A new report calls for Greece to introduce remote digital identity verification for citizens living abroad, arguing that many consular procedures still require physical visits not because they inherently demand them, but because the state lacks a way to verify applicants’ identities remotely.
The report, “Modernizing Consular Services for the Greek Diaspora: A Remote Identity Assurance Framework for Greeks Abroad,” was published by the Deon Policy Institute and authored by Dimitrios Pilitsis and Nexus Apex Partners.
While Greece has expanded digital access to public services through gov.gr, which offers more than 2,250 services and has served more than 9 million people, the report says the benefits remain largely inaccessible to the estimated 5 million people of Greek origin living abroad.
Obtaining a tax identification number, or AFM, registering contact details, declaring a marriage or birth, or granting a power of attorney can still require a visit to a Greek consulate or the use of a paid legal representative in Greece.
For Greeks living in geographically large countries, the report notes, a single administrative procedure can involve domestic air travel, an overnight stay and a day away from work, often with the same costs repeated for each procedure that cannot be handled during the same trip.
