What to Do When a Citizen of United States Dies in Greece: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtain the Medical Certificate of Death and Emergency or Forensic Clearance in Greece

   Before civil registration, burial, cremation, or international repatriation can proceed, a licensed physician or forensic medical examiner in Greece must issue the official Medical Certificate of Death (Ιατρικό Πιστοποιητικό Θανάτου) [1][2][4]:

   • Death in a Greek hospital or clinic: When a person dies in a public or private hospital (for example, in Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, or Rhodes), the attending hospital physician verifies the death, completes the Medical Certificate of Death (Ιατρικό Πιστοποιητικό Θανάτου) stating the exact medical cause of death, and transfers the body to the hospital mortuary until an appointed funeral director arrives [1][2][4]. Provide the deceased's U.S. passport (and Greek residence permit or tax/AMKA details, if held) so personal particulars match across Greek and U.S. records [1][4].
   • Death at a hotel, private residence, beach, or public place: Call the National Centre for Emergency Care (EKAB on 166), the European emergency number (112), and the Hellenic Police (100) (or the Hellenic Coast Guard on 108 if the death occurred at sea or on a beach) [1][2].
   • Forensic autopsy (Ιατροδικαστική Υπηρεσία) for sudden or unattended deaths: Under Greek law, whenever a death occurs outside a hospital without prior medical attendance, or is sudden, accidental, or unexplained, the Hellenic Police or Coast Guard orders a mandatory forensic examination and autopsy by the regional Forensic Medical Service (Ιατροδικαστική Υπηρεσία) of the Ministry of Justice (such as the Forensic Medical Service of Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, or Crete) [1][2]. The forensic pathologist issues the Medical Certificate of Death and release order once the examination is complete [1][2].
2. 2

   Check Insurance, Appoint Licensed Greek and U.S. Funeral Homes, and Contact the U.S. Embassy

   Before signing an independent funeral contract, check whether your family member held travel medical insurance, international health coverage, or credit-card repatriation protection, and contact the insurer's 24-hour assistance team first [1][2]. Note that the U.S. government cannot pay for funeral, cremation, or repatriation expenses [1][7].

   • Appointing a licensed Greek funeral home (Γραφείο Τελετών): In Greece, a licensed Greek funeral home (Γραφείο Τελετών) handles the collection of the deceased from the hospital or forensic morgue, files the municipal death registration, and arranges embalming, sealed coffin preparation, and air cargo clearance [1][2][4]. The U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece publishes an informational Disposition of Remains Report and list of funeral homes experienced in international repatriation across Athens, Thessaloniki, and the Greek islands [1][2].
   • Appointing a receiving U.S. funeral provider and FTC protections: For repatriation to the United States, the Greek funeral director coordinates with a state-licensed receiving funeral home in the destination U.S. state, which you can locate through the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA, phone +1 262-789-1880 or toll-free 800-228-6332) [5]. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC, phone +1 877-382-4357) enforces the federal Funeral Rule, requiring U.S. funeral providers to give families an itemized General Price List (GPL) and the right to select only the goods and services they want [6]. Clarvia lists official directories and consular resources for orientation only and does not endorse, recommend, or rank specific providers.
   • Notifying the U.S. Embassy in Athens or Consulate General in Thessaloniki: Report the death immediately to the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece (U.S. Embassy Athens phone +30 210-721-2951; U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki phone +30 2310-376-300) [1][2]. If the legal next of kin is in the United States and cannot travel to Greece, they can sign a notarized authorization/affidavit empowering the appointed Greek funeral home to act on their behalf before Greek municipal, health, and airport authorities [1][2].
3. 3

   Register the Death with the Municipal Civil Registry (Ληξιαρχείο) Within 24 Hours and Obtain the CRDA

   Under Greek civil registration law (Law 344/1976), a death in Greece must be declared within 24 hours of the death (or within 24 hours of the forensic pathologist's release) [2][4]:

   • Greek Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Θανάτου): In practice, the appointed Greek funeral director submits the signed Medical Certificate of Death (Ιατρικό Πιστοποιητικό Θανάτου), the deceased's U.S. passport, and a family status/birth details declaration to the municipal Civil Registry Office (Ληξιαρχείο / Lixiarcheio) of the municipality where the death occurred (for example, the Municipality of Athens or Municipality of Thessaloniki), or processes the declaration and extracts digitally via the national portal gov.gr [3][4]. The registrar retains the deceased's passport for forwarding to the U.S. Embassy and issues the official Greek Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Θανάτου) alongside the burial, cremation, or transfer permit [1][2][3][4].
   • Apostille and Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (CRDA, Form DS-2060): If you need the Greek Death Certificate for direct legal use in the United States, ask the funeral director to obtain the Hague Apostille from the Decentralized Administration (Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση) in Greece together with an official English translation [1][2]. In addition, submit the Greek Death Certificate and the deceased's U.S. passport to the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece (under the U.S. Department of State, Overseas Citizens Services phone +1 888-407-4747 from the U.S. or +1 202-501-4444 from abroad) to obtain the electronic Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (CRDA, Form DS-2060) [1][7]. The CRDA serves across all U.S. states as official English-language proof of death equivalent to a certificate from a state or county Vital Records / Office of Vital Statistics [1][7].
4. 4

   Choose Between International Repatriation to the United States and Local Burial or Cremation in Greece

