Returning Greek Citizens Permitted Entry Using Old Passports

Greek citizens who left Greece by December 31, 2006 with their old passports will be allowed reentry into the country despite the fact that their old passports are no longer valid as of the first of this month.

The Panhellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises (POET) and the Hellenic Federation of Travel and Tourism Enterprises (HATTA) circulated this helpful information after communication with the Ministries of Public Order and Exterior.

The ministry of exterior also instructed Greek embassies to inform government authorities around the world that Greek nationals will be permitted entry into Greece using their old passports.

This message was particularly stressed in countries Greeks would be traveling through because there are no direct flights with Greece. For example, Greek-Australians may travel through Singapore or Thailand.

Meanwhile, to help citizens meet the year-end deadline, the Greek government increased the number of personnel at passport offices and authorized round-the-clock shifts to keep up with the high volume of new passport applications received daily.