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Services to Foreign Media:
Procedure for accreditation and status of foreign press correspondents
in Greece
The Public Relations Directorate is in charge
of the accreditation of the foreign press correspondents as well as assisting them substantially in
the exercise of their journalistic profession. Foreign press representatives are required to be accredited
by the General Secretariat of Information / Public Relations Directorate in order to be provided with
the lawful professional facilities.Accreditation Form
The provisions concerning the above procedure are as follows:The Ministerial Decree No 22356/Δ/634/3.11.1998 (Official Gazette of the Government [O.G.G.] 1163/B/5.11.1998) defines each category, the prerequisites and procedure for the accreditation of representatives of foreign printed and electronic media, as well as the representatives of the Greek mass media abroad, by the Secretariat General of Information.
More precisely:
Definition of Each Category
According to Article 1 of the Ministerial Decree No 22356/Δ/634/3.11.1998:
1. Foreign Press Correspondents are defined as journalists who have as their main profession the dispatch, on a regular basis, of news reports, commentaries, articles, etc., to news agencies, radio/television networks or stations, daily newspapers and internationally-distinguished magazines which are based abroad.
2. In addition, photojournalists who are employed in a permanent working relationship by international news agencies or who collaborate with recognized photojournalistic agencies and who dispatch, on a regular basis, photographic material of Greek interest, are considered foreign press correspondents
3. Foreign Press Contributors are defined as persons engaged in the regular dispatch of news reports, commentaries, articles and radio/television material to weekly, fortnightly and monthly publications (political, financial and variety – not, however, specialized ones), radio and television programs, as well as local stations, all based abroad.
4. Foreign Press Assistants are defined as persons employed by the bureaus of international news agencies and radio/television networks in Greece, in order to serve them on an administrative or journalistic level, or those employed by an accredited correspondent of a reputable, mass circulation newspaper in order to assist him/her in his/her work.
Procedure for First Accreditation of Foreign Press Correspondents and Contributors
1. According to Article 3 of the Ministerial Decree No 22356/Δ/634/3.11.1998, the journalist who is representing the foreign press and is seeking accreditation presents the following supporting documents to the competent Directorate of the Secretariat General of Information, where he/she also completes the relative application form for accreditation;
2. A letter from the director of the medium he/she represents, in which his/her accreditation is requested as a correspondent with a permanent employment relationship in Greece, for the current calendar year. The monthly salary of the applicant for accreditation must correspond to, at least, the lowest salary for journalists with five years of service, as provided for by ESHEA’s (Union of Athens Daily Newspaper Editors) collective agreement on employment;
3. Certification or evidence which proves that the interested party has exercised the profession of journalist for at least two years prior to taking up his/her position in Greece;
4. Journalistic identity card;
5. Passport (if the applicant is a foreigner, or a native with dual citizenship);
6. Brief curriculum vitae;
7. At least ten (10) recent articles and a copy of the newspaper or magazine. Representatives of electronic media and photojournalistic agencies must submit certification from the director of the medium, in which reference is made to the professional activity of the interested party during the last three-month period, and two (2) recent small photographs (passport size).
Following the completion of the relative procedure and provided that the interested party fulfils the aforementioned prerequisites, he/she is supplied with a temporary foreign press correspondent or contributor identity card, of a three-month duration.
Following the three-month period, the accreditation of the foreign press correspondent or contributor becomes finalized with the submission, in person, of the following supporting documents:
Photocopies of published work or certification –in the case of radio/television stations and photojournalistic agencies-with reference to the activities of the temporarily accredited foreign press representative during the three-month period;
Supporting documents from a bank, which clearly show the sums deposited by the news reporting organization for the services rendered by the accredited individual. In the case of journalists or photojournalists who are employed by news agencies or international radio/television networks and are permanently established in Greece, photocopies of salary payment records or other supporting documents showing that fees have been paid, are acceptable
Following final accreditation, the interested party is supplied with the foreign press correspondent /contributor identity card, which is signed in accordance with each provision in effect.
For the first accreditation of foreign press assistant (or renewal), a letter of accreditation is required from the medium’s directorate, in which reference is made to his/her capacity and the duration of the working relationship.
