U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece

U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.

Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.

When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.

Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.

U.S. Embassy Athens prepared the list of English speaking attorneys in the box to the right as a service to U.S. citizens. We welcome both favorable and unfavorable comments concerning the performance of the attorneys listed. Such comments will assist us when reviewing the list every three years.

The U.S. government does not provide medical insurance for U.S. citizens overseas. We do not pay medical bills. You should purchase insurance before you travel. In general, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas.

Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates are issued by states, not the federal government. You must contact the state that issued the record to request a copy.

All thefts should be reported to the police as soon as possible. The thieves may not be found or the valuables recovered, but a police report may be required to submit an insurance claim or by your airline to issue a replacement ticket. The police report may also aid your travel within Greece without a valid travel document in the event your passport was stolen.

A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if certain statutory requirements are met. The child’s parents can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States (CRBA) to document that the child is a U.S. citizen. We recommend that parents apply for a CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth.

Children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s) may have a claim to U.S. citizenship. The following is a brief description of the various circumstances under which a child born abroad may acquire U.S. citizenship. For further information please select the description below that best fits your family circumstances.

The online application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (eCRBA) allows U.S. citizen parents to complete an application online, upload all required documents, and submit an online payment of $100 prior to the in-person interview. Ensure that the correct documents are uploaded as per step 1 of the eCRBA checklist, before you proceed to payment, otherwise an appointment cannot be scheduled.

In order to provide better service to our clients, all appointments for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and adult derivative citizenship applications (first time applicants over the age of 18) will be made only by email.

We advise that both parents should be present at the appointment. However, we recognize that it may not be possible in all cases. Here’s what you should do in those circumstances.

Processing times for all services are approximate. Times quoted should be used only as a guide. U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) are produced at facilities in the United States. Your application will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy once received by our office. Then we will contact you to inform you if any documents are missing or to schedule an appointment. After your interview and approval notification, processing time is usually approximately 3 weeks, can take as long as one month for applicants born in Greece. If you are also applying for a Passport Card, you should note that it takes approximately 4 months to process.