International adoption country guide
Greece: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Greece, were born there and adopted in the UK, or have a birth parent from there.
Research last refreshed: September 2026
Ask the Adoptee Rights Assistant
Start by identifying the records and rules that apply
Region and municipality matter for records; historical overseas adoptions may involve institutions and courts that no longer exist.
The gov.gr service exists, but current digital access information indicates Taxisnet credentials may be needed for online support/communication. A UK-based adoptee may therefore need the competent regional/social welfare authority or Greek consular assistance rather than relying solely on the online portal.
Check the current procedure before applyingThis guide explains the likely process, but forms, contact details, eligibility and access rules can change. Check the linked source before sending identity documents or paying a fee.
Choose the situation that describes you
Adopted in Greece
What applies: First establish the date and place of the legal adoption in Greece, and identify the original birth/civil, adoption, court, agency or welfare records separately.
How to look for records: Use the relevant regional social welfare/root-search process and civil registration records, while keeping court/adoption records distinct.
How to look for family: Use Greece's official 'Search for biological family of adopted persons' service as the primary family finding process where applicable. Treat the adoption/court/social welfare and civil registration records as distinct from the tracing service. Once biological names and places are verified, move into municipal/civil, church and archival genealogy for wider family reconstruction.
Important: Do not assume that access to one Greece record repository gives access to the whole adoption file. Historic law and record survival may differ from the current adult process.
Born in Greece and brought to the UK to be adopted
What applies: First establish whether the legal adoption was completed in Greece or in the UK. If that is unknown, keep both procedures open rather than assuming where the adoption order was made.
How to look for records: Use the Greece birth/civil and before adoption record procedures described for this country, while separately tracing the UK adoption/receiving-agency, local authority, court and immigration trail.
How to look for family: Use Greece's official 'Search for biological family of adopted persons' service as the primary family finding process where applicable. Treat the adoption/court/social welfare and civil registration records as distinct from the tracing service. Once biological names and places are verified, move into municipal/civil, church and archival genealogy for wider family reconstruction.
Important: The original birth-country record and the later UK adoption/recognition record are different sources. Nationality of the adopters does not determine where the original birth record is held.
One parent was from Greece
What applies: Do not process this as an intercountry-adoption record case unless the user's own adoption occurred there. Start with the verified identity of the parent and the strongest known place/date in Greece.
How to look for records: Use civil registration, archives and genealogy resources for Greece once the parent's identity and locality are established. Adoption-specific authorities are relevant only if the parent's own adoption/history makes them so.
How to look for family: Use Greece's official 'Search for biological family of adopted persons' service as the primary family finding process where applicable. Treat the adoption/court/social welfare and civil registration records as distinct from the tracing service. Once biological names and places are verified, move into municipal/civil, church and archival genealogy for wider family reconstruction.
Important: A parent being from this country does not by itself create an entitlement to adoption records. Living-person privacy and civil registration access rules may restrict what can be obtained.
Records and family finding
Start with records
Use the relevant regional social welfare/root-search process and civil registration records, while keeping court/adoption records distinct.
Looking for family
Use Greece's official 'Search for biological family of adopted persons' service as the primary family finding process where applicable. Treat the adoption/court/social welfare and civil registration records as distinct from the tracing service. Once biological names and places are verified, move into municipal/civil, church and archival genealogy for wider family reconstruction.
DNA
Use DNA as a separate source of evidence, not as proof by itself. Prefer multiple matches/shared match analysis plus documentary evidence. Country-specific DNA programmes are listed where verified.
Peer support
ICAV lists Greece-origin adoptee organisations such as Greek Orphans Seeking Answers, Greek Born Adoptees and Roots Research Centre. These should be checked for current information before recommendation and treated as peer/support or independent search resources rather than the official state process.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesIdentify the region/municipality and the adoption authority or institution from the file, then use the official biological-family search process and civil registration records in parallel.
If you have a name or placeUse municipal/civil-status records and the relevant regional authority to verify the biological identity, then extend the family line through Greek archive/church/genealogy sources.
If the search has stalledIf the portal is inaccessible from abroad, contact the responsible regional service or Greek consulate and ask for the process for an adult adoptee resident overseas.
Verified sources and resources
Official services and independent or adoptee-led resources are shown separately. Check current eligibility, security, costs and capacity before supplying personal information.
Adoptee-led peer and search resources
Leads to Greece-origin adoptee organisations and peer/search support
Things to check: Each linked group should be individually checked for current information
Other verified resources
Official state biological-family search service for adopted persons
Things to check: English detail is limited and current online support may require Greek Taxisnet credentials; overseas routing should be checked for current information
Adult adoptee search for biological family and reunion
Things to check: Shown via Crete regional portal; equivalent process should be checked for correct region
This country guide provides general information, not legal advice or a tracing service. Records and family finding across borders can involve privacy, consent and personal safety considerations. Verify the current official procedure before acting.
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