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Heraklion region opens applications for new taxi licence and disability vehicle conversions
Announcement · Municipality of Apokoronas

Heraklion region opens applications for new taxi licence and disability vehicle conversions

February 10, 2026 Original source ↗ Verified source
Summary

The Region of Crete is offering one new public hire vehicle licence in the municipality of Viannos and inviting taxi owners in four other municipalities — Phaistos, Gortyna, Chersonissos, and Minoa Pediada — to convert their existing taxi licences into disability-accessible minivan permits. Applications from both individuals and companies must be submitted in person to the Transport Directorate in Heraklion by Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 14:00.

New taxi licence and disability vehicle conversions on offer in the Heraklion region

The regional administration of Crete has opened applications for a new public hire vehicle licence and for the conversion of existing taxi licences in five municipalities of the Heraklion regional unit. The process covers two distinct opportunities, depending on the municipality.

What is being offered?

In the municipality of Viannos, one entirely new licence is available for a special-hire vehicle (6 to 9 seats, no meter). This is open to applicants who do not currently hold a licence.

In the municipalities of Phaistos, Gortyna, Chersonissos, and Minoa Pediada, one licence conversion is available in each. Current taxi owners (vehicles with up to 5 seats and a meter) can apply to convert their permit into a special-hire licence for vehicles equipped to transport people with disabilities. One conversion slot is available per municipality.

Who can apply?

Both individuals and companies registered in an EU member state may apply, provided they meet a set of cumulative requirements.

Individuals must: hold EU citizenship, have no final criminal conviction for offences listed under the relevant provision of the law, be up to date with tax and social security obligations, and — if they already hold more than five licences — have suitable parking and maintenance space for all their vehicles. Those applying for the new licence in Viannos must also demonstrate sufficient financial capacity.

Companies must: be registered in an EU member state, have no final criminal conviction among their management (board members for companies limited by shares, managers for other types, general partners for general and limited partnerships), be compliant with tax and social security obligations, and provide suitable parking facilities if they hold more than five licences. A new licence application in Viannos also requires proof of financial capacity.

What documents are needed?

Individuals must submit:

  • Identity: Copy of national ID card or valid passport
  • Criminal record: General criminal record certificate
  • Tax compliance: Current tax clearance certificate
  • Social security compliance: Certificate from the primary insurance body
  • New licence applicants (Viannos only): Bank guarantee of €5,000
  • Conversion applicants: Copy of the existing vehicle registration (replaces the bank guarantee)

All documents must be issued after the first publication date of this call for interest.

Companies must submit the same documents plus: certified articles of association and any amendments, a certificate confirming the company is not in insolvency or liquidation proceedings, criminal record certificates for all management members, and — where applicable — a bank guarantee of €5,000 for new licence applications. For companies, the articles of association and the gazette entry for the board of directors are exempt from the post-publication date requirement.

Application forms are available from the Transport Directorate of the Heraklion regional unit.

Deadlines and process

  • Application deadline: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 14:00
  • Where to apply: Directorate of Transport and Communications, Regional Unit of Heraklion, 17 Archiepiskopou Makariou St., Heraklion
  • Contact: Tel. 2813 410503

After the deadline, the directorate will check all submissions for completeness and list all valid applications by municipality and vehicle type. The list will be published on the websites of the Region of Crete (www.crete.gov.gr) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (www.yme.gr).

If more applications are received than there are licences available for any given municipality, the allocation will be decided by an electronic lottery in accordance with the applicable law. Results will then be formally approved by regional decision.

Official source

Source translation

Machine-translated from the official source document.

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR THE CONVERSION OF EXISTING LICENCES TO ANOTHER CATEGORY AT THE SEATS OF THE REGIONAL UNIT OF HERAKLION

Ref. No.: 40088/06-02-2026

TO BE POSTED ON THE INTERNET

HELLENIC REPUBLIC REGION OF CRETE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE OF TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REGIONAL UNIT OF HERAKLION DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC USE VEHICLE LICENCES Postal address: Archiepiskopou Makariou 17 Postal code: 712 02 Contact: Eir. Dramountani Tel.: 2813 410503 Email: [email protected]

Heraklion

CC: DISTRIBUTION LIST

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR THE CONVERSION OF EXISTING LICENCES TO ANOTHER CATEGORY AT THE SEATS OF THE REGIONAL UNIT OF HERAKLION

Pursuant to the provisions of Law 4070/2012 (Government Gazette A' 82) as amended and in force, matters relating to Public Use Passenger Vehicles (P.U.V./Ε.Δ.Χ.) are regulated and three categories of such vehicles are defined: a) PUV vehicles (TAXI) with a meter, having up to five (5) passenger seats including the driver; b) PUV Special Hire vehicles (ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ) without a meter, having from six (6) to nine (9) passenger seats including the driver; and c) PUV Special Transport vehicles (ΕΙΔΜΕΤ) without a meter, having from five (5) to seven (7) passenger seats including the driver.

