Other Services Military Conscription IssuesMilitary Conscription Issues
Military Service - Certificates
Interested parties can find general information on military service issues, contact with military recruitment services and the applicable legislation on the website:
https://www.stratologia.gr
Useful note
For Military Service, those born from January 1 to December 31 of each year are considered to be of the same age.
Therefore, the age limits provided for in the provisions of the law must be calculated as follows:
Year of Birth + 15 = "year in which they began their sixteenth (16th) year of age"
Year of Birth + 17 = "year in which they began their eighteenth (18th) year of their age"
Year of Birth + 18 = "year in which they began their nineteenth (19th) year of their age"
Certificates and Attestations issued by the Consular Office of our Embassy, by category, are as follows:
A. POSTPONEMENT OF MILITARY SERVICE FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS ABROAD
CERTIFICATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENT ABROAD
BASED ON LAW 5265/2026
On January 10, 2026, Law 5265/2026 "Transition Charter of the Armed Forces, etc." was published, which in Article 193 regulates the issues of "Deferment of enlistment for Permanent Residents Abroad."
The full text of the Law can be found at https://www.stratologia.gr/el/nomothesia.
"Article 193
Postponement of enlistment for permanent residents abroad
1. Enlistment in the Armed Forces is postponed for those who have acquired and maintain the status of permanent resident abroad.
2. For the purposes of this law, permanent residents abroad are those who have already been residing abroad from January 1 of the year in which they began their sixteenth (16th) year of age until December 31 of the year in which they reach their eighteenth (18th) year of age.
3. The status of permanent resident abroad is not acquired if, during the period referred to in par. 2, the person concerned exceeds six (6) months of stay in Greece, during any calendar year, regardless of the residence of their parents.
4. The status of permanent resident abroad is not acquired if, during the period of par. 2, the person concerned, or at least one of his or her parents, who exercises parental responsibility and resides with the child, acquires the status of a civil servant or salaried civil or military employee or is employed as a salaried employee in the public sector, as defined in case a) of par. 1 of Article 14 of Law 4270/2014 (A' 143), with any employment relationship for at least six (6) months during any calendar year.
5. Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4, for the application of par. 2, the residence is examined in accordance with the Civil Code (Presidential Decree 456/1984, A' 164).
6. Loss of the status of permanent resident abroad occurs in the following cases:
a) Upon deportation to Greece.
b) By exceeding six (6) months of stay in Greece within the same calendar year.
7. Proof of the fulfillment of the conditions of par. 2 and the retention or loss of the status of permanent resident abroad is provided by a certificate issued by the competent Greek consular authorities.
8. The application for a deferment is submitted to the competent military service at any time after January 1 of the year in which the person concerned reaches the age of nineteen (19), accompanied by the certificate referred to in par. 7.
9. The deferment of permanent residents abroad is terminated at their request or upon the loss of the status of permanent resident abroad or immediately after the expiration of the period provided for in par. 11, if a certificate of permanent residence abroad is not submitted in due time.
10. The time during which permanent residents abroad serve in the Armed Forces to fulfill their military obligations and the time during which they are granted a deferment of enlistment for health reasons, after their enlistment, is considered time spent abroad.
11. Those who are subject to the provisions of this article shall submit, every three years, from the year in which they received the deferment of enlistment until they reach the age of forty-five (45), and during the two-month period of September and October, to the competent Military Service, a certificate of permanent residence abroad, which shows the maintenance of the status of permanent resident abroad, otherwise the deferment of the permanent resident abroad shall be terminated, in accordance with par. 9 and the conscript is scheduled for enlistment with the next Annual Conscription Period."
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Interested parties who are subject to the provisions of the above article and wish to submit an application for the issuance of the Certificate of Permanent Resident Abroad provided for in paragraph 7 of the above article must submit the following supporting documents:
• Passport or ID card
• Original Certificate of Residence (Bøstedsattest) of the same, issued by the competent Norwegian Authorities (Skatteetaten), which confirms a date of establishment before January 1 of the year in which the conscript began to reach the sixteenth (16th) year of his age.
