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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
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.
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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