The Governor of Crete

within the framework of implementing the provisions of a) the relevant legislation on the granting of new PUV vehicle licences (TAXI or ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ) or the conversion of existing licences to another type, b) Decision No. 85/2012 (Government Gazette B' 2080) of the Regional Council of Crete, c) Decision No. 11634/15-1-2026 (Government Gazette B' 462) on the subject "Determination of the number of Public Use Passenger Vehicle (PUV) licences for TAXI and Special Hire (ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ) vehicles per seat in the Region of Crete and conversion of existing licences"

hereby invites

interested natural or legal persons who wish to be granted a new PUV vehicle licence or to convert an existing licence to another category to submit a relevant application with the required supporting documents by Wednesday, 8 April 2026 at 14:00, in accordance with the following:

At the seat of Municipality of Viannos: for the granting of one (1) PUV-ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ licence At the seat of Municipality of Phaistos: for the conversion of one (1) PUV-TAXI licence to PUV-ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ (Disabled) At the seat of Municipality of Gortyna: for the conversion of one (1) PUV-TAXI licence to PUV-ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ (Disabled) At the seat of Municipality of Chersonissos: for the conversion of one (1) PUV-TAXI licence to PUV-ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ (Disabled) At the seat of Municipality of Minoa Pediada: for the conversion of one (1) PUV-TAXI licence to PUV-ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ (Disabled)

The application must specify the seat for which a new PUV vehicle licence is requested, specifically at the seat of the Municipality of Viannos, or the seat of the Regional Unit of Heraklion for which the conversion of existing PUV TAXI licences to PUV ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ (Disabled) is requested.

The seats of PUV vehicles in the Regional Unit of Heraklion, as determined by Decision No. 85/2012 (Government Gazette B' 2080) of the Regional Council, are:

A) Unified seat of the Municipalities of Heraklion and Malevizi B) Municipality of Archanes-Asterousia C) Municipality of Viannos D) Municipality of Gortyna E) Municipality of Minoa Pediada ST) Municipality of Phaistos Z) Municipality of Chersonissos

The competent authority for the submission of applications for a PUV vehicle licence with a seat within the administrative boundaries of the Regional Unit of Heraklion is the Directorate of Transport and Communications of the Regional Unit of Heraklion.

Each interested party submits an application signed by themselves or their legal representative, together with a file containing the required supporting documents as shown in the ANNEX, which must have been issued after the first date of publication of the present call.

Conditions for participation by natural and legal persons:

Interested parties wishing to obtain a new PUV vehicle licence in the Municipality of Viannos must cumulatively meet the following conditions pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of Law 4070/2012:

A) NATURAL PERSONS

  1. Citizenship of a European Union member state.
  2. No final criminal conviction for any of the offences listed in Article 100, paragraph a' of Law 4070/2012.
  3. Up to date with tax and social security obligations.
  4. Sufficient financial capacity to carry out the professional activity of operating PUV vehicles, according to the number of licences requested.
  5. Suitable spaces for parking, storage and maintenance of all vehicles, in the event that more than five (5) PUV vehicle circulation licences are held in their name.

B) LEGAL PERSONS

  1. Registered seat in a European Union member state.
  2. No final criminal conviction for any of the offences listed in Article 100, paragraph a' of Law 4070/2012 against the persons exercising management of these legal entities. That is, for limited companies (S.A.) the members of the Board of Directors, for every other type of company the Managers, and for general and limited partnerships the general partners.
  3. Up to date with tax and social security obligations.
  4. Sufficient financial capacity to carry out the professional activity of operating PUV vehicles, according to the number of licences requested.
  5. Suitable spaces for parking, storage and maintenance of all vehicles, in the event that more than five (5) PUV vehicle circulation licences are held in their name.

Interested parties wishing to convert an existing licence to another category must cumulatively meet the following conditions pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of Law 4070/2012:

A) NATURAL PERSONS

  1. Citizenship of a European Union member state.
  2. No final criminal conviction for any of the offences listed in Article 100, paragraph a' of Law 4070/2012.
  3. Up to date with tax and social security obligations.
  4. Suitable spaces for parking, storage and maintenance of all vehicles, in the event that more than five (5) PUV vehicle circulation licences are held in their name.

B) LEGAL PERSONS

  1. Registered seat in a European Union member state.
  2. No final criminal conviction for any of the offences listed in Article 100, paragraph a' of Law 4070/2012 against the persons exercising management of these legal entities. That is, for limited companies (S.A.) the members of the Board of Directors, for every other type of company the Managers, and for general and limited partnerships the general partners.
  3. Up to date with tax and social security obligations.
  4. Suitable spaces for parking, storage and maintenance of all vehicles, in the event that more than five (5) PUV vehicle circulation licences are held in their name.

