Become a Greek National
Get Greek nationality through residence, marriage or through ancestry.
There are many paths for people to take toward Greek nationality and citizenship. Our team of expert immigration attorneys will support and lead you through the procedure step-by-step
How Can a Lawyer Help With Greek Nationality?
During the process, we can contact the Ministry of Justice directly to answer any questions or doubts they may have about your application.
We will let you know which documents are required for each specific case.
We assist you with submitting your application digitally, and we check its status for you.
Beyond the requirements specified by the Greek Administration, we are aware of the practices of officials.
We work with clients in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Greek.
¨We will be with you each step of the journey.¨
What is Greek Citizenship?
A person’s status as a citizen is the legal bond that connects them with the state. It provides them with extensive rights and privileges.
A citizen’s relationship with the state gives them certain rights and also requires them to fulfil certain requirements and duties.
How to get Greek Citizenship?
The process starts with obtaining the correct documentation but before that, the Hellenic Republic only accepts applications from people who:
- Are at least 18 years old
- Haven’t been convicted of a crime
- Are involved in Greek society socially, financially or economically
With the correct paperwork and basic criteria met, you can either apply with the local Greek Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence or apply in person in Greece.
Applications from overseas require two Greek citizens to witness the application. If you apply within Greece, you will need a Certificate of Registration to confirm that you qualify for Greek citizenship.
Whether you apply in person or not, the documentation needs to be apostilled and translated into Greek.
Once submitted, your application is processed by the regional General Secretary who will perform the criminal record background check. You could be required to attend an interview where you’ll provide biometric data, like fingerprints. Some applicants must also take a citizenship test.
Afterward, you’ll receive approval for citizenship application and then should apply for a Greek tax ID number. This number will allow you to carry out basic functions of everyday life in Greece, like opening a bank account, signing a lease, or getting a cell phone contract.
The Process of Getting Citizenship Through Residence
1. Living in Greece
Non-EU applicants must have lived in Greece for at least seven consecutive years. However, this can be as little as five years if they lived in the country before 2010. For European Union citizens, the requirement is three years
2. Test and exams
It’s likely you will need to take some exams to secure Greek citizenship. These tests include passing a Greek language exam, both verbal and written as well as understanding Greek history
3. Wait for the exam results
You will receive your results and 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.
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 Through Residence
People can get nationality by 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. You must have lived in Greece for at least three years or have a child with the spouse.
Greek Citizenship by Birth
If one of your parents is Greek, you automatically qualify for citizenship. So too do children born in Greece to foreign parents who have lived in the country for five years.
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 foreigners to get citizenship. After investing €250,000 in Greek real estate, you just need to live in the country for a period of time to qualify.
Greek Dual Citizenship
One of the benefits of securing Greek citizenship is that the country allows people to hold multiple citizenship. 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
Lawyer, Head of Athens Office
Eleni Maderaki
Head of Corporate Department Athens
Maria Balaoura
Paralegal
Iliana Arvaniti
Legal Trainee
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
How Can We help you?
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