KIND REMINDER:

In order to improve consular services, from February 16,2022, the Chinese Embassy in Greece will authorize the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in Athens to act for the consular legalization services. The CVASC in Athens is a commercial institution registered and operated in accordance with Greek laws. The CVASC could provide services such as receiving legalization application, reviewing materials, collecting fees, issuing certificates and consultation. 

For more information, please visit the website:

http://gr.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsqw/202202/t20220214_10642176.htm

Legalization is a process of document authentication observed by some governments. Documents issued in Greece to be used in China should be legalised by the Chinese Embassy in Greece before they are sent to China.

1. Procedures are as follows:

1.1 Have the document issued by the Greek Government (Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate, Academic Certificate, No Criminal Record, etc.) legalized directly by ＂The Citizens and Greeks Abroad Service and Information Centre＂ (KEPPAE) of Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalized by the Chinese Embassy in Greece (submitted via the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Athens).

For the list of documents issued by the Greek government and the process of notarization and legalization by Greek side , please refer to the following link:

https://www.mfa.gr/en/kep-and-services-for-greeks-abroad.html

1.2 Have the non-governmental document issued in Greece (Affidavit, Declaration, Power of Attorney, etc.) notarized by a local Notary Public and legalized by the KEPPAE, then legalized by the Chinese Embassy in Greece (submitted via the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Athens).

1.3 Documents issued in a third country will not be accepted for legalization. If a company operating in Greece but registered in a third country need authenticate the original business documents, please have the documents authenticated firstly by the third country Embassy / Consulate in Greece, secondly legalized by the KEPPAE and finally legalized by the Chinese Embassy in Greece (submitted via the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Athens).

★ The Citizens and Greeks Abroad Service and Information Centre (KEPPAE)

  Address：Akadimias 3, Athina 105 54

  Tel：+30 2103682040/41/42/43

  Email：cio@mfa.gr

★ Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Athens (CVASC)

  Website: https://www.visaforchina.cn/ATH2_EN/

  Address:：Vrana 25, 11525 Athens Greece

  Tel：+30 2106711311

  Email：athenscentre@visaforchina.org

  Business Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00 (except public holidays)

2. Notice:

2.1 Documents issued in China (such as passports, ID cards, real estate certificates, company registration documents, etc.) will not be accepted for legalization.

2.2 The contents of document that do not conform to relevant Chinese policies or laws will not be accepted for legalization.

2.3 Notarized marital status, no-spouse declaration or certificate used to register marriage in mainland China will not be accepted for legalization if the validity period exceeds 6 months from the date of notarization or certificate issuance to the date of application for consular legalization.

2.4 Notarial certificates of marital status, health, property, income, and no criminal record used for adoption in mainland China will not be accepted for legalization if the validity period exceeds 6 months from the date of notarization issuance to the date of application for consular legalization.

2.5 Documents sent to third countries for use will not be accepted for legalization. Such documents should be legalized by the embassy in Greece of the country where the documents will be used.

2.6 In accordance with the international practice and the Chinese regulation, the Chinese Embassy in Greece legalizes only the officer's signature and the seal of ＂The Citizens and Greeks Abroad Service and Information Centre＂ (KEPPAE) of Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will not responsible for the contents of the documents.

2.7 Documents notarized by Notary Public, authenticated by the KEPPAE and legalized by the Chinese Embassy should be in their original shape. Applicants should not take apart the original documents (notarized, authenticated or legalized) or attach any other pages to the original documents, otherwise should bear full legal responsibility aroused.

3. Requirements:

The applicant for consular legalization of the document should be the party to the document. 

Chinese or foreign citizens or legal persons of enterprises or organizations who apply for consular legalization of documents to the embassy should submit the following materials:

3.1 Personal documents

3.1.1  Original and photocopy of the valid passport  or identity card of the applicant (agent) of the document (if another person is acting on his/her behalf, the applicant's valid passport or identity card copy should be provided, and the agent should provide the original and photocopy of his/her own valid passport or identity card; Chinese citizen and third-country citizen should submit a valid passport).

Application for legalization of the death certificate should be submitted by the next of kin of the deceased, who must provide his/her passport or identity card, the proof of kinship or a written statement of the next of kin of the deceased and the deceased's passport or identity card if available. If the next of kin of the deceased entrusts another person to act on his/her behalf, he/she must provide the power of attorney, and the original and photocopy of the agent's passport or identity card are required.

The applicant with no or limited capacity for civil conduct must be represented by a legal representative, who must provide his/her passport or identity card and a document that can prove that he/she has the power of attorney. The legal representative may entrust another person to act on his/her behalf, and the agent should submit the original and photocopy of his/her passport or identity card and contact information.

3.1.2 Application Form of Consular Legalization (can be downloaded from the website of the Embassy, and the applicant's signature is required); the next of kin of the deceased fill in the information of the deceased in the Application Form of Consular Legalization (Legalization for Death Certificate), and the column "Signature of agent" Signed by the next of kin of the deceased or their appointed agent.

3.1.3 The original documents notarized by the notary public or issued by Greek government and certified by the KEPPAE, and the photocopy of the certification.

3.1.4 Other relevant materials that the Embassy may require to provide according to the needs of the individual case.

3.2 Commercial documents

3.2.1 Photocopy of the legal registration certificate of the enterprise or organization.

3.2.2 Original and photocopy of the valid passport or identity card of the person in charge indicated on the registration certificate of the enterprise or organization (if another person is acting on his/her behalf, a copy of the valid passport or identity card of the person in charge of the enterprise or organization is required, and the agent needs to provide the original and photocopy of his/her own valid passport or identity card; Chinese citizen and third-country citizen should submit a valid passport).

3.2.3 Application Form of Consular Legalization (can be downloaded from the website of  the Embassy, and the applicant's signature is required).

3.2.4 The original documents notarized by the notary public or issued by Greek government and certified by the KEPPAE, and the photocopy of the certification.

3.2.5 Other relevant materials that the Embassy may require to provide according to the needs of the individual case.

4. Processing Time and Fees:

4.1 Regular service: 4 working days. 

   Certificate can be picked up on the 4th working day.

4.2 Express service: 3 working days. 

   Certificate can be picked up on the 3rd working day.

4.3 The above processing time is general, some applications may take longer to process, so the processing time is uncertain. In such cases, applicants need to wait for notification from the CVASC.

4.4 Fees: