HOW TO BECOME A GREEK CITIZEN
HOW TO GET GREEK CITIZENSHIP: Your 4 PATHS TO GREEK CITIZENSHIP
Becoming a Greek citizen opens doors to living in a country with rich history, beautiful landscapes, and access to the entire European Union.
But the question is, how do you become a Greek citizen? The first step is to check the four different ways how to get Greek citizenship and identify which path is the correct path for your circumstances. Each path has a different set of requirements.
This guide will break down each path to get Greek citizenship so you can decide how to become a Greek Citizen based on your qualifications.
Keep in mind each path can vary significantly in timeframe, cost, documentation, and requirements. Some paths to becoming a Greek citizen have clear advantages over the others so check below to see which path is the correct one for you.
How Do I Get Greek Citizenship: 4 Paths
There are four main routes to getting Greek citizenship, each with its unique set of criteria and requirements. When exploring how to get Greek citizenship, it’s essential to first determine which path best suits your situation:
- By descent (through Greek ancestors)
- By marriage (married to a Greek citizen)
- By Investment (Greece Golden Visa)
- By naturalization (standard naturalization process)
To become a Greek citizen, it’s important to understand each option and decide which one offers the most efficient route for you for how to become a Greek citizen.
PATH 1: Greek Citizenship by Descent (Heritage)
Best for: People with Greek parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents
Link to full guide by descent here.
The fastest and most straightforward path for how to become a Greek citizen is through your ancestry. If you can prove you have Greek relatives, you may qualify without ever living in Greece.
This is the only route that won’t require you to learn a great deal about the language and culture. And in many other respects, this is the most straightforward path—with no residency requirements or background checks necessary, either.
That being said, if you don’t qualify for it, there’s nothing you can do to get it. That makes it the opposite of naturalization, which is open to everyone but is the most difficult to qualify for.
Key Requirements:
- Greek parent at time of your birth
- Greek grandparent at time of your parent’s birth
- Documentation proving family relationship
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Municipal registration records
Timeline: 3 months to 2 years, depending on documentation
Cost: Minimal administrative fees (€100-300)
Advantage: No residence or language requirements
Disadvantage: Documentation can be difficult to obtain
PATH 2: Marriage to a Greek Citizen
Best for: Those married to Greek citizens who can live in Greece
Link to full guide to apply through marriage here.
If you’re married to a Greek citizen, you can become a Greek citizen by appling for citizenship after three years of marriage and continuous residence in Greece.
Just note: it isn’t enough to simply take your vows. When applying through marriage you will need to meet the residency requirements, as well. That time can be spent integrating into society and becoming proficient in the language, which will also be necessary.
Key Requirements:
- Legal marriage to Greek citizen
- 3 years of marriage and residence
- Greek language proficiency (B1 level)
- Integration into Greek society
- Clean criminal record
Timeline: Minimum 3 years from start of marriage plus processing
Cost: €700 in government fees plus living expenses
Advantage: Faster than standard naturalization
Disadvantage: Must live in Greece during the qualifying period
PATH 3: Greek Citizenship by Investment (Golden Visa)
Best for: Investors and entrepreneurs with significant capital
Link to full Greek Golden Visa guide here.
The Golden Visa program offers residence permits to investors, which can lead to citizenship after seven years.
No, it isn’t a true route to citizenship, as you can’t directly invest your way to having the full rights and responsibilities of Greek citizen. But it is an extraordinarily smooth pathway to residency. And with residency comes the path to naturalization/citizenship (which we’ll go into in the next subsection).
Key Requirements:
- Eligible property investment (€250,000-€800,000 depending on location)
- Clean criminal record
- Private health insurance
Timeline: 7 years minimum
Cost: €250,000-€800,000 plus fees
Advantage: Clear path to residence permit
Disadvantage: High initial investment required
PATH 4: Standard Naturalization
Best for: Long-term residents committed to living in Greece
If you’ve legally lived in Greece for seven years, you can apply for citizenship to become a Greek citizen through naturalization.
Believe it or not, a lot of people already qualify for Greek citizenship by simple naturalization, including many who moved here for work years ago. The main challenges here are passing an official language proficiency exam and taking the Greek citizenship test.
In both of those cases, you’ll need to do some studying. Language proficiency is obviously crucial to navigating Greek society. But in a similar way, the citizenship exam tests whether you have a strong appreciation for the country you will become an official member of—do you understand and treasure the history, political system, and cultural legacy you are joining?
Key Requirements:
- 7 years of legal residence
- Greek language proficiency (B1 level)
- Integration into Greek society
- Stable income
- Clean criminal record
- Passing citizenship test
Timeline: 7 years plus processing
Cost: €700 in government fees plus living expenses
Advantage: No special conditions beyond residence
Disadvantage: Longest time requirement
How to Get a Greek Passport
Link to full guide to get a Greek passport here.
Once you’ve obtained Greek citizenship through any route above, getting a Greek passport follows the same process:
- Submit application at passport office or consulate
- Provide citizenship certificate
- Submit biometric photos
- Pay passport fee (€84.40)
How to Apply for Greek Citizenship
Learn more about the Greek citizenship application process at our complete guide.
Choosing Your Path
Remember that every situation is unique, and requirements can change. Consulting with immigration professionals can help identify the most suitable path for how to become a Greek citizen for your circumstances.
That’s especially true in more complex situations. There may be routes to Greek citizenship that you haven’t considered—and our team of experts can definitely point you in the right direction.
That’s true, even if you just need a few helpful tips. That’s why we offer 100% free consultation calls. Schedule yours today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a Greek citizen?
There are 4 main ways you get Greek citizenship – by descent, by marriage, by investment (Greek Golden Visa), and by naturalization. The easiest is if you have a parent or grandparent who was a citizen at your birth, but you can also become a citizen if you have continuously lived in the country with permanent resident permit for many years or if your spouse is Greek. You can also apply for citizenship by investment through the Greece Golden Visa.
How to get dual citizenship for Greece?
Greece allows people to have dual citizenship. This means that if your current home country also allows it, you can become a dual citizen by following the same steps as becoming a citizen of Greece.
How do I get a Greek passport?
You’ll need to become a full Greek citizen first. Then, you can apply to get a passport from your local Greek consulate.
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
Do You Qualify?
Want to learn the best path for you to qualify for Greek citizenship? Contact us, we offer a free consultation with a Greece citizenship professional.
