Greek citizenship may be acquired by descent or through naturalization. Greek law permits dual citizenship. A Greek national is a citizen of the European Union, and therefore entitled to the same rights as other EU citizens. A child of a Greek citizen acquires Greek nationality automatically at birth. The same applies to children born in Greece whose parents have lived legally and permanently in Greece for five years. Children born abroad and whose parents have lived legally and permanently in Greece for five years become Greek citizens upon successful completion of elementary education (six years). Greeks born abroad may transmit citizenship to their children from generation to generation indefinitely.

A child born out of wedlock is automatically Greek if the mother is Greek. If the father is Greek and paternity can be proven, the child will become Greek when an application is submitted for the child to become a Greek citizen, providing the child has not yet reached the age of 18. A child over 18 of a Greek father does not require naturalization if they can establish a chain of Greek citizenship through properly recorded birth and marriage certificates.

An ethnic Greek born outside of Greece may acquire Greek citizenship by naturalization if they fail to qualify for simple registration as the child of a Greek citizen. The applicant must prove that at least one parent or grandparent was born a Greek national.

This procedure usually takes place at the Special Registry of Athens. Our team has an organized plan to guide you through, to help you collect all the necessary documentation, translate any certificate into Greek and file the registration/s without you having to travel to Greece.

Themida represents you before the Greek authorities for the acquisition of Greek citizenship.