Greek citizenship

Greek citizenship is not merely citizenship of one country; it is at the same time European Union citizenship with full freedom to travel, work and live in 27 EU countries. The Greek passport ranks among the world’s 10 strongest passports on the freedom of movement index, with visa-free access to more than 180 countries and territories.

The legal framework governing citizenship is set out in the Greek Citizenship Code (Law 3284/2004), which has been amended several times by Laws 3838/2010, 4332/2015 and 4735/2020. This article gives a comprehensive summary of the 4 routes to naturalisation, the specific requirements, the processing procedure and the practical benefits Greek citizenship brings.

An overview of Greek citizenship and the legal principles

The Greek citizenship legal system operates mainly on the principle of jus sanguinis (citizenship by descent), under which citizenship passes from a father or mother to a child, whether the child is born in Greece or abroad. The principle of jus soli (citizenship by place of birth) applies only in exceptional cases, mainly for children born in Greece to long-settled immigrant parents.

A notable point is that Greece permits its citizens to hold dual and multiple citizenship with no particular restriction. Foreign nationals naturalising as Greek are not required to renounce their original citizenship, and Greek citizens do not lose their citizenship on naturalising in another country. This is a major advantage over European countries such as Germany, Austria or the Netherlands — which restrict dual citizenship more tightly.

The body with primary responsibility for naturalisation applications is the General Secretariat for Citizenship (Γενική Γραμματεία Ιθαγένειας) within the Ministry of the Interior (Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών). Applications filed from abroad are received through Greek Embassies and Consulates before being forwarded to Athens for processing.

Greek citizenship by descent

This is the most common and simplest route to citizenship, applying to those with a blood relationship to a Greek citizen. Under Law 3284/2004, a child automatically holds Greek citizenship from birth where at least one parent was a Greek citizen at the time of birth, whether the birth took place in Greece or abroad.

Other cases also falling under descent include a child whose paternity is acknowledged by a Greek father after birth, a child adopted by a Greek citizen through legal procedures, and a person with a Greek parent whose birth was not registered with the competent authority.

Those of Greek origin (ομογενείς — Omogeneis), such as descendants of Greeks who emigrated to the United States, Australia, Germany and Canada in the 19th–20th centuries, may still apply for confirmation of citizenship where they can demonstrate an unbroken line of descent. The documents needed usually include birth certificates and marriage certificates for successive generations, and documents confirming registration in the local municipal register (dimotologio) of a Greek village or city.

The process of confirming citizenship by descent is carried out through the Greek consular authorities in the place of residence or directly in Greece. Processing times range from 12 to 36 months depending on the complexity of the case and the ability to trace the original registers.

Greek citizenship through naturalisation

Naturalisation is the main route for foreign nationals with no Greek ancestry. The detailed rules are in Articles 5 to 7a of Law 3284/2004 and its subsequent amendments, with the procedure published transparently bythe Greek National Registry of Public Administration Services.

Residence requirements

The basic requirement is lawful and continuous residence in Greece for at least 7 years before the date of application. The residence period is demonstrated by a continuously valid residence permit with no significant gaps. The 7-year rule applies in most general cases; however, there are some cases where the period is reduced:

• 3 years for EU citizens, recognised refugees and stateless persons
• 3 years for the spouse of a Greek citizen with whom they have a child
• 3 years for the parent of a child who is a Greek citizen
• No specific period is required for those of Greek origin born and continuously settled in Greece

Age and legal status requirements

Applicants must be 18 or over. An application will not be accepted where the applicant has a serious criminal record such as a criminal sentence of more than 1 year’s imprisonment, a specific conviction for theft/fraud/domestic violence of more than 6 months’ imprisonment, has previously been deported from Greece, or is currently residing unlawfully.

Language and integration requirements

Applicants must pass the Certificate of Sufficient Knowledge for Naturalisation (Πιστοποιητικό Επαρκείας Γνώσεων για Πολιτογράφηση — PEGP), also known as the PEG or PE-G examination. The examination tests Greek at B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), together with knowledge of Greek history, geography, culture and political institutions.

Theo the Greek National Registry of Public Administration Services, the examination fee is EUR 150 for the first sitting, and candidates may register through the Ministry of the Interior’s electronic portal. The examination has 2 parts: a written paper with 4 groups of questions (30 questions in total), and an interview with the naturalisation board.

