Criminal Record FAQ
1. When is the issuance of a Criminal Record Copy required?

o In criminal proceedings

o For the issuance of an administrative act by a Public Authority where required by law as supporting documentation.

Indicatively:

For criminal or administrative procedures

  • court cases
  • child adoption or foster care
  • immigration or visa applications to another country

For employment purposes

  • employment in the Public Sector (appointments, recruitment, contracts, etc.)
  • employment involving children (e.g. schools, camps)
  • private security services
  • banks or positions involving financial responsibility
  • specific positions in the private sector

For licenses and professional permits

Required for the issuance or renewal of licenses such as:

  • security guard license
  • firearm license
  • licenses for professions related to public health

For participation in competitions and tenders

  • public sector recruitment
  • public procurement contracts
  • participation in programs
2. I am a citizen. How can I apply for a Criminal Record Copy?

You may submit an application for a Criminal Record Copy through the following methods:

α) Through the digital services provided:

  • Via the National Criminal Record online portal.
  • Via the gov.gr portal (using Taxisnet credentials).

β) At a Citizen Service Center (KEP) (either in person or through a legal representative)

Required supporting documents:

  • Identification document and, in case of representation, an authorization document and a copy of the applicant’s identification document.

γ) At any Public Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance if you were born in Greece (either in person or through a legal representative)

Required supporting documents:

  • Identification document and, in case of representation, an authorization document and a copy of the applicant’s identification document.

δ) At the A’ Criminal Record Department (Issuance Department) of the Ministry of Justice if you were born abroad (either in person or through a legal representative)

Required supporting documents:

  • Identification document and, in case of representation, an authorization document and a copy of the applicant’s identification document.
3. I represent a Public Sector Entity. How can I gain access to the digital services for submitting applications and receiving Criminal Record Copies?

To gain access, you must be considered an authorized user on the National Criminal Record online portal (the process for authorizing Entity users for access to the Electronic Criminal Record Copy Issuance Service is described in the “User Instructions / ENTITIES – ENTITY AUTHORIZATION MANUAL”).

4. I am a citizen. How can I gain access to the Electronic Services for submitting applications and receiving Criminal Record Copies?

To gain access, you must be considered an accredited user either through the gov.gr portal (using Taxisnet credentials) or through the National Criminal Record online portal.

Specifically, in the second case, when the individual does not possess Taxisnet credentials, accreditation through the National Criminal Record online portal requires:

α) Completing and submitting the electronic application form available on the portal.

β) Following this process, you must visit either the A’ Criminal Record Department (Issuance Department) of the Ministry of Justice or a Criminal Record Department of a Public Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance in Greece in order to activate your account once by presenting any identification document containing your full details.

After this process, you will be considered an accredited user of the National Criminal Record online portal and will be able to submit applications for Criminal Record Copies, monitor the progress of your application, and finally receive and print the copy.

5. I am a representative of a Public Sector Entity. How can I receive the Criminal Record Copy for which I have submitted an application?

Through the “Electronic Services” of the National Criminal Record online portal, where you are an accredited user (the process for receiving and printing the Criminal Record Copy is described in the “User Instructions / ENTITIES – USER MANUAL FOR ELECTRONIC SERVICES”).

6. I am a citizen. How can I receive my Criminal Record Copy?

- If your application was submitted electronically through gov.gr, you will be notified by SMS or e-mail when the Criminal Record Copy is issued, and you may retrieve it from your digital inbox.

- If you are an accredited user, you may retrieve it through the National Criminal Record online portal.

- If your application was submitted in person (either personally or through your legal representative), you may receive the Criminal Record Copy:

α) From the KEP where you submitted your application

β) From the Public Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance where you submitted your application

γ) From the A’ Criminal Record Department (Issuance Department) of the Ministry of Justice, if you submitted your application there.

7. I am a public sector employee and I want to verify that the Criminal Record Copy submitted by a citizen is valid/authentic.

Access the National Criminal Record online portal.

Select “Electronic Services”, then “Services for Entities”, select “Verification of Criminal Record Copy Authenticity” and log in using public administration credentials.

Enter the Verification Code, Protocol Number and Protocol Date (displayed at the top right corner of the Criminal Record Copy) and select “Verify”.

A message regarding validity will then appear. If the document is valid, select “Print”.

The copy displayed is for verification purposes only and contains the watermark “For verification purposes only”.

8. How is the validity of a Criminal Record Copy established?

According to Article 7 paragraph 1 second section of Presidential Decree 35/2015 “Organization and Operation of Criminal Record Services” (Government Gazette A’ 56), as in force:

“The validity of a Criminal Record Copy is ensured by its printing by a certified user of the National Criminal Record Information System. The authenticity of each Criminal Record Copy is confirmed by matching the ‘verification code’, protocol number and issue date with the corresponding information available on the National Criminal Record online portal at portal.ncris.gov.gr, specifically within the ‘Criminal Record Copy Validity Verification Service’.”

9. What is the automatic issuance of a Criminal Record Copy?

As part of the implementation of the new Integrated Information System of the National Criminal Record, the functionality for the automatic issuance of a clean Criminal Record Copy has been implemented for individuals who, following automated search procedures, are not found to have criminal convictions in the Criminal Record database.

In such cases, the copy is issued immediately by the Information System without the intervention of an employee.

Regarding validity and authenticity verification procedures, the provisions of Article 7 paragraph 1 second section of Presidential Decree 35/2015 “Organization and Operation of Criminal Record Services” (Government Gazette A’ 56), as in force, apply.

10. Where are Criminal Record archives maintained?

α) At the sixty-three (63) Public Prosecutor’s Offices of First Instance for individuals born in Greece.

β) At the A’ Criminal Record Department (Issuance Department) for individuals born abroad.

EXPLANATIONS

  • In the event of ongoing criminal proceedings, the Criminal Record Certificate is requested directly by the competent Judicial or Prosecutorial Authority.
  • For the issuance of an Administrative Act, the Criminal Record Certificate is requested ex officio by the Public Administrative Authority to which the citizen applies and which is competent for issuing the final Administrative Act (No. ΔΙΑΔΠ/Α/22863/Government Gazette No. 1551/23-10-2006, Issue B).
  • For all other cases, the provisions stated in the answers to questions 3 and 4 apply.
  • To be eligible to submit a request for obtaining and receiving a copy through the digital services, you must either: have Taxisnet credentials through the gov.gr portal, or be a certified user of the National Criminal Records portal.
  • The request may be submitted through any computer system or mobile phone with internet access.
  • Certification through the gov.gr portal requires user registration and one-time in-person identification at any KEP (Citizen Service Center).
  • Certification through the National Criminal Records portal requires user registration on the portal and subsequently one-time in-person identification either:
  • at the 1st Criminal Records Department of the Central Service of the Ministry of Justice, or at any Criminal Records Department of the nearest Public Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance.
  • The organization of Criminal Records services, as well as the manner in which records are maintained, are provided for under Articles 568 to 575 of the Greek Code of Criminal Procedure.
  • For any difficulties or questions, you may contact the competent authority by email or telephone:
    • If you were born in Greece: the competent Criminal Records Department of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance of your place of birth.
    • If you were born abroad: the 1st Criminal Records Department (Issuing Department) of the Ministry of Justice.
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