Greece is one of the most popular countries among foreign investors and people wishing to obtain citizenship of a European country. The main advantages of Greece are its EU-member status, a low investment threshold, and relatively low real estate prices.
It is also one of the few countries that allows dual citizenship if the two states have such an agreement. Here are the ways you can obtain Greek citizenship.
Benefits of Greek Citizenship
Greek citizenship gives you a number of privileges in EU countries. Here are some of them:
- visa-free travel;
- a right to residence;
- a right to employment;
- bank loans with a low interest rate of 3% and less;
- a European Health Insurance Card;
- a right to education;
- a right to own a business.
Oia, Greece. Photo by orva studio (Unsplash)
How to Become a Citizen of Greece
Via Repatriation
As in other states, Greece encourages the return of its people to their home country. People who have Greek roots have a special right to citizenship. It applies to those who have Greeks relatives of the first, second or third generation — parents, grandparents, great-grandparents. You can prove your eligibility using any document indicating the nationality of your Greek relative: a passport, a birth or a death certificate.
The repatriate must meet the following requirements:
- be of legal age;
- have no criminal records;
- be a permanent resident of Greece;
- have a basic knowledge of the Greek language.
Another important condition is not to have been deported from any country. If you have ever been deported from any country where you used to live, you lose your right to claim Greek citizenship.
The application procedure is simple:
- If you are currently living in another country, you need to submit the documents proving that you have Greek roots to the local Greek Embassy.
- If you are currently in Greece, you need to apply there.
Be prepared that it can take as long as two years to process a repatriation application.
To apply, you need to provide the following documents:
- a citizenship application form;
- a travel document;
- a birth certificate translated into Greek and notarized;
- documents confirming Greek residence (a real estate contract or a lease agreement);
- a certificate of tax payment for the last three to five years, if the applicant has been living in Greece during that period of time;
- medical insurance valid in Greece;
- a police clearance certificate;
- documents proving Greek origin.
Via Naturalisation
If you do not have Greek roots, an alternative way of getting citizenship in Greece you can consider is by the naturalisation programme. To apply, you need to have been residing in Greece for 10 years.
This period can be shortened in two cases:
- If you marry a citizen of Greece, have children with that spouse and have Greek citizenship assigned to said children, you become eligible for Greek citizenship yourself in three years.
- If you buy real estate for a total sum of over €250,000, you can acquire Greek citizenship in seven years.
Parga, Greece. Photo by Calin Stan (Unsplash)
Greek citizenship application documents include
- a national identity document;
- a travel document;
- a notarised birth certificate
- a police clearance certificate;
- temporary and permanent residence permits to confirm that your residence in Greece has been legal;
- a tax payment certificate;
- documents to prove financial stability;
- a medical examination certificate.
Children automatically become Greek citizens if at least one of the parents has Greek citizenship. If for some reason a child of a Greek citizen has not received Greek citizenship before becoming an adult, the child has the right to apply themselves, independently, and obtain citizenship automatically. Such applicants will require their parents' birth and marriage certificates that indicate the Greek nationality of at least one of them.
Via Religion
The majority of the Greek population are Orthodox Christians. Mount Athos on the northeastern coast of Greece is home to the largest Orthodox monastic community in the world, and joining this monastic community is the fastest way to obtain Greek citizenship.
To take monastic vows and obtain citizenship, you require the following documents:
- a birth certificate;
- a police clearance certificate;
- a document proving membership of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
You will also need to learn the internal rules of the community and confirm this via a statement to the Administration. If the candidate has already been tonsured as a monk or cleric, they will also need the permission of the bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Once all the documents are collected, the Administration of the monastery will deliver them to the Holy Kinot, the supreme governing body of the Holy Mount Athos. The application is then sent to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, if approved, is sent to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, where they make the final decision on granting citizenship. After that, the documents will be sent back to the monastery, where the new Greek citizen will be admitted as a novice.
The Constitution and the charter of the Holy Mountain say nothing about what happens if a person who has received citizenship then refuses to become a monk. The Code of Greek Citizenship stipulates that in this case they will be deprived of a Greek passport, but this has never happened.
Via Golden Visa
The Greek government introduced a "Golden Visa" programme to attract foreign investors after the economic crisis of 2011. Since 2013, Greece has granted Golden Visas for the purchase of real estate in the country worth €250,000 or more. If you obtain a Golden Visa, you can then apply for citizenship.
In September 2021, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis signed a decree raising the minimum threshold for real estate investments required for a Golden Visa to €500,000. The change affected only popular cities and municipalities in Greece, though, namely Athens, Thessaloniki, Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, the islands of Santorini and Mykonos. IThe threshold remains at €250,000 in other areas.
Santorini, Greece. Photo by Heidi Kaden (Unsplash)
Other Ways of Becoming a Citizen of Greece via a Golden Visa
Aside from buying real estate, there are two other ways to get a Golden Visa:
- Renting real estate for more than €250,000 for a period of 10 years.
- Investing a minimum of €400,000. You can invest:
- in the purchase of land shares;
- in bonds issued by the Greek government;
- in shares of alternative investment organisations;
- in real estate under construction;
- in a fixed-term deposit to an account of a credit institution accredited by the Central Bank of Greece.
When an investor applies for a residence permit, their next of kin, that is, a spouse, children under 21 and parents of the spouses, can also get one.
Requirements for applicants for a Golden Visa:
- a real estate contract or a lease agreement;
- medical insurance with full coverage;
- a police clearance certificate;
- monthly income of more than €2,000;
- a certificate of absence of diseases posing a threat to public health.
The list of documents to submit when applying for a Golden Visa and a residence permit:
- a residence permit application form;
- a national identity document;
- a travel document;
- three colour photos;
- a registered real estate contract or lease agreement;
- a letter from the seller of the property, notarised, confirming receipt of the money from the sale;
- a receipt confirming having paid the application fee.
The Golden Visa is issued for a period of five years and then renewed. To obtain citizenship, you need to live in Greece for seven to ten years, and then go through the standard naturalisation procedure.
Note. Since February 28, 2022, the Greek authorities have suspended the issuance and renewal of Golden Visas for citizens of Russia and Belarus.
Alternative Routes
The alternative routes are the ones that apply only to specific categories of people. They are:
- Citizenship for serving in the Greek Armed Forces or attending the Military Academy. This route is available only to ethnic Greeks who for some reason did not receive citizenship. The service term in the ground forces is one year, in the navy and air forces it is eight months.
- Citizenship for exceptional services to the State. Greece recognises different types of achievement — in sports, art, science, etc., and the applicant's international fame and awards will be taken into account.
In a Nutshell
A Greek passport is one of the easiest to obtain among the EU Member States. The ways to acquire it are standard. You can get Greek citizenship by naturalisation, by repatriation, and by marriage. There is also the option to join the Greek Church or invest in real estate and become a holder of a Golden Visa.
Cover photo: Acropolis, Athens, Greece. Constantinos Kollias (Unsplash)
