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How to get Greek Citizenship

Get Greek nationality through residence, marriage, or ancestry.

Obtaining Greek nationality and citizenship can involve various pathways. But don’t worry, our expert team of immigration attorneys is here to guide you through the entire process, step by step.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me Get Greek Citizenship?

There are many ways a lawyer can help you get Greek citizenship:

Direct Communication: We can directly reach out to the Ministry of Justice to clarify any questions or doubts they might have during your application process.

Document Guidance: We’ll ensure you know exactly which documents are needed for your specific case. No guesswork involved.

Digital Application Assistance: We’ll assist you in submitting your application online, and we’ll keep an eye on its status for you.

Navigating the System: We’re not just about meeting the official requirements; we’re also well-versed in the practices of the officials involved.

Multilingual Support: Communication isn’t a barrier; we work with clients in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and, of course, Greek. Your comfort is our priority.

¨We will be with you each step of the journey.¨

 

What is Greek Citizenship?

Greek Citizenship is a legal connection between an individual and the state of Greece. As a citizen, you are granted certain rights and privileges. But it’s also a two-way street. Citizenship comes with specific requirements and duties as well.

How to get Greek Citizenship?

Getting Greek citizenship isn’t rocket science, but it does involve a few steps. Here’s a general breakdown:

1. Basic Eligibility: Firstly, you need to meet some basic eligibility criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Have a clean criminal record.
  • Be socially, financially, or economically linked to Greek society.

2. Documentation: Next, you need to gather all the correct documents. Once you have those in order, you can move forward.

3. Application Location: Now, where do you apply? You have two options:

  • You can visit the local Greek Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence, or
  • You can apply in person in Greece.

4. Witness Requirement: If you’re applying from overseas, you’ll need two Greek citizens to witness your application. If you apply in Greece, you’ll require a Certificate of Registration to confirm your eligibility.

5. Documentation Details: Whether you apply in person or not, your documents need to be apostilled and translated into Greek.

6. Application Processing: Once you’ve submitted your application, the regional General Secretary takes over. They’ll conduct a background check, including your criminal record. In some cases, you might have to attend an interview and provide biometric data, like fingerprints.

7. Approval and Greek Tax ID: After all these steps, you’ll receive approval for your citizenship application. Then, it’s time to apply for a Greek tax ID number. This number is your ticket to everyday life in Greece, allowing you to do things like open a bank account, sign leases, or get a cell phone contract.

The Process of Getting Greek Citizenship Through Residence

Leading Immigration
Assistance

Many of our clients acquire Greek citizenship either through residence or marriage to a Greek national. While the process can vary depending on personal circumstances, here is a general roadmap: 

1. Living in Greece

If you’re a non-EU applicant, you need to have lived in Greece for at least seven consecutive years. However, this can be as little as five years if you lived in the country before 2010. For European Union citizens, the requirement is three years  

2. Test and exams

You’ll likely need to pass a Greek language exam to secure citizenship. These tests include both written and verbal understanding as well as knowledge of Greek history. 

3. Wait for the exam results

Once you’ve tackled those exams, it’s time to wait for the results. Once you receive your results, if you are unhappy with the outcome, you have 15 days to challenge the findings.

4. Gathering of documentation

It takes between two weeks to two months to collect the right paperwork.

5. Submission of the application

It takes just a day to submit the application.

6. Approval of citizenship

It can take up to three years for your citizenship application to be approved. The decisions are usually published in the Government Gazette.

7. Taking an oath of nationality

If approved, non-EU citizens must take an oath of nationality with the General Secretary of Decentralized Administration.

Greek Nationality: What Documents do I Generally Need?

Most applicants will require the following documents for their citizenship request:

  • A passport
  • Passport-sized photo
  • A birth or marriage certificate
  • Baptism certificates
  • Criminal record background check
  • Parents Family registry, or “oikogeneiaki merida”
  • Proof of ties or ancestry

Ancestry or historical ties can be shown with old Greek passports, attendance at Greek schools, church certificates, or participation in Greek community events overseas, among others.

Requirements for Greek Citizenship

Greek citizenship comes in various forms, each with its own set of requirements. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Greek Citizenship Through Residence

You can qualify for Greek nationality after living in Greece for a period of time. EU citizens need to live in Greece for at least three years, while non-EU citizens, like Americans and Australians, must spend at least seven years living in the country.

Greek Citizenship by Marriage

You can marry a Greek citizen and apply for citizenship. To qualify, you must have lived in Greece for at least three years or have a child with your spouse.

Greek Citizenship by Birth

If one of your parents is Greek, you automatically qualify for citizenship. Children born in Greece to foreign parents who have lived in the country for five years also qualify.

Greek Citizenship by descent

If you have a Greek grandparent who was born in Greece, you qualify for citizenship but there are restrictions within the process. Those with Greek great-grandparents may also qualify. 

Greek Citizenship by investment

You can apply for Greece’s Golden Visa program to get citizenship. All you need to do is invest €250,000 in Greek real estate. You’ll still need to live in Greece for a set period to qualify. 

Greek Dual Citizenship

One of the benefits of securing Greek citizenship is that the country allows people to hold multiple citizenships. This means you can have Greek dual nationality with another country, like the US or Australia.

OUR WORK IS TO MAKE CLIENTS HAPPY

We are a department formed by qualified legal experts who have been trained in the field of immigration law. We work on these requests every day and it’s our passion. For us, Lexidy is a way of life and what excites us the most is to be able to deliver the happiness and satisfaction of a successful immigration process. We want to help you achieve your goals and dreams.

