Greek citizenship by descent offers remarkable opportunities for future citizens to reconnect with their roots and establish a lasting relationship with the country. You can qualify if you have a direct family lineage to a parent or grandparent who holds Greek citizenship.
Obtaining citizenship gives the right to access, live, and work in all 27 European Union member countries without a visa. Additionally, Greek passports are internationally recognized, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 187 countries.
Read further for more information on how to obtain Greek citizenship by descent, ensuring you fully understand the application process and the legal framework involved.
What is Greek Citizenship by Descent?
Greek citizenship by descent is also known by the Latin principle “jus sanguinis”, which means “right of blood”. It means that a person is entitled to a nationality if they have blood ties i.e. some form of Greek ancestry to that nationality. It is usually entitled to those in the direct line of descent, so given to you through your Greek parent, grandparents, great-grandparents etc.
The pathway of proving your direct lineage to at least one Greek parent or grandparent, which makes you eligible to obtain Greek citizenship, acknowledges the historic significance of family ties and honors intergenerational connections to Hellenic heritage.
According to the Greek nationality law, anyone born on Greek soil acquires Greek citizenship by birth if one of their parents was born in Greece and has resided in the country since their birth. For those who are born stateless, then they can acquire Greek citizenship if they were born on Greek soil. A Greek passport entitles a range of benefits.
5 Benefits of Being a Greek Citizen
There are several benefits to Greece citizenship by descent. These include the opportunity to live in the cradle of Western civilization and explore the beauty of its shimmering coastlines and idyllic countryside.
Below are the top 5 advantages of acquiring Greek citizenship.
- Economic opportunities: Holding Greek citizenship allows you to enjoy several economic opportunities in the country, such as opening a business, making profitable investments, and working within the European Union.
- Access to healthcare and education: Greece has a robust social system, including healthcare, education, political participation, and cultural prowess. Obtaining Greek citizenship will grant you access to all of these systems.
- Freedom of movement within the European Union: Greek citizenship grants the invaluable privilege of European Union membership, offering visa-free travel to all member states and the ability to live, work, and study in any European Union country.
- Voting rights: Greek citizenship allows full voting rights in national, local, and European Parliament elections. They can also run for public office and actively participate in the political process at various levels.
- Greek passport: If you obtain Greek citizenship, you are eligible to apply for a Greek passport. This allows you visa-free travel in numerous countries.
Eligibility Criteria for Greek Citizenship by Descent
You are eligible to obtain Greek citizenship by descent if:
- You were born in Greece and at least one parent had been legally resident in Greece for at least five years.
- You have a Greek father or mother. In the case that your parents are unmarried and only one has Greek nationality, then you will have to take a paternity test in the case of your father or present an affidavit of acknowledgment of your birth.
- You were adopted by a Greek citizen.
- You have a grandparent who was born in Greece or was naturalized as a citizen.
- You were born outside of Greece and you can prove your Greek ancestry.
It’s also possible to apply based on your parents or grandparents’ connections to Greece if they are not Greek citizens. If they are considered to have Greek connections through their parents or grandparents, then they will first have to go through the process of applying for Greek citizenship before you do. The most important aspect of citizenship by descent is proving your ancestry.
If you’re applying through a grandparent or an even more distant relative, the relatives ‘in-between’ you and them may have to go through obtaining Greek citizenship first if they haven’t already. Therefore, if you haven’t already convinced them to dig up their ancestral records, then now may be the time to do so.
Required Documents for Greek Citizenship by Descent
When you’re ready to start your application, it’s important to be prepared. The process of obtaining Greek citizenship will begin with an application at your nearest Greek consulate or Greek embassy.
There are several documents that you need to deliver to the nearest Greek consulate to start the Greek citizenship application and to prove your Greek ancestry. The required documents will include the birth certificate of your Greek father or Greek mother, and other general required documents such as a valid international criminal record check.