   Depending on your family member's wishes and family arrangements, you may choose international repatriation or local disposition in Greece [1][2][8]:

   • Repatriating casketed human remains to the United States: Your Greek funeral home arranges mandatory arterial embalming by an accredited physician/pathologist, places the remains in a hermetically soldered zinc-lined coffin inside a wooden outer casket, and obtains the official mortuary laissez-passer / transfer and non-contagious disease permit from the regional Public Health Directorate (pursuant to the Berlin/Strasbourg international mortuary agreements) plus the Consular Mortuary Certificate from the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece [1][2]. Under the federal regulations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 42 CFR 71.55, phone +1 800-232-4636), embalmed human remains in a hermetically sealed casket accompanied by the official death certificate stating the cause of death do not require a separate CDC import permit unless the person died of a quarantinable communicable disease [8]. At the U.S. port of entry, the receiving U.S. funeral director clears the shipment through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and obtains the state burial-transit permit [5][8].
   • Local burial or cremation in Greece and transporting ashes: Local burials take place in municipal cemeteries across Greece, while cremation is performed at licensed Greek cremation facilities (such as the Ritsona Crematorium near Chalkida, serving Athens and nationwide transfers) upon presentation of the municipal cremation permit [2][4]. If you transport cremated ashes to the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not require a CDC import permit for cremated remains; carry the ashes in a sealed, non-metallic X-ray-scannable urn accompanied by the Greek Death Certificate, the Certificate of Cremation, and the CRDA [1][2][8].
5. 5

   Complete Benefit Claims, Tax Filings, and Estate Probate in the United States and Greece

   Once the Greek Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Θανάτου) and the U.S. CRDA (Form DS-2060) are issued, complete the post-death benefit and estate steps in both countries:

   • In the United States (SSA, VA, IRS, and State Probate Court):
     • Social Security Administration (SSA): Report the death immediately so monthly benefits stop (any payment received for the month of death or later must be returned) and to apply for monthly survivor pensions or the $255 lump-sum death payment for eligible family members [9][10]. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 in the United States, or, if the deceased or surviving beneficiaries resided in Greece, contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Athens [9][10].
     • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): If your family member served in the U.S. Armed Forces, contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (phone +1 800-827-1000) to claim national cemetery burial benefits, a government headstone or marker, burial allowances (VA Form 21P-530EZ), or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) [11].
     • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and State Probate Court: The court-appointed executor or administrator files the deceased's final federal income tax return (Form 1040) with the Internal Revenue Service (phone +1 800-829-1040) by the standard April 15 filing deadline (plus Form 1041 if the estate generates $600 or more in annual gross income) [12], and petitions the county Probate Court (or Surrogate's Court) in the U.S. state of domicile for Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
   • In Greece (e-EFKA and Greek Inheritance Certificate / Κληρονομητήριο):
     • Greek social security (e-EFKA): If your family member was insured or receiving a pension in Greece, notify the Unified Social Security Fund (e-EFKA via gov.gr, phone 1555 in Greece) so the person who paid the funeral bill can apply electronically for the statutory funeral expenses reimbursement (Έξοδα Κηδείας) and eligible survivors can claim a Greek survivor pension (Σύνταξη λόγω θανάτου) (or totalized benefits under the U.S.-Greece Social Security Totalization Agreement) [13].
     • Greek estate succession, tax declaration (AADE), and Κληρονομητήριο: If the deceased owned real estate, bank accounts, or other assets in Greece, heirs or their appointed Greek lawyer/notary obtain the Certificate of Closest Relatives and Certificate of Non-Publication of a Will via gov.gr, apply to the competent Greek court/notary for a Greek Certificate of Inheritance (Κληρονομητήριο) or execute a notarial acceptance of inheritance, and file the Greek inheritance tax declaration with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) within the statutory deadline (12 months when the deceased passed away abroad or heirs reside abroad, or 6 months domestically; note that renunciation of a Greek inheritance must be filed within 4 months, or 12 months if the deceased lived abroad or the heir resided abroad when learning of the death) [14].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Death of a U.S. Citizen in Greece (eCRODA Form DS-2060 and Consular Assistance) — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece
2. [2]
   Disposition of Remains Report: Greece — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece
3. [3]
   Death Certificate (Ληξιαρχική πράξη θανάτου) - Digital Issuance — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr)
4. [4]
   Declaration of Death (Δήλωση θανάτου) at the Municipal Civil Registry (Ληξιαρχείο) — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr)
5. [5]
   National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Directory — National Funeral Directors Association
6. [6]
   The FTC Funeral Rule — Federal Trade Commission
7. [7]
   Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (CRDA Form DS-2060) — U.S. Department of State
8. [8]
   Bringing Human Remains into the United States (42 CFR 71.55) — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
9. [9]
   Social Security Survivor Benefits and Reporting a Death — Social Security Administration
10. [10]
    Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece
11. [11]
    VA Burials and Memorials — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
12. [12]
    Filing a Final Federal Tax Return (Form 1040) for Someone Who Has Died — Internal Revenue Service
13. [13]
    Reimbursement of Funeral Expenses (Έξοδα κηδείας e-ΕΦΚΑ) — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr / e-EFKA)
14. [14]
    Certificate of Non-Publication of a Will and Inheritance Procedures — Hellenic Republic (gov.gr)