rest period of their military service obligation on a monthly basis. The related amount is estimated on the basis of the current monthly net salary equivalent of a new army recruit (810 euro in 2006).

Warrants or other administrative measures previously issued for the arrest of draft dodgers have been nullified.

For the issuance of a "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" the following supporting documents are required:

1.  Application (available at the Consulate)

2. Certificate of registration in Greece

3. School records, income tax returns or W2 forms. These documents should cover each year from the applicant's primary and permanent settlement / settlement for reasons of employment in the United States.

4. All existing passports in the applicant's possession, Greek and/or US, valid and expired

5. All existing passports in the applicant's parents’ possession, plus some other proof that the parents have resided in the United States from the time of the applicant’s settlement in the U.S. until the date of his 18^th birthday. Please, note that either parent or the applicant himself could not have been employed by the Hellenic Government in any capacity or role, either as a public servant, political or military personnel or locally engaged staff member. Such proof may be a person's bill of purchase of a home or a lease for a business or the social security contributions sheet.

Fees:  €10

Fees are paid in US dollars (click here to see the exchange rate for this month)

***Please note that the "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" for military use is aimed exclusively at the above purposes in accordance to Law 3421/2005 “Conscription of Greek Males and other provisions” and may not be confused with the "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" aimed at other purposes.

The "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" allows the beholders to visit Greece with their Greek or U.S. passports for up to 180 days per calendar year, until the age of 45, without creating an obligation to serve in the Hellenic Armed Forces. Please request Greek border authorities at all counter entry points to stamp your passport with entry and exit dates.

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