Greek Citizenship By Descent
APPLYING FOR GREEK NATIONALITY BY DESCENT
Greek Nationality by Descent Through Ancestors
Want to learn if you qualify to become a Greek citizen? If even one of your parents or grandparents were Greek citizens at the time of your birth, you might qualify for Greek citizenship by descent.
There are specific details that must be confirmed to determine if you may qualify for citizenship by descent with Greece. Greece has fairly stringent citizenship by descent laws in Europe so confirming your eligibility is always the first step.
If you qualify and have the documentation, this can be a very successful process. And the best part? It reunites you with your Greek heritage while giving you the many benefits of joining this beautiful country.
Becoming a Greek citizen will also make you a part of a European Union (EU) member state, which brings with it many other benefits, too!
If you’re curious and want to know more, we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide below. If you are not sure if you qualify for Greek nationality by descent, consider scheduling a FREE call with one of our Greek Dual Citizenship consultants to help you confirm if you are eligible.
Greek Citizenship by Descent at a Glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Criteria | - Born before June 16, 1982: Your father is Greek, and your parents were married. - Born after June 16, 1982: Your father is Greek. - Born before August 5, 1984: Your mother is Greek, and your parents were unmarried. - Born after August 5, 1984: Your mother is Greek. - Greek Grandparents: Eligible if your grandfather or grandmother was Greek or naturalized. - Greek Great-Grandparents: Eligible if they were Greek, but intermediate relatives must obtain citizenship first. Parents/grandparents may need to obtain citizenship first if applying through more distant ancestors. |
| Documents Needed | - Passport - Birth certificate - Relevant documents for the Greek ancestor (birth, marriage, death certificates, municipal registration) - Completed application form |
| Application Steps | 1. Gather and register required documents 2. Make an appointment 3. Submit documents and application 4. Receive citizenship |
| Processing Time | - Parents as Qualifying Ancestors: Typically takes around 3 months if documents are complete. - Grandparents as Qualifying Ancestors: May take 2-3 years due to additional requirements. |
| Application Fees | - Embassy Fee: €100 if submitting through an embassy. - Document Registration Fees: Vary by document. - Signature Authentication: €10 for EU citizens, €30 for non-EU citizens. |
| Benefits | - Full rights as an EU citizen, which allow you to live, work, and study in other member countries. - Reconnect with your Greek heritage and culture. - This is one of the fastest and cheapest routes to citizenship because it has no residency requirements. |
Greece Citizenship by Descent: What Is It?
Greek nationality by descent grants you membership in Greece as long as you can prove that you have at least one parent or grandparent who was a citizen of Greece when you were born.
We’ll cover the exact documentation you need below. There are several documents that will be needed to become a full citizen. Once you are a Greek citizen, you can freely live, work, and get an education either in Greece or anywhere throughout the EU.
What is Jus Sanguinis?
How does this all work? Greek nationality by descent is based on the legal principle of jus sanguinis (the “right of blood”).
The right of blood means that the government considers it more important who you were born to than where you were born. This is a great opportunity for the more than 3 million Americans who are estimated to qualify.
Jus sanguinis differs markedly from the principle of jus soli (the “right of the soil”). The right of the soil grants citizenship to people born in the country—which is true for countries like the United States.
Benefits to Greek Nationality by Descent
Why do so many people want to become citizens of Greece? For one, the country is devastatingly gorgeous, both in its natural formations and cultural legacy. The fantastic climate and plenty of ocean views (not to mention great food) certainly add to its appeal.
But becoming a citizen in Greece can often require time and effort to successfully apply.
Greek nationality by descent offers an excellent route to become a Greek citizen and having access to the European Union.
The only catch is that you need Greek heritage and to qualify.
If you have a parent or grandparent who is a Greek citizen, this is definitely the way forward. It gives you an incredible doorway to enjoying the rights to your heritage. Being a part of this country, you’ll get:
- to live in the amazing culture of Greece
- to explore the EU freely, without the need for passports or visas to vacation, work, study, get healthcare, and more
- to thrive with access to the Greek economy
- to participate in local, national, and EU-wide elections and political processes
Eligibility for Greek Citizenship by Descent
Want to learn how to get greek citizenship by descent? Greek citizenship by descent is theoretically open to anyone with documented evidence that at least one of your parents was a citizen at the time of your birth or that one of your grandparents was a citizen at the time of your parent’s birth or you may even qualify through great grandparents.
If you have that documentation, then you are on the right track—but there are caveats.
- Greek Father, Foreign Mother (Married):
If you were born before June 16, 1982, having a Greek father and a foreign mother will qualify you for Greek citizenship.
- Greek Father, Foreign Mother (Married or Unmarried):
If you were born after June 16, 1982, to a Greek father and a foreign mother, you’ll qualify for Greek citizenship no matter if they were married or not.
- Greek Mother, Foreign Father (Out of Wedlock):
If you were born to a Greek mother and a foreign father out of wedlock before August 5, 1984, you are considered to have acquired Greek citizenship at birth.
- Greek Mother, Foreign Father (In or Out of Wedlock):
If you were born to a Greek mother and a foreign father (irrespective of marital status) after August 5, 1984, you are considered to have acquired Greek citizenship at birth.
- Greek Grandparents:
If you were born with a Greek grandfather or grandmother who was born in Greece or naturalized, you are eligible for Greek citizenship.
- Greek Great Grandparents:
If you were born with a Greek great-grandfather or great-grandmother who was born in Greece or naturalized are eligible for Greek citizenship, provided your grandparent(s) are still alive and apply for citizenship first.
- Relatives in Between:
If you apply through your grandparent or great-grandparent, your intermediate relatives (parents or grandparents) may need to obtain Greek citizenship first.
Documents Needed for Greek Citizenship by Descent
The documents you need depend on who you are applying through on as a qualifying ancestor. Keep that in mind as you navigate the list below.
- Your passport
- Your birth certificate
- Your christening or baptism certificate (if applicable)
- Your marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Documentation for your Greek ancestor (birth, marriage, death certificates, and municipal registration records)
- Filled out application form
If your qualifying parent wasn’t actually registered with a Municipality, then they’ll need to be naturalized first. This relies on proving that the parent had consistent ties to Greece—including its culture, language, and history. That’s not easy to definitively prove, which makes this step less certain, but it can be a lot more successful if you have expert help along the way.
Our team offers 100% free consultation calls, so you can make sure that you have a good case for Greek citizenship by descent before you get started down this path.
How to Apply for Greek Citizenship by Descent
The actual application for Greek citizenship through descent can be fairly complex depending on the specific circumstances of your case.
Let’s go step-by-step to see just confirm the basics for how to apply for Greek citizenship by descent:
- Gather your documents that prove your identity, your ancestor’s identity, your ancestor’s Greek citizenship, and your relation.
- Register your documents with the government. If you live abroad, contact your nearest Greek embassy or consulate.
- Get an appointment at the closest Regional Directorate of Citizenship. This requires scheduling a time that works for you and then bringing your documents. At the appointment, you’ll fill out your application and submit your registered documentation.
- Complete the approval process. You might just wait, but there could be hiccups along the way. Those might require that you provide more documentation or answer questions.
How long does it take to get Greek citizenship by descent?
If your documentation is complete and you are relying on the citizenship of one of your parents, processing should only take 3-6 months on average. If your grandparent is the qualifying ancestor, this can take about 2 years. If your application has any challenges, this timeline can expand significantly—as long as 2 or 3 years.
Does Greek citizenship by descent cost anything?
There are out of pocket government fees associated with the citizenship by descent application process. They include:
- Embassy Fee: If you have to submit to your local embassy (i.e., you live outside of Greece), there is a €100 fee.
- Document Registration Fees: There could be fees associated with registering your documentation.
- Signature Authentication: If you are already a citizen of an EU country, you’ll pay €10. Non-EU citizens pay €30.
It’s worth bearing in mind that these fees are on top of costs associated with legal representation and genealogical research that might be included in your overall path to Greek citizenship by descent.
Greek Citizenship by Descent, Is It Worth It?
If you can prove your parent was a Greek citizen at the time of your birth, then this is definitely a good process for seeking citizenship yourself. Applying by descent is one of the best ways to obtain citizenship to this beloved country.
If you are applying through a grandparent or great grandparent the process will be slightly more complex as more documentation and supporting documents will be required.
GDC offers a free consultation to confirm if you qualify to apply for citizenship by descent with Greece.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I claim my Greek citizenship by descent?
You’ll need documentation proving that you have a qualifying Greek ancestor (parent, grandparent, or great grandparent) and the supporting documents to apply for Greek nationality by descent.
Can you get citizenship through great-grandparents?
If you have a living great-grandparent who qualifies you, you may need your grandparents and parents to become citizens before you can qualify.
How do you qualify for Greek citizenship by descent?
All you need to qualify is to have a direct Greek ancestor (parent, grandparent, or even great-grandparent). You will also need to be able to prove this through legally registered documents.
Can I claim citizenship by descent with Greece if I am an American?
Yes! And since both countries allow dual citizenship, you can become a dual citizen. That means you’ll be able to enjoy Greek citizenship and American citizenship at the same time.
What if I can’t prove Greek ancestry?
Sometimes, our clients don’t think they can prove Greek ancestry, but really they just don’t know where to look. GDC offers in-house dual citizenship services and can help you do the difficult genealogical research.
This page was last updated by Marco Permunian
Contact Us
Learn if you qualify for Greek citizenship by descent. Contact us at (213) 636-8022 to start your free eligibility assessment.
