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.
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:
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.
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.
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
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).
Timeline: 7 years minimum
Cost: €250,000-€800,000 plus fees
Advantage: Clear path to residence permit
Disadvantage: High initial investment required
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?
Timeline: 7 years plus processing
Cost: €700 in government fees plus living expenses
Advantage: No special conditions beyond residence
Disadvantage: Longest time requirement
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:
Learn more about the Greek citizenship application process at our complete guide.
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!
The Greece Golden Visa initiative provides residency to non-EU individuals who invest significantly in the nation.
The Greece Golden Visa program restricts how you can use your properties. Properties purchased under this program cannot be used for short-term rentals or as registered company offices, especially in higher investment tiers. You are not guaranteed full citizenship. That still takes 7 years of continuous residency among other criteria. Learn more about the Greek citizenship requirements here.
Yes, the Greek Golden Visa underwent significant changes in 2024, and more changes are likely coming soon. With new changes being announced, it’s important to always check updates to these rules.
Contact us at (213) 636-8022 to start your free eligibility assessment and to learn more about the Greek Golden Visa Program.