Here, you’ll find a list of required documents and supporting documentation required by the Greek government to claim Greek citizenship:
- Proof of Greek ethnicity or heritage. This will include your parents or grandparents’ birth certificates, baptism certificate or marriage certificate, or other proof of ancestral Greek citizenship and any other documented evidence to support your Greek heritage
- Legal documents from the ancestor’s municipality in Greece
- The marriage certificate of the applicant’s parents legally certified and officially translated
- Proof of your own Greek residence
- Military service records (if applicable)
- Passport copy is needed from the applicant and parents/grandparents
- Birth certificate apostilled
- The required application form, filled out correctly
- A clean criminal record certificate. The criminal record of the applicant must be apostilled and issued within the last 6 months
However, it may be necessary to collect other documents, and the office you are submitting to will let you know if that is the case.
Individuals of Greek descent, whose parents were never registered with a Municipality in Greece will need to go through a special procedure, called naturalization.
The naturalization process is neither automatic, nor guaranteed, as it aims at confirming the Greek “conscience” of an applicant, whose parents were not Greek citizens at the time of his/her birth.
In other words, the applicant needs to prove to the Greek government that he/she maintains contact with Greece, its history, traditions, and language, despite a gap of more than one generation in the family’s registrations.
The application entails an interview with the Consul General and the drafting of a detailed report. The final decision solely rests on the relevant authorities in Greece and may take more than a year from the moment you submit your documentation and go through the interview.
It is also important to mention that foreign documents will need to be translated into Greek by a certified translator and apostilled. When the apostille is not applicable, the documents can be notarized by the Greek Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.
Greek Citizenship by Descent Application: Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start Greek citizenship by descent application:
- Conduct thorough genealogical research: Establish your Greek connections, and gather the necessary documents to do so, now you’ll need to undertake further steps to get your application in.
- Visit the registry office: If you live in Greece, register all documents that need to be registered, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. If you don’t live in Greece, reach out to the Greek consulate or embassy and they will be able to inform you of the next steps.
- Schedule an appointment and attend it: Submit your Greek citizenship application to the nearest Regional Directorate of Citizenship, and once the Greek government approves of your Greek heritage, you can claim Greek citizenship.
- Wait for approval: This part of the process can last longer, but it’s important to stay patient because the authorities will reach out to you. Make sure to stay informed on the status of your application, follow up on deadlines, and most of all, stay patient. Bureaucratic processes can be long. Once approved, you’ll need to complete any necessary procedures, such as taking an oath of Greek Citizenship.
- Obtain a Greek birth certificate and apply for a Greek passport: Once the procedure is completed, the applicant may obtain his Greek birth certificate and proceed with this to apply for the issuance of a Greek passport at the Passport Office in Greece or at the Greek Consulate of the place where he resides.
After registration with the Greek Municipality and the passport issuance, the applicant is officially considered a full Greek citizen, acquiring the rights and duties provided by Greek law.
How long does it take to get Greek citizenship by descent?
It’s important to understand that each Greek citizenship by descent application is unique and the time until you get citizenship may vary. However, the typical wait time for Greek citizenship by descent is two years for straightforward cases. If you’re asked to provide additional paperwork, it may last up to three years.
Cost of Greek Citizenship by Descent
When applying for Greek citizenship by descent, you should account for different expenses:
- Application fees: The cost of the application fee for Greek citizenship by descent typically ranges between €150 and €300.
- Document translation and legalization: You need to translate all required documents into Greek and legalize them. Generally, the cost of translating a single document ranges from €20 to €50, depending on the complexity of the document. Legalization of each document varies from €15 to €30.
- Traveling cost: You might be asked to travel to Greece during the application process for Greek citizenship by descent, so you should budget for travel expenses such as flights and accommodation.
- Lawyer fees: If you are struggling to understand the Greek citizenship by descent application process, it’s best to hire a lawyer or a consultant. They will simplify the process for you, but you expect the cost of their services to be from €500 to €2,000. The cost of legal fees varies depending on the complexity of your application.
- Additional fees: In some instances, you might be asked to provide additional documents. So, to get them, you might need to pay additional fees. Typically, the cost of these fees is minimal.