Financial and social requirements

Candidates need to demonstrate stable income and sufficient financial resources not to depend on social benefits, usually through an employment contract, tax returns for the past 3 years, or evidence of lawful assets and investments. In addition, the naturalisation board will assess the degree of integration against criteria such as participation in social activity, understanding of local culture, and relationships with the Greek community.

Greek citizenship through marriage

Marrying a Greek citizen does not automatically grant Greek citizenship to the foreign spouse. This differs from some countries such as Spain or Portugal, where marriage may significantly shorten the naturalisation period.

The foreign spouse must still go through the standard naturalisation process, but benefits from certain concessions where they meet additional conditions. Specifically, where the couple have a child together (biological or adopted), the residence period required falls from 7 years to 3 years. Where there is no child together, the spouse must still reside for the full 7 years like any other foreign national.

In addition, the spouse must hold a special residence permit for the family of a Greek citizen, and meet all the language and integration requirements set out under the standard naturalisation route.The PEGP examinationremains a mandatory requirement.

The marriage must be lawfully registered in Greece and still subsisting at the time of application. Where the marriage was contracted abroad, the couple need to have the marriage certificate consularly legalised and re-registered with the Greek civil registry.

Greek citizenship through birth and education in Greece

Law 4332/2015 significantly widened naturalisation opportunities for the second generation of immigrants in Greece, particularly children born or brought up on Greek soil. This is part of a trend towards integrating immigrant communities and addressing statelessness among the young.

Children born in Greece may obtain citizenship where their parents have resided lawfully and continuously in Greece for at least 5 years before the birth. However, this right is not automatic — parents must file a registration application for the child with the local civil registry together with full documentation of the residence period.

Children born abroad whose parents have resided lawfully in Greece for 5 years or more may obtain citizenship after completing 6 years of primary education in Greece. This case also requires a formal application.

The education route also extends to foreign young people: those who have completed 9 years of education (6 years of primary + 3 years of lower secondary) or 6 years of secondary education in Greece may apply for naturalisation, even where their parents do not meet the 5-year residence requirement. This is a particularly valuable route for the children of Vietnamese immigrant families living in Greece.

The process of applying for Greek citizenship from A to Z

Whichever route is taken, applying for Greek citizenship involves sequential steps and demands meticulous preparation. Below is the basic process applying to standard naturalisation:

Step 1 — Preparing the application and documents

Candidates prepare all the mandatory documents: a valid passport and notarised translation, a consularly legalised birth certificate, a marriage certificate (where applicable), police certificates from Greece and every country where they have lived for 12 months or more, evidence of lawful residence in Greece, tax returns and evidence of income for the past 3 years. All foreign documents must be apostilled and officially translated into Greek.

Step 2 — Registering for and sitting the PEGP examination

Candidates register online through the portal exetaseis-ithageneia.ypes.gr to sit the PEGP examination. The examination is held twice a year (usually in May and November) at test centres nationwide. After passing, candidates receive the PEGP Certificate — a mandatory document in the naturalisation application.

Step 3 — Filing the naturalisation application

The application is filed at the Citizenship Office of the Region (Περιφέρεια) where the candidate resides. The state fee is EUR 700 for a standard naturalisation application, and EUR 200 in reduced-fee cases such as refugees, stateless persons, or refiling after a refusal. The application is given a reference number and the candidate receives a confirmation receipt.

Step 4 — Interview before the Naturalisation Board

After the application passes preliminary assessment, candidates are invited to an interview before the Naturalisation Board (Συμβούλιο Ιθαγένειας). The Board comprises representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, legal experts and community representatives. The interview focuses on knowledge of Greek history, the degree of social integration, the motivation for seeking naturalisation and plans for a long-term commitment to Greece.

Step 5 — Decision and publication in the Gazette

Where the application is approved, the Minister of the Interior issues a decision granting citizenship. The decision is published in the Greek Government Gazette (Φύλλο Εφημερίδας της Κυβερνήσεως — ΦΕΚ). Processing usually takes from 24 to 48 months, depending on the backlog at the Citizenship Offices.

Step 6 — Oath of allegiance and municipal registration

Within 1 year of publication in the Gazette, candidates must take the Oath of Allegiance (Όρκος Πίστεως) before the mayor or their delegate in the city where they reside. After the oath, candidates are entered in the city’s citizen register (dimotologio) and formally become Greek citizens. This step is mandatory — where the 1-year deadline passes without the oath being taken, the decision granting citizenship may be revoked.

