The 7 Ways to Acquire Greek Citizenship
The right to acquire Greek Citizenship is regulated in Greece by the Greek Citizenship Code, which was ratified by Law 3284/2004, and was radically amended by the change brought about by Law 3838/2010, as well as the more recent Law 4735/2020. The Greek Citizenship Code defines the conditions and procedure for obtaining citizenship and the ways in which citizenship is granted.
In Greece, Citizenship law stipulates that Greek citizenship is acquired according to the principle of blood law (jus sanguine). Every person acquires citizenship at birth, usually the same as one of their parents. Under certain conditions, citizenship can also be acquired on the basis of the principle of the law of the territory (jus soli).
The Minister of the Interior and the Coordinator of the Decentralized Administration are responsible for taking decisions on the acquisition, loss, reclamation or contestation of Greek citizenship. Specifically, the Minister of the Interior is responsible for citizenship issues, while the acquisition or not of Greek citizenship is decided by the Coordinator of the Decentralized Administration.
The acquisition of Greek citizenship takes place in the following ways:
• Automatically, at birth.
• By declaration and application, due to birth or attendance at a school in Greece.
• With recognition.
• By adoption.
• With enlistment in the armed forces.
• With naturalization.
• With honorary naturalization.
• Politeness of the procedure and if you are present, do not hesitate to call the Evnomos Law Firm and make an appointment.
THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING GREEK CITIZENSHIP
• Naturalization is defined as the process of acquiring Greek citizenship by foreign expatriates, i.e. persons of Greek origin and populations located outside the Greek borders, and also, by foreign foreigners, i.e. citizens of other countries.
• Law 4735/2020, which came into force on 01/04/2021, brought about major changes in the way Greek Citizenship was acquired by Naturalization. Article 5 of the Greek Citizenship Code defines the conditions that the foreigner must meet.
Formal Requirements for the Application for Naturalization
The formal requirements for the application for the acquisition of Greek Citizenship by Naturalization that must be met at the same time are the following. Therefore, it is imperative that the applicant:
• Be an adult at the time of submission of the Naturalization declaration.
• Not have been irrevocably convicted of an offence committed intentionally, during the last 10 years, prior to the submission of the Naturalization application to a sentence of more than one (1) year.
• Not to have been irrevocably sentenced to a custodial sentence of more than 6 months, regardless of the time of the sentencing, for a series of crimes explicitly defined by law.
• Not to be under deportation or other pending status of legal residence in Greece.
• To reside in Greece legally for 7 consecutive years prior to the submission of the naturalization application.
Exception to the obligation of continuous residence of 7 years prior to the submission of an application
The law includes exceptions to the obligation of continuous residence of 7 years prior to the submission of a Naturalization application. Specific exceptions include:
• Expatriates
• European citizens
• Spouses of Greeks, as well as those who exercise parental responsibility for a child with Greek citizenship
• Stateless persons
• Recognised refugees or persons granted subsidiary protection
The legal residence permits in Greece required for a Naturalization application
The applicant for the acquisition of Greek Citizenship by Naturalization must hold one of the following legal residence titles:
• Long-term resident permit.
• Certificate or other residence permit issued to citizens of European Union member states.
• A card or other residence permit issued to family members of a Greek citizen or a citizen of a member state of the European Union or to the parents of a minor resident.
• A card of a recognised political refugee or subsidiary protection status or a family member of a holder of such a card.
• Travel documents or a special card issued by a national authority on the status of stateless persons.
• Card or other residence permit of expatriates of any type, except Special
• Identity card of an expatriate.
• Second generation residence permit.
• Residence permit of indefinite duration or ten-year duration.
• Residence permit for investment activity.
A foreigner who holds any other valid residence permit and meets the other formal requirements may apply for naturalization, provided that he/she resides legally in Greece for 12 consecutive years prior to the submission of the Naturalization application. The Evnomos Law Firm can guide and inform him about all the pitfalls and details in the submission and presentation of the supporting documents, which ensure his legal application.
The last formal condition required for the right to apply for the acquisition of Greek Citizenship through Naturalization concerns the person of the foreigner who wishes to become a Greek citizen himself: There must be no reasons of public order or national security, with all that this entails, in terms of his/her prior history of the Naturalization application.
Essential Requirements for the Naturalization Application
A foreigner who wishes to become a Greek citizen with Naturalization, must:
• Have a sufficient knowledge of the Greek language.
• to have sufficient knowledge of Greek history and geography.
• To know the Greek culture and the habits of the Greek people.
• to be fully aware of the functioning of the institutions of the Greek government.
• to have the ability to participate actively and substantially in the political life of the country.
• to have smoothly integrated into the economic and social life of Greece, having made it a continuous center of his living activities.
Acquisition of Greek Citizenship by Naturalization: Legal work in Greece and ties with the Greek state and Greek society are required
• It goes without saying that the above conditions will have to be proven in practice. E. CHATZIDIMITRIOU LLC Law Firm is able to help you prove that the above essential requirements for applying for the acquisition of Greek Citizenship by Naturalization and your ties with the Greek State and society are firmly valid.
• Besides, for the verification of the applicant’s financial integration, the existence of stable employment in Greece and his economic activity in general, as well as the continuous fulfillment of his tax and insurance obligations towards the State, are taken into account.
• In order to verify the applicant’s social integration, account shall be taken in particular of the formation of a family bond with a Greek citizen, his/her familiarity with the customs and customs of Greek society, his/her participation in voluntary activities, sports teams, municipal activities and Civil Society events.
The importance of the experience and expertise of lawyers, in terms of the conditions and supporting documents required
• E. CHATZIDIMITRIOU LLC Law Firm, with years of experience in the process of granting Greek Citizenship, can guide you in order for your Naturalization process to be completed smoothly and to obtain Greek Citizenship, as you wish, if you are entitled to it.
• The specialized lawyers in Aliens Law who undertake your case on behalf of E. CHATZIDIMITRIOU LLC Law Firm carefully check the fulfilment of the required conditions and direct you to gather all the necessary documents before filing your request.
• Then, with a sense of responsibility, they follow the progress of your request for the acquisition of Greek Citizenship by Naturalization, up to the last act of your oath as Greek citizens! At any stage of the process, do not hesitate to call E. CHATZIDIMITRIOU LLC Law Firm and make an appointment at our law firm.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
• At any stage of the process, do not hesitate to call +1 347 (403) 47-89 or E-mail. Fill out the form and we will call you