Get Legal Representation and Assistance to Help You Obtain Greek Citizenship
The process of acquiring Greek citizenship and Greek nationality can be intricate and may require a careful review of the individual circumstances involved. This is particularly important if you do not speak Greek, as there may be stages where it is necessary to use the Greek language.
This means that evidence of Greek language proficiency often assessed through language exams, might be required. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the relevant laws and consult with legal and relocation experts to navigate the process successfully.
Greek Dual Citizenship
Greece is one of the European Union countries that allow dual citizenship. Therefore, anyone obtaining Greek dual citizenship does not need to renounce their existing citizenship when they become a Greek citizen. The inverse is true for existing Greek citizens taking on a second citizenship.
However, you’ll have to do your own research to discover whether the dual citizenship option is open to you. Depending on the rules of your current nationality, you may be required to renounce your other nationality.
Although Greece allows dual citizenship, be sure to check the specific rules and regulations related to dual citizenship for your first nationality.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
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We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
Frequently Asked Questions about Greek Citizenship by Descent
What is Greek citizenship by descent?
Greek citizenship by descent is a process that allows individuals to obtain Greek nationality through their family ancestors. This right is available to those with direct Greek ancestry, such as parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents.
This Greek Citizenship by Descent process follows the Latin principle of ´jus sanguinis´, meaning ‘right of blood.’
Who is eligible for Greek Citizenship?
You are can to obtain Greek citizenship by descent if:
- You were born in Greece to at least one Greek parent.
- You were born outside of Greece to at least one Greek parent.
- You were born outside of Greece and can prove that at least one of your grandparents was a Greek citizen.
What does jure sanguinis mean?
“Jure sanguinis” or “jus sanguinis” are Latin phrases meaning “right of blood.”
It is a principle meaning that Greek citizenship can be determined through ancestral roots. That means your parents, or ancestors, citizenship, i.e., would need to be born to Greek citizens.
How do you prove Greek ancestry?
You can prove Greek ancestry by providing documents like birth, marriage, and death certificates which clearly indicate your ancestor was a Greek citizen. These documents will only be considered when they are translated into Greek and legalized.
What documents are required for Greek citizenship by descent application?
The documents you need for Greek citizenship by descent application are:
- Proof of Greek ethnicity or heritage (birth, baptism, marriage certificates, or any other supporting documents showing your Greek heritage)
- Legal documents from the ancestor’s municipality in Greece
- The marriage certificate of the applicant’s parents
- Proof of Greek residence
- Military service records (if applicable)
- Copy of passport from parents or grandparents
- Birth certificate apostilled
- Application form
- Clean criminal record certificate
How long does it take to get Greek citizenship?
Each case of getting Greek citizenship is unique, but you can expect to get it in the span of 2 to 3 years. More complex cases that demand more paperwork will take 3 years, and straightforward ones will typically take 2 years.
How much does obtaining Greek citizenship by descent cost?
The cost of proving your Greek ancestry and then obtaining Greek citizenship can be anywhere from €100 to €500, depending on various administrative fees and document requirements.
It’s important to note that the process itself is free, but you may have to pay for additional expenses such as notarization, translation of documents, and legal assistance.
Do I qualify for Greek dual citizenship?
If you hold Greek citizenship, and your second citizenship is held by a country that permits dual citizenship, then yes, you qualify for dual citizenship in Greece. Naturally, you need to meet certain criteria to get Greek citizenship too, and complete the Greek citizenship test.
Can I obtain Greek citizenship if my grandparents are Greek?
Yes, you can if your grandparent was born in Greece or was naturalized as a Greek citizen.
It’s also possible to apply based on your parents or grandparents’ connections to Greece if they are not Greek citizens.
If they are considered to have Greek connections through their parents or grandparents, then they will first have to go through the process of applying for Greek citizenship before you do.
How many generations back can you claim Greek citizenship?
You can qualify for Greek dual citizenship if you have a Greek parent, grandparent, or even great-grandparent. The best part? There’s no limit to how far back you can trace your Greek roots to claim your citizenship.
