The Greek citizenship test

Those wishing to apply for Greek citizenship need to learn carefully about the Greek citizenship test — an examination assessing candidates on language, history, culture, geography, the structure and workings of government and Greek society.

This article guides you through the whole content of the Greek citizenship examinations and how to become a Greek citizen.

An overview of Greek citizenship

An individual may apply for and obtain Greek citizenship where they holdThe Greece Golden Visaand have resided in Greece for at least 7 years.

Look up the study materials before sitting the formal examination athere.

On obtaining Greek citizenship, applicants are issued a Greek identity card allowing them to beginliving in Greece. They will then be entitled to all the freedoms and rights of a Greek citizen — including the right to vote as aGreek citizen. In addition, obtaining Greek citizenship also means being recognised as an EU citizen — allowing them to live in any country in the EU.

The benefits of Greek citizenship

Below are some of the notable benefits of obtaining Greek citizenship:

• Attractive investment opportunities
• Family members may be included in the golden visa application
• Free movement within the Schengen Area for the applicant and their family
• No minimum stay requirement in Greece when renewing the residence permit
• The property may be let after purchase
• Eligibility to apply for citizenship after 7 years
• High-quality education, healthcare and standard of living

How to obtain Greek citizenship

There are several routes to Greek citizenship, including citizenship by birth, citizenship by descent, citizenship by naturalisation, citizenship by marriage and citizenship through the Greece Golden Visa.

Citizenship by birth, as the name suggests, means that any child born to Greek parents is granted Greek citizenship. Although the law is clear where children are born on Greek territory, some obstacles may arise where a child is born in another country. Usually the child will acquire the citizenship of the country of birth, and this may leave them ineligible to apply for Greek citizenship.

Although citizenship by descent and citizenship by birth are fairly similar, citizenship by descent passes down through the generations. That means an applicant may have a lawful claim to Greek citizenship even where only a grandparent was Greek. For this type of citizenship, Greek ancestry must be demonstrated and all the necessary documents prepared.

Where an applicant has lived in Greece for at least 7 years and has integrated into society, they may apply for Greek citizenship by naturalisation. Once that requirement is met, applicants may apply for Greek citizenship by providing all the documents needed. This process includes passing the examinations, and once completed, applicants may apply for a Greek passport.

Finally, investors who love Greece and have invested at least EUR 250,000 (rising to EUR 500,000 for larger areas such as Athens, Thessaloniki and Mykonos) may also obtain citizenship by this route. Through this programme, applicants may also apply for residence permits for family members.

The Greek citizenship examinations

The written examination is held twice a year and follows an assessment method aligned with the Panhellenic examinations. The written Greek citizenship test has a total of 20 questions divided into different topic sections — 4 on Greek geography and culture, and 6 on Greek history and the workings of the Greek parliamentary system. Applicants also need to demonstrate knowledge of Greek through written and oral examinations at B1 level.

The minimum pass mark for this examination is 80% of the total. On passing the Greek citizenship test, applicants are issued a “Certificate of Sufficient Knowledge for Naturalisation”, which may be used to apply for Greek citizenship.

What is the Greek citizenship test?

The Greek citizenship test is the examination for everyone wishing to obtain Greek citizenship. The test has 2 parts: written and oral. Each part is assessed separately and applicants may not sit the oral part until they have demonstrated knowledge of Greek culture, language and history.

Who has to sit the Greek citizenship test?

Foreign nationals wishing to obtain Greek citizenship need to pass 2 Greek citizenship examinations to ensure they have sufficient knowledge of the Greek language, history and culture. Specifically, a written examination in the “Panhellenic” format, followed by the oral part of the Greek citizenship test. Once both parts are completed, applicants will obtain Greek citizenship.

What subjects does the Greek citizenship test cover?

To become a Greek citizen, applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the Greek language, history and culture. An important point to note is that the test is conducted entirely in Greek and there is no version in any other language.

How much is the Greek citizenship test fee?

Applicants wishing to sit the test need to pay a fee of EUR 250.

What happens after the written examination?

After passing the test, applicants are eligible to attend an interview with the Citizenship Secretariat of the Greek Ministry of the Interior. The interview takes place between the candidate and 2 officials representing the Ministry. The interview fee is EUR 550. After the interview, the Ministry of the Interior and the National Transparency Authority make the final decision on the Greek residence permit application.

Exemption from the Greek citizenship test

There have been some changes to Greek nationality law. Under the new rules, the following are exempt from the examination:

• Graduates of schools and universities in Greece. However, they must still attend the interview and provide evidence of having completed their studies in Greece.
• Applicants aged 67 or over and applicants with a disability. In these cases, applicants need to sit an oral examination instead of the written one.

A guide to applying for Greek citizenship

After receiving a Greek residence permit, applicants need to live in Greece for 7 years to qualify for Greek citizenship. Note that this rule does not apply to the following:

• Citizens of the European Union
• Those whose spouse is a Greek citizen and who have a child together with that person
• Guardians of Greek citizens
• Political refugees

Those listed above may reside in Greece for 3 consecutive years and apply for citizenship. Under the 2022 requirements, the following conditions must be met for an application to be approved:

• Being 18 or over
• Have no criminal record
• Having a basic knowledge of Greek
• Not being subject to deportation proceedings
• Demonstrating a harmonious relationship with the Greek community

The process

After filing all the documents together with the citizenship application and registering to sit the written part of the Greek citizenship test, the competent authority will make contact to arrange an interview with the naturalisation board, which will then decide whether the application is approved.

The factors to be met for an application to succeed are:

• Having a certain level of Greek
• Fitting in and integrating with the Greek community
• Understanding the history, culture and political history of Greece
• Taking part in professional activity
• Taking part in social activities with Greek citizens
• Fully meeting contribution and tax obligations
• Owning property in Greece
• Having Greek relatives

To become familiar with Greek society and prepare for the application interview, applicants may read introductory books on Greek geography, history, citizenship and culture. One recommended book is “Greece: the Second Country”.

The waiting time for a decision depends on the current place of residence and how quickly the application is completed. In general, the estimated waiting time is around 3 years. The final decision on the application is approved by the Greek Ministry of the Interior and formally published in the state gazette.

Frequently asked questions about the Greek citizenship test