Parliamentary Elections 2027: A Guide for Greeks Living Abroad

ATHENS: . – The Ministry of the Interior has issued a new circular providing detailed instructions on how voters residing outside Greece can exercise their voting rights in the parliamentary elections and how they can register in the Special Overseas Electoral Register.

It is worth noting that Greeks living abroad can now participate in parliamentary elections by postal vote, following the passage earlier this year of Law 5285/2026, titled ‘Establishment of the Electoral District of the Greek Diaspora – Facilitating the Exercise of Voting Rights for Electors Outside the Territory through Postal Voting in Parliamentary Elections’.

The legislation marks a significant development in the relationship between the Greek state and the Greek diaspora and has been widely welcomed by Greek communities worldwide.

How Can Greeks Abroad Vote?

According to the circular signed on July 31, 2026 by Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios, voters residing outside Greece may exercise their voting rights in one of the following ways:

• By voting in person at overseas polling stations established for the election
• By postal vote only
• By postal vote only if no polling station is established in their preferred city for in-person voting.

Who Is Eligible to Register?

Any Greek citizen may register in the Special Overseas Electoral Register if they:

• are living permanently or temporarily outside Greece on election day;
• are already registered on the electoral roll of a municipality in the Hellenic Republic; and
• are eligible to vote.

Previous registrations are no longer valid

The Ministry also clarifies that previous registrations in the Special Overseas Electoral Register for parliamentary elections are no longer valid, as voters must now indicate whether they wish to vote in person or by mail.

Applications to register, update personal information, or cancel a registration must be submitted no later than one day after the elections are officially called.

Any registration, amendment, or cancellation made from the second day after the election is called onward will only take effect after the election and will apply to the next parliamentary election.

How to Register

Voters may apply for registration in the Special Overseas Electoral Register either:

• through the Ministry of the Interior’s online application, or
• through the relevant Greek embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

Online Registration

Applicants should visit:

https://apodimoi.ypes.gov.gr

They must verify their identity using either:

• their Taxisnet credentials issued by the General Secretariat for Information Systems and Digital Governance, or
• a combination of:
  • their Greek passport number
  • passport issue date
  • date of birth, and
  • an active mobile phone number

After authentication, applicants complete the registration form by providing:

• a mobile phone number
• an email address, and
• their residential address

They must then choose one of the following voting methods:

1. Vote in person.
2. Vote by postal ballot
3. Vote by postal ballot only if no in-person polling station is established in the selected city

Depending on the chosen option, applicants must also specify:

• the preferred country and city for in-person voting, and/or
• the address where their postal voting materials should be sent.

Registration Through Greek Diplomatic or Consular Authorities

Voters may also register through their local Greek embassy or consulate, either:

• by appearing in person, or
• through the MyConsulLive video appointment service.

In these cases, consular staff access the Ministry’s dedicated registration platform at:

https://apodimoiorg.ypes.gov.gr

The official identifies the voter using either:

• the voter’s Greek Tax Identification Number (AFM), or
• if no AFM exists, an official identity document such as:
  • a Greek national identity card
  • a passport, or
  • a driver’s license

Once the voter’s registration in the main electoral register is verified, the system automatically fills in the applicant’s basic personal information.

The consular officer then records:

• the applicant’s active Greek or foreign mobile phone number, and
• a valid personal email address.

The voter then selects one of the three available voting methods described above.

Updating Registration Information

According to the Ministry’s circular, registered overseas voters may update their registration details at any time, including:

• their residential address
• contact information
• the mailing address for receiving postal voting materials, and
• their preferred voting method and polling location