Greek Passport Holders - Must Read

[SeatBackForward]

Haven't seen this discussed anywhere on here yet, and it might be relevant to some here, or to pass onto others:

The Greek Embassy in Australia have advised that from midnight on 31 December 2006 all Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 will be automatically cancelled by the Greek government. In order to avoid disruption to intended international travel, holders of Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 who are planning international travel after 1 January 2007 are strongly advised to contact their nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate to obtain new passports

QANTAS Site

 

[simongr]

Hmm - I googled this for a while and the only thing that came up was the QF website There are references to the Greek polic taking responsibility for issuing passports and that passports issued up to 31 Dec 2005 only having a max 1 year usage would imply that this is the case.

Its linked in to the new very secure greek passport.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Its linked in to the new very secure greek passport.

Until the next Junta takes over anyhow.

 

[clifford]

I'd like to see Tony Blair try this!

 

[JohnK]

I think I made the right choice to travel with an Australian passport. Although a greek passport may come in handy travelling through Europe.

 

[Mal]

There is now a news.com.au article on the topic here:

Greek passport holders urged to renew | The Sunday Mail

PEOPLE holding Greek passports more than one year old are being urged to renew them this month if they wish to travel overseas in the new year.

The Greek Government has announced all Greek passports issued before January 1, 2006, will be invalid after December 31 this year, as the country moves to new biometric passports.

<continues>

 

[Mal]

I also found this snippet on one of the authoritative passport/visa information sites:

"GREEK PASSPORTS

With effect from January 1, 2007, all Greek passports issued
prior to January 1, 2006, will no longer be valid.

Passports issued from January 1, 2006 now contain a digital
photo together with a machine readable zone; passports
issued from August 2006 contain an integrated electronic
chip.

Nationals of Greece abroad for business or tourism will be
able to return to Greece on their old style passport.
Nationals of Greece residing abroad will also be able to
enter Greece on their old style passport but they will have
to apply for a new style passport in Greece before returning
to their country of residence.



Timaticweb Version 1.3
02 January 2007"