Greek Citizenship

All matters concerning Greek Citizenship, including the right to Greek Citizenship, the exercise of this right and mandatory prerequisites, are governed by the Greek Nationality (or Citizenship) Code (Law No. 1438/1984), along with the related legislation (mainly Law No. 3284 / 2004 ).

1.  A person acquires Greek citizenship at the time of birth, if said person is born to a parent of Greek Nationality – that is, the offspring of a Greek Citizen, even if the parent has not exercised his/her Right to Citizenship.

2. A Greek Citizen is a person who is duly registered in the Records of a Municipality of the Hellenic Republic.

3. Registration in the Municipal Records of the Hellenic Republic is the legal premise for Greek Citizenship.  As such, the Certificate of Registration constitutes legal proof of Greek Citizenship. In order to obtain the Certificate of Registration, Greek citizens permanently residing in the USA apply through the local Greek Consular Authorities, which in turn transmit the application to the competent (Municipal) Greek Authorities, who issue the Certificate of Registration. Both the registrations of the parents’ marriage, as well as, the registration of the applicant’s birth, are prerequisites for the issuance of the Certificate of Registration. The Greek Consulates in the USA execute all necessary and relevant registration processes.

4. In all instances, it is not the Consulates that ascertain citizenship, as this falls within the jurisdiction of the General Districts and the Greek Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation.

5. Finally, it should be noted that, in accordance with Greek Law, the Greek citizenship is an inherent right of persons born to a parent who is a Greek citizen.  As such, Greek Consular authorities do not “grant Greek citizenship”.  Instead, through the provisions of Greek Law, and its stipulated procedures, they assist you to exercise the Right to Citizenship. 

6. An individual’s registration in the records of a Greek Municipality constitutes the recognition of his/her Right to Citizenship by the Greek State, and, therefore, the premise for the Greek Passport.

Categories of Greek citizenship acquisition

• Naturalization of expatriates residing abroad
  The scope of Article 10 of Law 3284/2004 includes expatriate foreigners who reside abroad and wish to acquire Greek nationality through naturalisation. Consequently, the fundamental attribute of the entitled persons belonging to this category is their indisputable national origin (as a formal condition) in conjunction with the establishment of their national consciousness (an essential condition), attributes which are cumulatively verified by the competent consular authorities during two separate stages.
• Acquisition of Greek nationality by declaration due to birth to a Greek father
  Τhe procedure concerns the acquisition of Greek nationality by children born up to and including 17 July 1982 to a Greek father born joined by civil marriage to a foreigner.
• Acquisition of Greek nationality by declaration due to birth to a Greek mother
  The procedure concerns the acquisition of Greek nationality by children born before 8 May 1982 to a Greek mother joined by valid marriage to a foreigner.
• Automatic acquisition of Greek citizenship by a juvenile child born to a Greek citizen
  The procedure concerns the right to automatically acquire Greek citizenship upon birth and it concerns any juvenile child born to at least one Greek parent, where the child was not registered, on their birth, in the municipal register of a municipality in Greece.
• Reacquisition of Greek citizenship by the child of a Greek woman legitimized by a foreign national
  The procedure concerns the reacquisition of Greek citizenship by a child born before 8 May 1984 which they had acquired due to being born to a Greek mother and had lost due to being legitimised or recognised by their foreign father.
• Acquisition of Greek nationality from birth by issuance of a declaratory decision
  The procedure concerns the declaration of Greek nationality from birth by means of a declaration decision.
• Acquisition of Greek nationality upon recognition
  The procedure involves acquisition of Greek nationality upon recognition and concerns any foreigner who was born out of wedlock and was legally recognised as the child of a Greek father. Such foreigners are granted Greek nationality if they are minors at the time of recognition. The date of acquisition of Greek nationality is deemed to be either the date on which the notarial act of recognition was drawn up or the date on which the judicial act of recognition became de jure non-appealable. If the recognition took place after the child attained the age of majority, the procedure for naturalisation of expatriates can take place (https://www.ypes.gr/g-g-ithageneias/diadikasies-ktisis-e-i/politografisi-omogenon)