Eleftheria Charalambous

Eleftheria Charalambous

Lawyer, Head of Athens Office
Eleni Maderaki

Eleni Maderaki

Head of Corporate Department Athens
Maria Balaoura

Maria Balaoura

Paralegal
Charalampos Zachariadis

Charalampos Zachariadis

Lawyer
Lexidy Legal Tech
4.9
Based on 15 reviews
Mario
Mario
19:38 06 Mar 24
Good service and fast help!Thanks to Miss Maria B
Meir Rosinnes
Meir Rosinnes
09:33 14 Feb 24
Lexidi, Ms. Eleni Menderaki, helped me to issue an importer EORI nunber and authorization to DHL to enable clearing goods which were shipped from a non-EU country. Without help, Customs procedures were very cumbersome, but very professional and efficient service from Lexidi made it easy and sucessful. Very pleasant friendly conduct by Eleni.
Aditya Swarup
Aditya Swarup
18:35 06 Oct 23
Beat all expectations! We worked with Maria and she was phenomenal! She was able to clearly explain a very complex process and helped us meet a tight deadline in record time.10/10 would recommend!
Gabriel
Gabriel
02:50 07 Aug 23
I used Lexidy in Athens via email correspondence. The experiece was excellent and every detail was looked after as if I was in person in Athens. I highly recommend them for your legal needs.
Janett Riebe
Janett Riebe
12:18 04 Aug 23
Our experience with Maria and Eleni was immaculate. Responsive and personable communication, every detail simply and beautifully explained, and we felt completely untouched by the complexity of all immigration and legal processes thanks to their support. The speed and ease they brought to our residency and tax processes exceeded all expectations.
Tala Re
Tala Re
06:41 03 Aug 23
I worked with Eleni Maderaki, she helped me with opening an bank account. It was a very good experience. I’m happy that I worked with them.
zaneta freyer
zaneta freyer
13:20 30 May 23
With Lexidy Law Boutique I had a very nice experience. Eleni Maderaki is very competent but at the same time practical. She is service minded and interested in customs needs. Lexidy Law Boutique meets my Norwegian standards!
Daniel Matcham
Daniel Matcham
08:27 12 May 23
Eleni has been exceptional every step of the way! She guided me through the formation of my company in Greece (as a foreigner), set the up tax number, opened me a bank account, set up civil liability insurance and more. I would recommend her to anyone!
beyouta myriam
beyouta myriam
08:28 22 Feb 23
Very nice experience.We feel that we do not know how to begin with such as many procedures to establish a new company. Lexidy Law Boutique giving us all facilities and clarification.Assistance highly appreciated step by step.They answered to all our questions and didn't leave any doubts to succeed, very responsive rate through all channels, phone ,emails.Thank you Lexidy, you made my dream a reality.I recommend very much.Bonne continuation !
Rosa Akbari
Rosa Akbari
16:07 10 Jan 23
Lexidy staff were speedy, straightforward, and reassuring. No hesitation to recommend to anyone needing help navigating residency bureaucracy.
Julians Mjankovs
Julians Mjankovs
08:10 21 Nov 22
I got everything I needed. Big thanks to Eleftheria and Maria for help! You just ask what you need, and they'll figure out how you can get it.
Natasha Halicki
Natasha Halicki
09:51 09 Nov 22
Genuinely welcoming and friendly! As well as very knowledgeable, professional and have great integrity. We hit a few bumps in my visa process but I was supported the whole way through and didn't give up and I was finally successful in my application thanks to their hard work going above and beyond. I wouldn't have been able to do it alone and I would certainly use Lexidy again.
Stephanie Bratnick
Stephanie Bratnick
13:28 05 Sep 22
I can't recommend Lexidy enough. They made our move to Greece incredibly smooth and went up and beyond their regular legal duties to help my family. They new all the ins and outs of the Greek immigration, and the whole process went flawlessly all due to their expertise. Thank you so much! And we will definitely use their services for many years to come.
Kenneth Shen
Kenneth Shen
00:32 24 Aug 22
If you’re looking for knowledgeable, responsive, and extremely supportive lawyers on your side - look no further. Lexidy and Eleftheria made my process of applying for residency smooth and easy. It’s hard to imagine working with someone with more professionalism and knowledge of the subject than the team at Lexidy.
Rossy Rojas
Rossy Rojas
12:28 23 Mar 22
Max is the best and Lexidy LegalTech Boutique solved our immigration process with great aplomb. we were very lucky!
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Greece allows its citizens to have more than one nationality

Yes, you can buy a property or other real estate and qualify for a Golden Visa. The minimum investment is €250,000, which is popular with retirees and gives the holder a five year visa that’s very easy and quick to renew.

After residing in the country for a number of years, you can upgrade your Golden Visa to Greek citizenship.

There are no restrictions on US citizens having dual nationality and becoming Greek citizens. You will need to work with a lawyer on your application and work with the Greek embassy or consulate, whether it’s in the US or Greece.

We recommend working with a lawyer as they will minimize the risk of rejections. However, if your application was denied a lawyer will support you with the appeal process. Sometimes applications are rejected because there is missing information or paperwork. 

These application processes can take years, so working with a lawyer will ensure your citizenship request isn’t rejected and delayed for years more.

All Greek citizens are taxed if they spend more than 183 days a year in the country. However, Golden Visa holders can avoid the requirement to become a Greek tax resident

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