APPLYING FOR AN GREEK PASSPORT OR PASSPORT RENEWAL
Many people seeking to become a Greek citizen want the opportunity to get a Greek passport as it allows you travel to many different places in the world visa-free.
Greek citizenship allows you to freely live, travel, work, and learn in all 27 European Union countries in the Schengen Zone.
In this guide, we explain the Greek passport requirements and the process to apply for getting a Greek passport through your local consulate.
When applying for your passport with Greece, you will need to apply at your local Greek consulate were you legally reside.
The Visa Index ranks the Greek passport at number 7 in the entire world. Why is that?
You’ll get visa-free travel to 188 destinations, and there are dozens more countries that will issue you a visa on arrival.
That flexibility makes it an extremely helpful document for world travelers.
The Greek passport, of course, is more than that—it’s also a guarantee of protection by the Greek authorities when you are traveling internationally. Greece is a member of the EU, and that makes it a wonderful source of protection. The EU recognizes multiple international treaties on human rights along with the power to enforce those commitments, so you know that you’ll have plenty of protection.
The wide range of countries you can explore, along with the high level of protection, mean that your Greek passport is a valuable asset. And that’s all possible once you apply to become a Greek citizen and are approved. Click here to learn more about benefits.
If you are getting a Greek passport for the first time, you’ll need these documents:
Note: Remember, the application is in part a legal statement about your status. As part of the Greek passport requirements be prepared to confirm if you’ve been convicted, prosecuted, or banned from leaving the country. And you’ll also need to be willing to admit if you are a draft evader or deserter.
Your application for a Greek passport differs depending on if this is your first-time or if you are renewing.
The passport Greece requirements state that if you are a minor, you will need a parent or legal guardian present when submitting the passport application and documents. If both parents are guardians, one parent’s presence and written permission from the other (validated by the government) is enough.
If neither parent can be there due to an emergency, a relative can bring the documents as long as they have authorization from one parent and written consent from the other, both verified. A Commissioner is assigned to handle the application if no relative can be authorized.
Administrative fees depend on the kind of passport you are getting:
If your passport is rejected, you’ll get your fee back except for €5, which is held to pay for various handling costs.
You should be able to collect your passport within 4-6 weeks of submitting your application.
This is as long as everything you submit checks out and there are no follow-ups you need, but in our experience, passport applications are generally pretty smooth processes—that is, as long as you have all the documents you need.
Do you want help learning what you need to fill out the application? Or maybe you just need some helpful advice from a team of experts who’ve helped thousands of people get their hands on an official Greek passport?
Then it’s time to sign up for a free consultation call with GDC. We have people ready to talk to you about your exact situation and guide you through all the steps from here to holding your very own Greek passport in your hands.
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.