Embassy of the United States Thessaloniki, Greece

Children born in Greece of one or two U.S. Citizen parents may be registered as US citizens at the Embassy and obtain a Consular Report of a Birth Abroad, the equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate.

Reports of birth abroad are done by appointment only. Personal appearance of children and parents is required. Before coming to the Consulate, please call 2310-242 905, Monday - Wednesday or Friday between 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for an appointment. All supporting documents must be originals or certified by the issuing authority.

Required Documents

1. Form DS-2029 (PDF)
2. Birth Certificate, from the Greek Registrar's Office (Lixiarchio), bearing the FULL NAME of the child. Birth certificates from municipalities and birth certificates without the child's first name are NOT acceptable. Please note: If married outside of Greece, Greek authorities require that you have your Marriage Certificate translated into Greek to present at the hospital to get the hospital birth certificate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides official translation services; the office is located at 10 Arionos Street, Psiri, Athens. Tel: 210-324-4035; 210-324-4082; 3285712/3. The birth certificate given by the hospital does not include the first name of the child. To name the child, both parents must appear at the Registrar's Office with their passports or current I.D. and the hospital birth certificate to declare the child's first name. This process is called "onomatodosia." A new birth certificate will be issued with the full name.
3. Marriage Certificate issued by the appropriate Registrar's Office (Lixiarchio) in Greece. If married in the U.S., a certified copy of the Marriage Certificate issued by the state where the marriage was performed. Church certificates are not acceptable. If married in Greece, a certified copy of the marriage certificate (Lixiarhiki Praxi Gamou), issued by the Registrar's Office that has jurisdiction over your place of marriage is required. If married outside Greece, a certified copy of your civil marriage certificate must be presented with an official English translation (if the certificate is in a language other than English).
4. Certified copy of all final Civil Divorce Decree(s) or Death certificate of spouse, if either parent was married previously.
5. Evidence of American citizenship of parent(s). U.S. passport or Certificate of Naturalization, if naturalized, and the parents' Social Security Numbers. The parent(s) must have acquired U.S. citizenship prior to the child's date of birth.
6. If only one parent is an American citizen, evidence that the U.S. citizen parent has met the physical presence requirement to transmit citizenship, prior to the birth of the child:
   • For children born before November 14, 1986, the U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the U.S. for ten (10) years, five (5) of which were after the age of fourteen (14);
   • For children born after November 14, 1986, the U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the U.S. for five (5) years, two (2) of which were after the age of fourteen (14 Documents that may serve as evidence of physical presence in the U.S. include old passports (Greek or U.S.), school transcripts, and/or income tax or Social Security Itemized Quarterly Statement of Earnings.

If you have documented an older child, born from the same marriage, you need only to present the Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued for that child and follow steps 1,4,7 and 8.

If you also wish to apply for a passport for your child, you need:

• Properly completed and sign#mce_temp_url#ed passport application DS-11 (black ink only)
• Two identical color photographs taken within the last, six months, 2X2 inches (5X5 centimeters) with a white, plain background, full face, without a head covering. Head size from chin to top of head must be minimum 25mm (1 inch) to maximum 35mm (1 3/8 inch).
• Parents' consent. For children under 16, both parents must sign passport application form DS-11 at the Embassy and submit their signed passport/I.D. If one parent is unavailable to appear at the Embassy, an original notarized statement, in English consenting to the issuance of the minor's passport or notarized "Statement of Consent" DS-3053 (click here (PDF 166 KB) for the Greek version of DS-3053) obtained from the Passport Office of the U.S. Embassy and notarized copy of the signed passport/I.D. of the non appearing parent, must be submitted.

If you wish to apply for a Social Security number for your child, you need:

1. Application for a Social Security Card, SS-5 Form
2. Supporting documentation as outlined on the SS-5 form.