Processing of applications – announcement of results

After the application submission period has ended, the competent authority will check the completeness of the required supporting documents and the conditions for granting a new licence or converting an existing licence to another category.

The relevant applications will then be entered into an electronic record with the name or trade name of the applicant per seat, the type of PUV vehicle (TAXI or ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ) in ascending order of application submission number, indicating for each applicant the corresponding number of licences applied for.

This record will be posted on the website of the Region of Crete (www.crete.gov.gr) and on the website of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (www.yme.gr).

In the event that the total number of licences applied for per seat is greater than the number determined by the Governor's decision, an electronic lottery is conducted in accordance with Article 106 paragraph 7 of Law 4070/12 as amended and in force.

Following the completion of the procedure and the transmission to the Governor of Crete of the lists of successful lottery participants by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, for the seats of the Regional Unit of Heraklion, a decision will be issued approving in the name of each beneficiary the granting or conversion of the existing PUV TAXI licence to PUV ΕΙΔΜΙΣΘ (Disabled).

THE GOVERNOR OF CRETE

STAVROS ARNAOUTAKIS

DISTRIBUTION LIST:

A) REGION OF CRETE

  1. Office of the Governor, Mr Arnaoutakis
  2. Office of the Vice-Governor of Heraklion
  3. Office of the Vice-Governor of Chania
  4. Office of the Vice-Governor of Rethymno
  5. Office of the Vice-Governor of Lasithi
  6. General Directorate of Transport & Communications
  7. Directorate of Transport & Communications of the Regional Unit of Heraklion
  8. Directorate of Transport & Communications of the Regional Unit of Chania
  9. Directorate of Transport & Communications of the Regional Unit of Rethymno
  10. Directorate of Transport & Communications of the Regional Unit of Lasithi
  11. Independent Press Office (with the request to issue a press release in local media (radio, television, newspapers), pursuant to Article 106 paragraph 3 of Law 4070/12)

B) MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

  1. Directorate of Passenger Transport (D32)
  2. IT Support and Electronic Systems Service (D9) (with the request to post on the Ministry's website, pursuant to Article 106 paragraph 3 of Law 4070/12)

C) All Municipalities of the Region of Crete

(with the request to post on the municipality's website and to display at the municipal building and at the KEP (Citizen Service Centres) of each municipality, pursuant to Article 106 paragraph 3 of Law 4070/12)

D) Professional associations of PUV vehicle owners and drivers of the Prefecture of Heraklion

ANNEX

REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR NATURAL AND LEGAL PERSONS FOR THE GRANTING OF A NEW PUV LICENCE OR CONVERSION OF AN EXISTING ONE TO ANOTHER CATEGORY

The documents must have been issued after the first date of publication of the present announcement/call for expressions of interest, except for documents 1 and 2 of table (B).

(Application forms are issued by the Transport and Communications Service of the Regional Unit of Heraklion)

(A) NATURAL PERSONS

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

  1. Photocopy of national identity card or valid passport
  2. General criminal record certificate
  3. Tax clearance certificate
  4. Social security clearance certificate from the primary insurance body
  5. Interested parties wishing to obtain a new PUV vehicle licence must provide a bank guarantee with the details specified in Article 110 of Law 4070/12, in the amount of €5,000.
  6. Holders of a PUV vehicle licence who wish to convert it to another category must submit, instead of the bank guarantee, a photocopy of the existing vehicle registration document.

(B) LEGAL PERSONS

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

  1. Government Gazette publication of the articles of association, or if not published, a certified photocopy of the latest articles of association from the competent court of first instance or a lawyer, and a certificate of amendments from the competent authority.
  2. Government Gazette with the publication of the constitution as a body of the current Board of Directors and the appointment of the Managing Director or legal representative, if it is a limited company (S.A.).
  3. Certificate that they are not in a state of bankruptcy, liquidation, suspension of operations, compulsory administration or insolvency, and that no such proceedings have been initiated against them.
  4. General criminal record certificate showing that the persons specified in Article 108 paragraph b' of Law 4070/12 have not been finally convicted of any of the offences listed in Article 100 paragraph a'. That is, for limited companies (S.A.) the members of the Board of Directors, for every other type of company the Managers, and for general and limited partnerships the general partners.
  5. Tax clearance certificate
  6. Social security clearance certificate from the primary insurance body
  7. Interested parties wishing to obtain a new PUV vehicle licence must provide a bank guarantee with the details specified in Article 110 of Law 4070/12, in the amount of €5,000.
  8. Holders of a PUV vehicle licence who wish to convert it to another category must submit, instead of the bank guarantee, a photocopy of the existing vehicle registration document.