Step 7 — Obtaining an identity card and passport

New citizens register for a Greek identity card (tautotita) at the local police station, then apply for a Greek passport at the passport issuing office. Greek passports are valid for 5 years for those over 14.

The cost of applying for Greek citizenship

The overall cost of applying for Greek citizenship comprises state fees, examination fees, notarised translation fees and legal advice costs. The table below summarises the main items for a standard naturalisation application:

Item	Fee
Naturalisation application fee (standard)	€700 EURO
Application fee (reduced-fee cases)	€200 EURO
PEGP examination fee (first sitting)	€150 EURO
PEGP resit fee	€100 EURO
Notarised document translation fees	€500–€2.000 EURO
Apostille fees in the country of origin	Depending on the country
Legal advice fees (a Greek lawyer)	€1.500–€5.000 EURO
Identity card and passport issue fees	€85–€105 EURO

The actual total cost of a standard application excluding advisory fees ranges from EUR 1,500–3,500. Where a lawyer is engaged to support the whole process, the total cost may reach EUR 4,000–8,000 depending on complexity.

The rights of Greek citizens

Greek citizenship brings its holder a range of practical rights not confined to Greek territory but extending across the whole European Union.

The right to travel and reside in the EU is the most important benefit. Greek citizens may live, work, study, do business and retire in any country in the EU, EEA and Switzerland without a visa or residence permit. The Greek passport gives visa-free access to more than 180 countries and territories, including the United States (through the ESTA programme), Canada (through the eTA), Japan, South Korea, Australia (through the ETA) and the whole of South America.

Greek citizens have the right to vote, stand for election and take part in political life at local, national and European Parliament level. In addition, citizens have the right to consular protection by the Embassy and Consulate of any EU country when in difficulty in a third country where Greece has no representation.

On education, citizens and their children may study at Greek state schools at native fee levels, and access the EU university system at preferential fees — a considerable saving compared with international students. The public health system (ESY) is also open to citizens. In addition, Greek citizens may inherit and buy and sell property in Greece and the EU without the restrictions applying to foreign nationals, and may set up a business in any EU country with freedom of establishment.

An important advantage isthe right to hold dual citizenship— Greek citizens may still keep their Vietnamese citizenship where they wish, provided they comply with Vietnamese law on residence registration and tax.

The route from Golden Visa to Greek citizenship

Many Vietnamese investors are currently weighing up the route from an investment residence permit to Greek citizenship. This is a long-term but feasible route where there is a clear plan from the outset.

TheThe Greece Golden Visagrants a 5-year residence permit with a minimum investment of EUR 250,000 in property in certain areas, or EUR 500,000–800,000 in areas such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini under the new rules from 2024. The Golden Visa permit requires no minimum stay, only that the investment is maintained.

However, to move from the Golden Visa to Greek citizenship, investors must meet the requirement of 7 years’ actual continuous residence in Greece — that is, they must live mainly in Greece and not merely hold the permit. This is the fundamental difference between a residence permit and actual residence. Greece has no direct Citizenship by Investment programme; naturalisation through investment is only an indirect route lasting at least 7 years after obtaining the Golden Visa permit.

During these 7 years, investors must learn Greek to B1 level, prepare knowledge of history and culture for the PEGP examination, and maintain a clean tax record in Greece. This is why many investors choose the Golden Visa to establish a base in the EU first, and only then decide after a few years whether to pursue naturalisation.

Conclusion

Greek citizenship opens up the opportunity to become a European Union citizen through 4 clear routes: descent for those of Greek origin, standard naturalisation for long-term residents, the route through marriage, and the route through birth or education in Greece for the second generation. Each route has its own requirements and different processing times, but all lead to the same outcome — a Greek passport with full EU citizenship rights.

The outstanding strengths of the Greek naturalisation system are: acceptance of dual citizenship without restriction, a reasonable residence period compared with many EU countries (7 years against 10 years in Germany, Austria and Italy), and no mandatory investment fee. The limitations lie in the demanding language requirement (B1 Greek is not an easy threshold), lengthy processing times of 2–4 years, and a serious actual residence requirement — not merely holding a permit for long enough.

For Vietnamese investors considering Greece, the sensible first step is to look into the Golden Visa to establish a legal presence in the EU. From that foundation, individuals may decide whether to pursue the goal of citizenship depending on their life, work and family plans. The next step should be to consult an immigration professional to assess the individual case and build a route matching their long-term objectives.