The criminal record extract is an essential certificate required for the issuance of a large number of administrative acts (appointment in the public sector, acquisition of Greek citizenship, work permit for foreign nationals, participation in public tenders, licence to practise a healthcare or generally public-interest profession, hunting licence, licence to use firearms and explosives, airport access permit, registration in the Exporters’ Register, etc.).
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For the issuance of a criminal record extract through the online portal of the National Criminal Record, see ncris.gov.gr
Criminal record extracts are issued in two types:
a) criminal record extracts for general use
b) criminal record extracts for judicial use
Criminal record extracts for general use are issued for any lawful purpose.
Criminal record extracts for judicial use are issued and provided exclusively in the following cases:
– to the public prosecutor, the regular investigating judge, and the prosecutor of the competent Military Court, exclusively for judicial use
– to the directors of detention facilities, in order to complete the file of a convicted person, where the conviction has been imposed by a final and irrevocable judgment.
– to public authorities for a specific lawful purpose
– to foreign diplomatic authorities for citizens about to emigrate
– to foreign authorities exercising criminal jurisdiction, where a treaty of judicial assistance is in place
– for appointment in the public sector, if requested by the competent service, and in any case for the appointment of judicial officers, teachers of all levels, members of the Security Forces, and candidates for entry into the schools of the Armed Forces and the Security Forces.
Criminal record extracts for general and judicial use are issued in accordance with the provisions of Articles 576 and 577 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (KPD), as replaced by Articles 9 and 10 of Law 1805/1988.
In particular:
Criminal record extracts for judicial use list all sentences imposed by final and irrevocable judgments of the criminal courts.
Criminal record extracts for general use do not include:
– monetary penalties or sentences of imprisonment of up to six months, after the lapse of three years from their service
– sentences of imprisonment exceeding six months or sentences of confinement in a psychiatric institution, after the lapse of eight years from their service
– sentences of imprisonment for felony (kátheirxis), after the lapse of twenty years from their service.
Services for the issuance of criminal record extracts
If you were born in Greece and wish to obtain a criminal record extract, you must apply to the Criminal Record Service of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of First Instance of your place of birth and submit the relevant application.
If you were born abroad — whether you are a Greek or a foreign national — or if your place of birth is unknown, your application for a criminal record extract must be submitted to the Independent Department of the Criminal Record of the Central Service of the Ministry of Justice.
You may also submit your application, regardless of your place of birth, to any Criminal Record Service, to a Citizens’ Service Centre (KEP), or by telephone by calling 1502. Your application will then be forwarded to the competent Criminal Record Service for the issuance of your certificate.
If you are a Greek citizen residing abroad, your application for a criminal record extract may be submitted to the Greek embassy or consulate of your country of residence and, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the competent Criminal Record Service of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of First Instance or of the Ministry of Justice.
The application form, together with embedded helpful instructions on how to complete it, can be obtained from the Criminal Record Services or downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Justice on the internet.
Criminal record extracts are issued free of charge (at no financial cost to you), within a maximum period of ten (10) working days from the date of submission of your application. Only if you opt for telephone submission of the application will you be charged postal and telephone fees.
Conditions for receiving criminal record extracts
To collect your criminal record extract you must:
– attend in person at the Criminal Record Service, the Citizens’ Service Centre (KEP), or the Greek diplomatic authority where you submitted your application, carrying your national ID card or another public document proving your identity, or lawfully authorise another person to do so on your behalf.
– present your national ID card to the Hellenic Post (ELTA) employee, when your criminal record extract is sent to you by registered mail following a telephone application.
It is also useful to know that:
– criminal record extracts for judicial use are sent through official channels, by the competent Criminal Record Service, since the law does not allow you to collect them in person.
– Pursuant to the legislation on the protection of personal data (Law 2472/1997), any information regarding your criminal status is confidential. For this reason it is disclosed exclusively to you or to your legal representative. Furthermore, its processing by public authorities must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the law on the processing of sensitive personal data.
If you are a foreign national and wish to obtain a criminal record extract as supporting documentation for the issuance of your work permit in Greece, you should be aware that:
– the relevant application for the issuance of a criminal record extract is submitted to the Prefectural Authority (Nomarchiaki Aftodioikisi) of your place of residence.
– together with this application, a solemn declaration under Article 8 of Law 1599/1986 must be submitted, stating that you have not been convicted of any punishable act during your stay in Greece.
With information from ministryofjustice.gr
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Criminal Record
What is the criminal record and what information does it contain?
The criminal record is the official register in which the final and irrevocable convictions of the criminal courts are recorded. It is maintained under the responsibility of the public prosecutor’s office of the person’s place of birth and reflects the totality of that person’s final criminal proceedings, from felonies to petty offences. This information constitutes sensitive personal data and access to it is subject to a strictly defined procedure.
What is the difference between general use and judicial use of the criminal record extract?
The criminal record extract for general use is requested by the person concerned for use in employment, public tenders, or the issuance of licences, and does not include all convictions — for example, those that have been time-barred or expunged are excluded. The extract for judicial use contains all entries and is issued only to judicial, prosecutorial, and police authorities in the context of criminal proceedings. An employer or private party cannot request a judicial-use extract.
How is the criminal record extract issued electronically through gov.gr?
Under the current digital infrastructure, the criminal record extract for general use is issued through the gov.gr platform using TaxisNet credentials. The citizen logs in to the “Criminal Record Extract” service, submits a request, and receives the document in digital form bearing a unique verification code. The digital extract has the same legal force as the paper version and is accepted by all public services and private bodies.
When is a conviction expunged from the criminal record?
The expungement of a conviction is governed by Articles 578 et seq. of the Code of Criminal Procedure (KPD) and occurs automatically after the lapse of a specific period from the service of the sentence. Indicatively, for felony imprisonment (kátheirxis) expungement occurs after twenty years, for misdemeanor imprisonment after ten years, and for monetary or petty-offence penalties after three years, provided that no new conviction has intervened. Following expungement, the conviction ceases to appear on the general-use extract but is retained on the judicial-use extract.
Can I request the correction or deletion of an erroneous entry in my criminal record?
Where the criminal record contains an entry that does not correspond to reality — for instance, a judgment that was overturned on appeal, a sentence that was commuted, or a confusion of personal details — the person concerned has the right to file an application for correction with the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Misdemeanours of his or her place of birth. The application must be accompanied by the supporting documents proving the error, and the prosecutor’s office takes the necessary steps for updating. If refused, an application for annulment may be filed before the competent judicial council.
How can a lawyer assist in a criminal record matter?
The lawyer handles the issuance and review of criminal record extracts, the filing of applications for expungement and correction, as well as appeals against erroneous entries. In cases where an old conviction creates obstacles to professional advancement or to participation in public-sector tenders, the lawyer can devise a strategy for the timely expungement or mitigation of its consequences. Experience in criminal matters is essential for the correct interpretation of the entries and the protection of the client’s rights.