Digital transformation to ease access to documents for Diaspora
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The new “Digital Application Management Service” by Greece’s Digital Governance, and Foreign Affairs ministries, is expected to be fully operational soon.
It should enable Greek Diaspora to submit their applications to the consular authorities, and receive any supporting documents.
The digital service will serve Diaspora as well non-Greeks who deal with Greece’s consular authorities.
The Digital Application Management Service reflects the Greek government’s desire to engage the Diaspora while keeping digital transformation rolling.
Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, and Foreign Affairs Minister, George Gerapetritis, coordinated efforts to further strengthen ties with the Diaspora.
But what kind of documents will be issued?
In coming months people will be able to access it either through the ministry of foreign affairs, consular authority, and gov.gr Users will obtain one-time passwords (OTP) or – alternatively – follow an authentication process.
The services that will be available include application for Greek citizenship and passports, the and power of attorney.
In time a Registry of Hellenes Abroad is expected to be developed.
The digital service will be implemented as part of the Transforming Consular Services Processes reforms, with funding from the EU Social Fund.
A digital apostille
This reform includes the electronic apostille seal from July 2023, through apostille.gov.gr directly, or Citizen and Daily Life / Digital Documents gov.gr.
So far, over 3000 documents have been issued with an apostille seal via gov.gr.
This service enables Greeks abroad to submit a document, mark it electronically and send it to the final recipient without requiring any visit to a public authority. The Hague Seal is available in Greek, English and French.
What is the Apostille stamp?
An apostille is a seal by which a government agency certifies the authenticity of a document so that it can be accepted as valid by a foreign state under the conditions established in 1961.
An Apostille seal can be used for any legal use in another Member State once it bears the signatures and seals of the government and has been deemed authentic.
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