• Any document that may have been received by the interested party from the Military Service
For the period (from the 16th year up to and including the 18th year of age) when the person concerned was a minor,
a. Copies of the Passports or Identity Cards of his parents
b. Original certificates of attendance from educational institutions (schools) stating the exact dates of admission and duration of attendance.
c. Proof of Permanent Residence Abroad relating to his parents (or the parent who exercised parental responsibility), for the period during which the person concerned was a minor:
• Original Certificate of Residence (Bøstedsattest) of the parents
Please note that the parents' Bøstedsattest must confirm their date of settlement before January 1 of the year in which the conscript began to reach the sixteenth (16th) year of age.
• Annual Tax Returns of his parents (Skatteoppgjor) for all the above years when the person concerned was a minor.
For the period during which the person concerned is an adult up to the present day
a. (If studying)
Original certificates of attendance from educational institutions (schools – technical schools - Universities) stating the exact dates of admission and duration of study.
b. (If employed)
Tax returns (Skatteoppgjor) for all the years under consideration.
- Pay slips (Lønnsslipp) for the last months of the current year and at least seven months of the previous year.
- Residential lease agreement or title deed.
- Employment contract / certificate
or a sole proprietorship certificate accompanied by a Certificate from an Accountant for the period of operation of the business.
or in the case of an unemployed or long-term sick person, a certificate of unemployment or long-term sickness from NAV (Utbetalingsoversikt) and proof of payment of unemployment or sickness benefits.
The application can only be submitted after January 1 of the year in which the individual turns 19 years of age (year of birth + 18)
B. POSTPONEMENT OF CONSCRIPTION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS ABROAD BASED ON THE OLD LAW 3421/2005 UNTIL 31.12.2028
CERTIFICATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENT ABROAD
(11 YEARS)
On January 10, 2026, the new Law 5265/2026 "Transition Charter of the Armed Forces, etc." was published, which in Article 193 regulates the issues of "Deferment of enlistment for Permanent Residents Abroad."
Details can be found at https://www.stratologia.gr/el/nomothesia.
Article 193 (par. 2) stipulates
"2. For the purposes of this law, permanent residents abroad are those who have already been residing abroad from January 1 of the year in which they began their sixteenth (16th) year of age, until December 31 of the year in which they reach their eighteenth (18th) year of age, etc."
For those who do not meet the above conditions, it is possible, provided they submit an application by 31.12.2028, to be included under Article 25 of Law 3421/2005 ("old Law") in the category
CONSCRIPT BORN IN GREECE, WHO LATER SETTLED AND HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY RESIDING ABROAD
FOR AT LEAST 11 YEARS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
• Passport or ID card
• Original Certificate of Residence (Bøstedsattest)
• Any document that may have been received by the person concerned from the Military Service
For the period when the person concerned was a minor,
a. Copies of the parents' passports or ID cards
b. Original certificates of attendance from educational institutions (schools) stating the exact dates of admission and duration of attendance.
c. Proof of Permanent Residence Abroad relating to his parents (or the parent who exercised parental responsibility), for the period during which the person concerned was a minor:
• Original Certificate of Residence (Bøstedsattest) of his parents
• Annual Tax Returns of his parents from Skatteetaten (Skatteoppgjor for all the years that the person concerned was a minor).
For the period during which the person concerned is an adult
a. (If he/she is studying)
- Original certificates of attendance from educational institutions (schools – technical schools - Universities) stating the exact dates of admission and duration of study.
b. (If employed)
- Tax returns (Skatteoppgjor) for all the years under consideration.
- Pay slips (Lønnsslipp) for the last months of the current year and at least seven months of the previous year.
- Residential lease agreement or title deed.