Procedure for Renewal of Accreditation
According to Article 4 of the Ministerial Decree No 22356/Δ/634/3.11.1998, for the renewal of accreditation for each new calendar year and the issuing of a new identity card, the foreign press correspondents/contributors are required to submit the following:
A letter from the news organization they represent, in which it is certified that they continue to be employed with the same employment status for the new calendar year;
Clippings of published work (for members of the printed press) or certification (if members of the electronic mass media or photojournalistic agencies) with the professional activity of the foreign press correspondent or contributor during the past year;
Supporting documents from banks, which clearly show the sums deposited by the news reporting organization for the services rendered by the accredited individual;
In the case of journalists or photojournalists who are employed by news agencies or international radio/television networks and are permanently established in Greece, photocopies of salary payment records or other supporting documents showing that fees have been paid, are acceptable;
The accredited foreign press correspondent is obliged to state his/her employment capacity in his/her income tax declaration and to make known to the competent service his or her tax registration number (AFM);
Certification from the social insurance body TAISYT (Proprietors, Editors, Employees of the Press Fund) – in which foreign press correspondents and contributors are obliged to enlist – or from the ESHEA social insurance body - in the case of native journalists or certification of legal exemption from TAISYT, if the applicant has submitted relative supporting evidence that he/she is insured with a corresponding social insurance body for journalists abroad.
t must be noted that the obtaining of Tax Registration Number (AFM), as well as the insurance of foreign press correspondents/contributors with TAISYT are obligatory (legal exemption is provided from TAISYT if the applicant has submitted relative supporting evidence that he/she is insured with a corresponding social insurance body for journalists abroad).
Professional Service, Tax Exemptions, Residence Permit
Article 5 of the Ministerial Decree No 22356/Δ/634/3.11.1998 defines the Professional Service, Tax Exemptions and the preconditions of the issue of Residence Permit.
According to the above article, the foreign press correspondent, contributor and assistant identity card provides its holder with the lawful professional facilities in the exercise of his/her profession.
The foreign press correspondent –and not the contributor- is entitled to a residence permit in Greece, following relative certification that is issued to the interested party by the Secretariat General of Information and is addressed to the competent authorities. The application form for the aforementioned residence permit is submitted to the town hall or community the foreign press correspondent belongs to according to his/ her residence.
Tax exemptions in effect at any given time are provided only to active press correspondents.
The renewal of the card for exemption from import tax on cars and goods that the correspondent has received legally takes place at the competent services of the Ministry of Finance, following the renewal of his/her accreditation and the issuing of the identity card by the Secretariat General of Information.
Rendering of Professional Facilities
The General Secretariat of Communication - General Secretariat of Information (GSC-GSI) provide the representatives of foreign media organizations, that either have been accredited as foreign press correspondents in Greece or are visiting Greece for a specific purpose, with all the necessary facilities and support. Crews (foreign TV, filming, etc.) are also provided with every possible facility for news filming or film making.
More precisely, following a request of foreign media organizations and with the mediation of the Press and Communication Offices Abroad, the GSC-GSI provide visiting representatives, as well as permanent foreign press correspondents with the ‘rendering of professional facilities’ document.
According to this document, the competent civil and police authorities are requested to facilitate the filming crew and/or photographers in their work.
Note that the aforementioned document does not apply in any case to taking photographs or filming in archaeological sites/museums, military/ harbor installations, border areas or filming underwater. In addition, the above document does not apply to aerial filming or filming in areas where it is not allowed to do so. In the above cases, as internationally applied, special permits issued by competent authorities are required.
Permits for filming/taking pictures
The Public Relations Directorate forewords the requests of foreign media organizations (sent through the Press and Communication Offices Abroad) to the competent authorities for the issuing of the special permits (requested for filming/taking photographs in archeological sites, museums, in military and harbor installations, in border areas as well as for underwater and aerial filming). These services apply to permanent foreign press correspondents as well.
Application Form for a Cine–Video photography permit in museums, monuments and archaeological sites
Application for a permit to photograph in museums, at monuments and on archaeological sites
