SERVICE - GREECE

Name Change, Correction & Identification

When your name is not written the same way in every document, the file stops. We handle the correction of civil registry records, the change of surname, and proof that the person is one and the same before the Greek authorities.

AT A GLANCE

What we handle

Correction of civil registry records, change of surname, identification of the person

Where

The Special Registry of Athens, local registries and municipalities, the prosecutor and the courts

How

Remotely, through a special power of attorney to a lawyer

First step

A free review of your documents and a list of every discrepancy

Cost

A written estimate before any work begins

Why it matters

For the administration, two names mean two people

These differences are common in the diaspora: a surname was shortened or transliterated differently, a baptismal name was rendered in another language, or a date of birth was recorded incorrectly. Each of them is resolved through a specific procedure.

WHAT WE HANDLE

What to send us

Correction of a registry record

Correcting the given name, surname, father's or mother's name, date or place of birth in a record held in Greece or at the Special Registry.

Identification of the person

Proving that the different names belong to the same person, through certificates, archival records and sworn statements.

The court route

Filing the application with the competent court where the case calls for a final judgment.

Change of surname

The administrative procedure for changing or hellenising a surname, so that it matches the rest of your documents.

Foreign decisions

Using a court or administrative name-change decision issued abroad, so that it takes effect in Greece as well.

Updating every register

After the correction, the registry, the municipal roll and the remaining registers are updated, so the details match everywhere.

WHEN YOU NEED IT

Common situations

Your surname is shortened in the foreign certificate and written in full in the Greek record.
Your baptismal name was rendered in another language, for example James instead of Dimitrios.
The father's or mother's name is missing, or is written differently.
The date or place of birth was recorded incorrectly.
You changed your surname by a court decision abroad.
After marriage you use a different surname from the one in the registry record.

How the procedure works

1

Document review

We compare the foreign and the Greek documents and list every discrepancy.

2

Choosing the route

We determine whether an administrative step is enough, or whether a prosecutors authorisation or a final court judgment is required.

3

Gathering documents

Certificates, archival records, translations and, where needed, sworn statements.

4

Filing

We file the application with the competent authority or court, under a special power of attorney

5

Registration

The correction is entered on the registry record and the remaining registers are updated.

WHAT TO SEND US

Documents that help

Whatever is missing from Cyprus, we trace it for you.

Your foreign certificates: birth, marriage and, where relevant, death, with apostille
The Greek registry record or municipal certificate, if you have one
Your passport or ID, showing how your name is written today
A foreign name-change decision, if one exists
Older Greek family documents that carry the name

TIME & COST

A written estimate before we start

The time depends on the route required: an administrative correction is completed far faster than a case that goes before a court.

After the free review we tell you which route applies and you receive a written fee estimate. Court costs, sworn statements and translations are listed separately.

QUESTIONS

About name corrections

Is a court decision always required?

No. The civil registry law provides that, depending on the detail being corrected, either a prosecutor’s authorisation or a final court judgment is required. Clerical or obvious errors follow the simpler route, while the essential details of the record, such as the name or the date of birth, follow the heavier one. In the review we tell you exactly where your case falls.

Is a change of surname done in court?

No. A change of surname follows an administrative procedure before the competent authority, while the correction of the details of a registry record follows the procedure of the civil registry law. They are two separate routes, and a case often needs both.

I changed my name by a court decision abroad. Does it apply in Greece?

The decision is used, but producing it at the registry is not enough on its own. We examine whether it is recognised in the Greek legal order and what step is required for the change to be reflected in the Greek registers.

What does identification mean?

It means proving that the different names belong to the same person. This is done through a combination of documents: older certificates, archival entries, attestations and, where required, sworn statements.

Do I need to come to Greece?

No. The application can be filed by a lawyer holding a special power of attorney, so we handle every stage remotely.

Should it be done before the citizenship application?

In most cases, yes. A citizenship file is examined on the consistency of the details, so the correction comes first or runs in parallel, to avoid the application being rejected.