• Submitting your document:  Please bring ALL pages of the document to be notarized UNSIGNED and assembled in the CORRECT ORDER. Pages to be signed should be marked in advance with a post-it or other marker. If pages should be attached to each other, indicate so with a paperclip.  Bring instructions from the document receiver in the state of jurisdiction if provided.
• What am I signing?  Ensure that you understand the contents of your document. The notarizing officer cannot explain them, assemble them for you, or provide legal advice.
• Witnesses: Notarizing officers and consulate staff are prohibited from acting as witnesses. If your document requires witnesses, you need to bring them. Witnesses need a passport to enter.
• Identification: Bring valid government issued identification at the time of your visit. A passport is preferred, but national IDs and drivers’ licenses are acceptable in most cases. Your ID must be valid, contain your signature and an identifiable photo, and be clearly readable and unaltered. If signing as a representative of a company, provide documentation (such as the articles of incorporation) to verify your legal or business identity.
• Fees:  The fee per Consular Seal with notary signature is 43€.  Consulate General Thessaloniki does not have cashiering capability; payments must be made by bank checks in Euros only made out to the “U.S. Embassy Athens.”
• It is your responsibility to review your documents to ensure all notarizations you requested are complete before you depart. No records are kept for this service; if additional notarial services are needed, a new appointment and fee payment (unless the document is exempted under law) are required.
• You also may consider using the Greek system for notarial services, which some may find a more convenient and less expensive option.  The local KEP (Citizen Service Centers in Greece) may notarize your document and assist you with obtaining the Greek Apostille stamp from the local Security General of the Decentralized Administration.

Note: Due to the number and complexity of documents being prepared for customers, please note you can expect the process to take approximately 90 minutes, though that can vary depending on the number of people ahead of you and the complexity of their or your documents.

• • Sworn Statement (Affidavit)
  • Affidavit of Marriage
  • Power of Attorney
  • Financial/Real Estate Transactions
  • True Copy of U.S. Passport
  • Statement of Consent to Apply for U.S. Passport
  • U.S. Savings Bond Redemption

Sworn Statement (Affidavit)

An affidavit is a sworn statement. Please do not sign the form before you come to the Embassy. You will need to sign it in front of a Consular officer, whose role is to confirm the identity of the person making the statement.

Example of an affidavit for Thessaloniki (PDF 9KB)

Affidavit of Marriage

The U.S. Embassy provides this general document on getting married in Greece; however, you MUST contact the city hall where the marriage will be held to confirm their requirements as they may differ throughout Greece.  You may be required to visit the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office (walking distance from the Consulate General) after your visit to the Embassy to have the consular officer’s signature authenticated.  You MUST contact the City Hall where the marriage will occur or your wedding planner to confirm whether this is needed.

The Affidavit of Marriage must be completed in English and in Greek. If you do not write Greek, please bring the translation of your birth certificate for the completion of the Greek part of your affidavit.  If you were married before, you must bring your divorce certificate. Do not sign the document.

Example of an affidavit of marriage in English (PDF 294KB)
Example of an affidavit of marriage in Greek (PDF 119KB)

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney allows you to designate someone to take legal actions on your behalf. A common example of this is empowering someone else to buy or sell property in the United States in your name while you are overseas.  We cannot advise you on the specific language or content of a power of attorney, so you may wish to consult a lawyer or other appropriate advisor before coming to see us to have your power of attorney notarized.

You may choose to use a blank Power of Attorney form below or use one supplied to you by your attorney, bank, or company.

Example of a POA form for Thessaloniki  (PDF162KB)
Example of a General POA form for Thessaloniki (PDF 165KB)

Financial or Real Estate Transaction

Examples of documents to be notarized: Grant or Warranty Deed, Bill of Sale, Closing Affidavit, Home Loan, Mortgage, Seller’s Affidavit, Assignment of Lease or Disbursement Instructions, etc. Do not sign the document.

True Copy of a U.S. Passport

A consular officer at the Embassy or Consulate can make a true copy of a U.S. passport or a foreign passport for tax purposes. Any person may present the passport to be copied.  The appointment must be made in the name of the person appearing at the Embassy or Consulate General.

Statement of Consent

If you are applying for a passport service for a child under 16, and only one parent is able to appear, the absent parent may furnish a notarized Statement of Consent, Form DS-3053.   You must present your government-issued photo I.D. (such as your U.S or foreign passport, driving license or military I.D) together with the Form DS-3053.  There is no fee for this service.

U.S. Savings Bond Redemption

Requests for payment must be signed in the presence of and be certified by a consular officer at the Embassy.

• If you are a U.S. citizen, you must include a statement over your signature stating that you are a U.S. citizen, and you must provide your Social Security Number.
• If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to fill out and include IRS Form W-8BEN.

You must bring the appropriate document with you. For further information or questions regarding U.S. savings bonds, please visit the Department of Treasury’s website.

