What to Do When Someone Dies in Greece: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtain the Medical Certificate of Death and Emergency or Forensic Clearance

   Before any civil registration or funeral arrangement can take place in Greece, a licensed physician or forensic medical examiner must issue the official Medical Certificate of Death (Ιατρικό Πιστοποιητικό Θανάτου) stating the exact cause, date, and hour of death [1][3]:

   • Death in a public or private hospital or clinic: When a person dies under medical care in a hospital or clinic (for example, in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, or Heraklion), the attending hospital physician verifies the death, issues the signed Medical Certificate of Death (Ιατρικό Πιστοποιητικό Θανάτου), and authorizes transfer to the hospital mortuary until an appointed funeral director arrives [1][3]. Family members should provide the deceased's Greek identity card (Αστυνομική Ταυτότητα) or passport, Tax Identification Number (ΑΦΜ), and Social Security Number (ΑΜΚΑ) so that personal particulars match civil and social security records [1][2].
   • Expected death at home under regular medical care: Call the National Centre for Emergency Care (EKAB on 166) or the treating physician. If the deceased was under documented medical supervision for a known illness and there are no signs of foul play, the treating doctor or attending public-sector physician may issue the Medical Certificate of Death [1][3].
   • Sudden, accidental, or unattended death requiring police and forensic clearance: If the death occurs unexpectedly at a residence, hotel, beach, or public place without recent medical attendance, call EKAB (166), the European emergency number (112), and the Hellenic Police (100) (or the Hellenic Coast Guard on 108 for deaths at sea or on a coastline) [3]. Under Greek law, the police or coast guard orders a mandatory forensic examination and autopsy by the regional Forensic Medical Service (Ιατροδικαστική Υπηρεσία) of the Ministry of Justice before issuing the forensic death certificate and release order [3].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Municipal Civil Registry Within 24 Hours

   Under Greek civil registration law (Law 344/1976), every death in Greece must be declared within 24 hours of occurrence (or within 24 hours of the forensic pathologist's release order) [1][2][3]:

   • Declaration at the Municipal Civil Registry (Ληξιαρχείο): The declaration of death (Δήλωση θανάτου) is filed with the municipal Civil Registry Office (Ληξιαρχείο / Lixiarcheio) of the municipality where the death occurred (or where the body was found or brought ashore), or processed digitally through the national public administration portal gov.gr [1][2]. By law, the obligation to declare the death falls on the closest relatives, anyone present at the death, or the licensed funeral home expressly authorized by the family to act on their behalf [1][3].
   • Issuance of the Greek Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Θανάτου): Upon receiving the signed Medical Certificate of Death and the deceased's identity document, the civil registrar records the death, updates the Municipal Register (Δημοτολόγιο), and issues the official Greek Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Θανάτου) alongside the municipal permit for burial or cremation (Άδεια Ταφής ή Αποτέφρωσης) [1][2][3]. Families and authorized representatives can request additional digital extracts of the Death Certificate and the Certificate of Closest Relatives (Πιστοποιητικό Εγγυτέρων Συγγενών) at any time via gov.gr or at a Citizens' Service Center (ΚΕΠ) using Taxisnet credentials [1][2].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation with a Licensed Funeral Provider

   A licensed Greek funeral home (Γραφείο Τελετών) coordinates the mortuary transport, cemetery or crematorium booking, and sanitary permits [1][3]:

   • Local burial or cremation in Greece: With the municipal burial or cremation permit issued by the Civil Registry Office (Ληξιαρχείο), the funeral director arranges interment at the municipal cemetery or cremation at a licensed Greek crematorium (such as the Ritsona Cremation Center in Euboea, serving Athens and nationwide transfers) [3]. Before signing a contract, request a written itemized quote covering coffin, transport, municipal cemetery fees, and registry filings [3].
   • International repatriation and Hague Apostille / consular legalization: If the deceased was a foreign citizen or if the family wishes to repatriate the casketed body or cremated ashes abroad, the Greek funeral home arranges mandatory arterial embalming, hermetically sealed zinc-lined coffin preparation (for casketed remains), and the international mortuary transfer permit (laissez-passer) from the regional Public Health Directorate together with consular clearance from the relevant foreign embassy [3]. When Greek death certificates or civil status extracts must be used in another country, obtain the Hague Apostille from the competent Decentralized Administration (Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση) in Greece and an official translation via the gov.gr certified translators register or a consular authority [1][3].
4. 4