- Employment contract / certificate
or a certificate of sole proprietorship accompanied by a Certificate from an Accountant for the period of operation of the business.
or in the case of an unemployed or long-term sick person, a certificate of unemployment or long-term sickness from NAV (Utbetalingsoversikt) and proof of payment of unemployment or sickness benefits.
C. POSTPONEMENT OF MILITARY SERVICE FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS ABROAD BASED ON THE OLD LAW 3421/2005 UNTIL 31.12.2028
CERTIFICATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE ABROAD
(7 YEARS OF GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT)
On January 10, 2026, the new Law 5265/2026 "Transition Map of the Armed Forces, etc." was published, which in Article 193 regulates the issues of "Deferment of enlistment for permanent residents abroad."
Details can be found at https://www.stratologia.gr/el/nomothesia.
Article 193 (par. 2) stipulates
"2. For the purposes of this law, permanent residents abroad are those who have already been residing abroad from January 1 of the year in which they began their sixteenth (16th) year of age, until December 31 of the year in which they reach their eighteenth (18th) year of age, etc."
For those who do not meet the above conditions, it is possible, provided they submit an application by 31.12.2028, to be included under Article 25 of Law 3421/2005 ("old Law") in the category
CERTIFICATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENT ABROAD WITH GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT - 7 YEARS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
• Passport or ID card
• Original Certificate of Residence (Bøstedsattest)
• Any document that may have been received by the interested party from the Military Service.
- Original Certificate of Residence (Bøstedsattest)
- Tax returns (Skatteoppgjor) for all years under review
- Pay slips (Lønnsslipp) for the last months of the current year and at least seven months of the previous year.
- Residential lease agreement or title deed.
- Employment contract / certificate
or a sole proprietorship certificate accompanied by a Certificate from an Accountant for the period of operation of the business.
or in the case of an unemployed or long-term sick person, a certificate of unemployment or long-term sickness from NAV (Utbetalingsoversikt) and proof of payment of unemployment or sickness benefits.
D. DRAFT EVADERSABROAD
CERTIFICATES OF RESIDENCE (DRAFT EVADERS)
The Certificate of Residence is issued after the date of the conscript's Invitation for enlistment and for the purpose of placing him in the special category of Draft Evaders Abroad.
a. Passport or National ID card.
b. Any document that may have been received by the person concerned from the Military Service or Previous Certificates of Draft Evasion from any Consular Office
c. Original Certificate of Residence (Bøstedsattest)
or Certificate of issuance of D Number
or Certificate of Registration in the FOLKEREGISTERET
- Tax returns (Skatteoppgjor) for all the years under review
- Payroll statements (Lønnsslipp) for the last months of the current year and at least seven months of the previous year.
- Residential lease agreement or title deed.
- Employment contract / certificate
or a sole proprietorship certificate accompanied by a Certificate from an Accountant for the period of operation of the business.
or in the case of an unemployed or long-term sick person, a certificate of unemployment or long-term sickness from NAV (Utbetalingsoversikt) and proof of payment of unemployment or sickness benefits.
E. POSTPONEMENT OF ENLISTMENT DUE TO STUDIES
On January 10, 2026, the new Law 5265/2026 "Transition Map of the Armed Forces, etc." was published, which in Article 187 defines the provisions regarding the "Postponement of enlistment for secondary and higher education students"
The full text of the Law can be found at https://www.stratologia.gr/el/nomothesia
The following require special attention:
"4. The postponement of enlistment due to studies is granted for attendance at an educational institution in the country or abroad, which is state-run or recognized by the competent authorities of the relevant state and has been integrated into its official educational system, etc."
5. The deferment is granted, provided that the minimum remaining duration of studies at the school for which it is requested, in order to obtain the certificate, diploma or degree, does not exceed the age limit specified on a case-by-case basis in par. 2 (see the Law). The minimum remaining duration of study also includes the minimum duration of the compulsory internship or training required for the completion of studies, which may be provided for by the provisions governing the operation of the relevant school.
6. For the granting of the deferment of enlistment due to studies, the interested parties submit to the competent military service an application and certifications or attestations from the relevant school, which show: a) The educational level at which they are enrolled.
b) Their department and field of study.
c) The date of their initial enrolment or transfer, as the case may be.
d) The current year or semester of study.
e) The minimum duration of the remaining studies and any compulsory internship or training required to complete the studies.
7. In the case of a school abroad, in addition to the information in paragraph 6, the following is required:
a) The place of the seat and operation of the school.
b) That it is state-owned or recognized by the competent state authorities.
c) That it has been integrated into the educational system of the relevant state (Norway).
PROCEDURE
a) Submission of an application to the Consular Office after an appointment
a) Passport or Police ID (originals).
b) Original Certificate of attendance of the interested party at educational institutions in Norway which
• Must have been issued in accordance with the above provisions of paragraphs 6 and 7 of Law 5265/2026
• Must be certified with the Hague Convention Apostille
• Be officially translated into the Greek language
(In case the translation is done in Norway by the official translators, you will also need validation of the translator's signature by the Consular Office)
b) Submission of an online application
through the website of the Military Service
https://www.stratologia.gr/el/taxis_login_redirect
You must have available:
a) TAXIS NET codes
b) Original Certificate of attendance of the interested party at educational institutions in Norway, which has been issued in accordance with the above provisions of paragraphs 6 and 7 of Law 5265/2026 and
• Be certified with the Hague Convention Apostille
• Be officially translated into the Greek language
(In case the translation is done in Norway by the official translators, you will also need validation of the translator's signature by the Consular Office)
G. RECOGNITION OF MILITARY SERVICE TIME IN THE ARMED FORCES OF AN ALLIED STATE OR A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.
Article 222 of Law 5265 / 2026
https://www.stratologia.gr/el/nomothesia
In detail, the provisions of the above article are as follows:
"Recognition of time of military service in the armed forces of an allied state or another member state of the European Union
1. The time during which Greeks served at any time in an armed capacity in the regular armed forces of an allied state or another member state of the European Union is recognized to cover their main military service obligation and any additional military service obligations they may have.
2. The recognized time may not exceed the primary military service obligation and any additional military service obligations of the persons concerned.
3. Those who do not fully cover the above obligations may redeem the remainder thereof, provided that the recognized period of armed service under par. 1 consists of at least three (3) months.
4. Those who are or have at any time been in a state of draft evasion are exempt from the call or calls for which they were declared draft evaders, from the date of recognition of their armed service in the regular armed forces of an allied state or a member state of the European Union. The criminal liability for their draft evasion is eliminated by statute of limitations and all related consequences are removed. The case files for draft evasion are placed on file by an act of the Prosecutor of the competent military court.
5. The provisions hereof also apply to those who have served in the regular armed forces of an allied state or another member state of the European Union before acquiring Greek citizenship.
6. Those who are currently deserters are subject to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 after its cessation."
PROCEDURE
You have the option to proceed with the submission in two ways:
A) Submission of an application to the Consular Office after an appointment
Required supporting documents
a) Passport or National ID card.
b) Any document that may have been received by the interested party from the Military Service.
c) Original documents from the competent bodies of the Military Service of the relevant state showing the exact dates and duration of armed military service in the Armed Forces of the allied state or member state of the European Union, which must
• Be certified with the Hague Convention Apostille
• Have been officially translated into the Greek language
(In case the translation is done in Norway by the official translators, you will also need validation of the translator's signature by the Consular Office)
B) Submission of an online application
via the website of the Military Service https://www.stratologia.gr/el/taxis_login_redirect
You must have available
a) TAXIS NET codes
b) Original documents from the competent bodies of the Military Service of the relevant state, showing the exact dates and duration of armed military service in the Armed Forces of the allied state or member state of the European Union, which must
• Be certified with the Hague Convention Apostille
• Have been officially translated into the Greek language
(In case the translation is done in Norway by the official translators, you will also need validation of the translator's signature by the Consular Office)