• Apostilles on Public Documents
• U.S. Vital Records – birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates
• Certificate of Identity
• Academic Credentials
• Medallion Signature Guarantee
• Driver’s License Records

Apostille on Public Documents (Birth/Marriage/Divorce/Death Certificates)

Neither the Embassy nor the Consulate General has the authority to affix the Apostille to your public documents issued in the United States.  The Apostille officially authenticates the signature and seal of the public document.  The Secretary of State in the state that issued the documents is authorized to affix the Apostille.

More information on Authentications and Apostilles.

U.S. Vital Records

Since offices of the federal government (U.S. Embassies/consulates) do not keep copies of U.S. certificates, files, or indexes with identifying information for vital records, the Embassy’s notarial unit cannot provide this service

In order to obtain any state government-issued document concerning birth, death, marriage or divorce, you may order one from the National Center for Health Statistics or through vitalcheck, depending on the state that issued your document.

Certificate of Identity (Taftoprosopia)

The U.S. Embassy cannot provide a letter or statement concerning the differences in your name as they appear on your passports. We can notarize your sworn statement on this matter; however, we recommend that you verify whether the entity requesting the document will accept your affidavit before scheduling a notarial appointment. A potential solution may be to apply for a new passport with both of your names listed in it. Email AthensAmericanPassports@state.gov if you have questions.

Certified Copies of Academic Credentials

U.S. embassies and consulates cannot certify copies of academic credentials.  Please contact the issuing educational institution. More information is available here.

Medallion Signature Guarantee

Neither the Embassy’s nor consulate general’s notarial unit can notarize any document that requires Medallion Signature Guarantees.  By law, a consular official may not execute, amend or change a medallion signature guarantee form, even when the financial institution says they will accept a simple certification or acknowledgment.

For more information on Medallion Signature Guarantees, please visit the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website.

Driver’s License Records

The Embassy cannot certify the validity of a U.S. driver’s license or renew it.  You should contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state that issued your license.

I want to schedule an appointment for notary services.

Every person signing a document to be notarized must schedule an online appointment.  Several names may be entered on the appointment form at the same date and time (witnesses, co-signers).  We do not accept walk-ins.

Thessaloniki Notarial Appointment

I need witnesses to sign the documents.

Embassy and consulate employees are prohibited from witnessing your signature.  If your document requires witnesses, you need to bring your own (along with their proof of identity).  Prior to your arrival, please make sure that the witnesses may indeed sign the documents.  For example, some documents such as wills may not be signed by certain family members.

Does the Embassy or Consulate General provide translation services?

Embassies and consulates do not provide translation services.  You may request an official translation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Athens or contact the closest Greek consulate in the United States for guidance.

I am getting married in Greece.  What documents do I need?

The U.S. Embassy provides this general document on getting married in Greece; however, you MUST contact the city hall where the marriage will be held to confirm their requirements as they may differ throughout Greece.

What is the Apostille?

Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, notarials, court orders, or any other document issued by a public authority, so that they can be recognized in foreign countries.

More information on Apostilles.

I am a U.S. citizen who married in Greece.  May I register my marriage at the Embassy?

The U.S. Embassy does not register marriages performed in Greece because marriage regulations are determined state-by-state.  You should register your marriage in the state where you will be residing in the United States.  Check with your local town or city hall in advance as requirements can vary depending on state and local laws.  For more information please see the Department of State website pages on marriage abroad.

How do I obtain a copy of a U.S. birth certificate?

You may order your birth certificate or other state-issued document from the National Center for Health Statistics or through vitalcheck, depending on the state that issued your document.

Can the Embassy certify or renew my driver’s license?

The Embassy cannot certify the validity of a U.S. driver’s license or renew it.  You should contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state that issued your license.

May I execute a will at the Embassy or consulate?

The role of U.S. Department of State officers in connection with the execution of wills is limited.  22 CFR 92.81 prohibits notarizing officers from writing wills or accepting a will for safekeeping.  Notarizing officers also are prohibited from witnessing wills or obtaining witnesses for a person desiring to have a will executed at a Foreign Service post.  Notarizing officers may, however, acknowledge the signatures of testators and or witnesses to self proving wills.  The testator and all the witnesses (who have already witnessed the will) appear together before the notarizing officer.

My name is different on my U.S. and Greek passports, and I need a letter stating the names refer to the same person (Taftoprosopia).

The U.S. Embassy cannot provide a letter or statement concerning the differences in your name as they appear on your passports.  We can notarize your sworn statement on this matter; however, we recommend that you verify whether the entity requesting the document will accept your affidavit before scheduling a notarial appointment.  A potential solution may be to apply for a new passport with both of your names listed in it.  Email AthensAmericanPassports@state.gov if you have questions.

I need a sample Power of Attorney.

Example of a POA form for Thessaloniki  (PDF162KB)
Example of a General POA form for Thessaloniki (PDF 165KB)

I need to make a Sworn Statement.

Example of an affidavit for Thessaloniki (PDF 9KB)