Military Service Obligations

All males born to a parent of Greek citizenship have the right and obligation to serve in the Hellenic Armed Forces. For Greek males born in Greece, competent military authorities are automatically notified of their birth, through the municipal registration process.

Those born abroad to a parent of Greek citizenship equally have the right and obligation to serve in the Hellenic Armed Forces. The registration of their birth with the Greek Consular Authorities as well as the subsequent municipal registration process, formally establishes this right and obligation to military service.

During January and February of the year running their 19th year of age, all male Greek citizens must fill in and submit to military authorities a special registration form (Deltio Apografis). For example, those born in 1989 must fill in and submit this form during the first two months of 2007. Those residing temporarily or permanently abroad may fill in this form at their nearest Greek Consular Authority. Please note, that, for military purposes, all Greek males are considered to have been born on the 1st of January of the year of their birth.

Males born to a parent of Greek citizenship, both born and living permanently in Canada or having settled here for employment reasons may be exempted from the calls to enroll in the Hellenic Armed Forces. This exemption (subject to related certification) is a direct consequence of their status as a "permanent resident of Canada". If they lose this status (i.e. by staying in Greece for more than 6 months in a calendar year), they are directly imposed a full military service obligation.

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

a) Have primary and permanent residence in Canada since birth (that is, to permanently reside and domiciliate abroad for more than 180 days in a calendar year since birth)

b) Have primary and permanent residence in Canada for at least 11 years (that is, to permanently reside and domiciliate in Canada for more than 180 days in the last 11 consecutive years)

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

As permanent resident is considered 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 Canada, 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 (usually from the place, where the parents’ marriage has been registered)
3. School records, income tax returns (copies) or the Canada Pension Plan Contributions sheet. These documents should cover each year from the applicant's primary and permanent settlement / settlement for reasons of employment in Canada.
4. All existing passports in the applicant's possession, Greek and/or Canadian, valid and expired
5. All existing passports in the applicant's parents’ possession, plus some other proof that the parents have resided in Canada from the time of the applicant’s settlement in Canada until the date of his 18th 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 Canada Pension Plan Contributions sheet.
   

Fees:  €10 *
Process time: Same day

* Prices in Canadian dollars are affected by the EURO-CND parity.

Should you have any further questions regarding "Certificate of Permanent Foreign Resident" for military use, or for any clarification concerning the relevant regulations, please contact the Consular Officer in charge by e-mail at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it   or by phone at: (416) 515-0133 ext. 237.

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 Canadian 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.

For inquiries about the obligation and the term of military service, please address your nearest Greek Consular Authority. For further military recruitment information (only in Greek) browse http://www.stratologia.gr.