   Notify Social Security (e-EFKA), Tax, and Banking Authorities and Claim Benefits

   Once the Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Θανάτου) is issued, notify public institutions and financial providers in Greece and apply for statutory bereavement benefits [1][4]:

   • Funeral expenses reimbursement and survivor pension (e-EFKA): If your family member was insured or receiving a pension from the Unified Social Security Fund (e-EFKA) (phone 1555 in Greece), the civil registry declaration automatically updates the national social security registry (ΑΜΚΑ / ΗΔΙΚΑ) to suspend ongoing old-age or disability pension payments [1][4]. The person who paid the funeral expenses can submit an online application via gov.gr to the Unified Social Security Fund (e-EFKA) for the statutory funeral grant (Έξοδα Κηδείας), uploading the itemized funeral invoice (Τιμολόγιο Παροχής Υπηρεσιών) and bank IBAN [4]. Eligible surviving spouses and dependent children can also apply electronically to the Unified Social Security Fund (e-EFKA) for a monthly survivor pension (Σύνταξη λόγω θανάτου) [1][4].
   • Tax Registry (AADE) and Greek banks: The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) must be updated by the heirs through the myAADE digital portal so the deceased's Tax Registry (Μητρώο ΑΑΔΕ) reflects the death and lists the legal heirs [5]. Notify all Greek commercial banks where the deceased held individual or joint accounts, loans, or safe-deposit boxes; individual accounts are frozen until the bank's legal department verifies the succession certificates and tax clearance [5].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate, Wills, Inheritance Tax, and Cross-Border Succession

   Greek succession law sets strict deadlines for checking wills, accepting or renouncing an estate, and filing inheritance tax returns [5][6]:

   • Will search, renunciation deadline, and Certificate of Inheritance (Κληρονομητήριο): Search for any public, secret, or holographic will deposited with a Greek notary or court through the electronic Register of Wills (diathikes.gr) and obtain the Certificate of Publication or Non-Publication of a Will via gov.gr [6]. Under the Greek Civil Code, an heir who wishes to renounce (waive) an inheritance (Αποποίηση Κληρονομιάς) - for example, if the estate carries debts - must file a formal declaration within 4 months of learning of the death and their call to the succession (extended to 12 months if the deceased had their last residence abroad or if the heir resided abroad when learning of the death) [5]. To transfer real estate or release bank funds, heirs either execute a Notarial Deed of Acceptance of Inheritance (Πράξη Αποδοχής Κληρονομιάς) before a Greek notary (registered with the Hellenic Cadastre / Κτηματολόγιο) or obtain a Greek Certificate of Inheritance (Κληρονομητήριο) [5][6].
   • Inheritance tax declaration (myProperty / AADE) and cross-border coordination: Heirs must file the Greek inheritance tax declaration (Δήλωση Φόρου Κληρονομιάς) electronically via AADE's myProperty platform within 9 months if the deceased died in Greece, or within 12 months if the deceased died abroad or the heirs resided abroad at the time of death [5]. Where assets or heirs are located across multiple European Union Member States, a Greek notary or court can also issue or accept a European Certificate of Succession under Regulation (EU) No 650/2012, while heirs living outside Greece may authorize a local lawyer or notary via a notarized and apostilled power of attorney (or a power of attorney signed before a Greek consulate abroad) [3][5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Declaration of Death (Δήλωση θανάτου) and Bereavement Procedures — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr)
2. [2]
   Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική πράξη θανάτου) - Digital Issuance — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr)
3. [3]
   Disposition of Remains Report: Greece (Mortuary, Cremation, and Repatriation Rules) — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece
4. [4]
   Reimbursement of Funeral Expenses (Έξοδα κηδείας e-ΕΦΚΑ) — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr / e-EFKA)
5. [5]
   Filing an Inheritance Tax Return and Succession Procedures in Greece — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr / AADE)
6. [6]
   Register of Wills (Μητρώο Διαθηκών) and Certificates of Publication of a Will — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr)