Path to citizenship
- Apply180-1095 days
- Citizenshipgranted
Overview
- Country
- Greece
- Program
- Greek Citizenship by Descent
- Local name
- Ελληνική Ιθαγένεια κατ' Αγχιστεία
- Type
- Citizenship by Descent
- Status
- Active
- Processing time
- 180-1095 days
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Visa-free countries
- 185 destinations
- Passport rank
- #4 (Henley Index)
Greek citizenship by descent through a Greek parent. Before 1984, citizenship was transmitted only through the father. After January 8, 1984, either parent can transmit citizenship. No strict generational limit if an unbroken chain of registration in a Greek municipality can be proven. Applicants must prove continuous registration (εγγραφή) in the municipal rolls (δημοτολόγια).
Fees and costs
- Application fee
- $108
- Passport fee
- $86
Eligibility and requirements
- Police clearance required
- Medical exam not required
- Oath required
Ancestry requirements
- Generational limit
- No limit
- Ancestor citizenship
- Must have been citizen
- Gender restriction
- complex_pre_1984
Family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Spouse
- Not included
- Max child age
- 18
Passport and mobility
- Passport rank
- #4 (Henley Index)
- Visa-free access
- 185 countries
- Passport validity
- 5 years
- EU citizenship
- Yes
- Schengen access
- Yes
- US E-2 treaty
- Yes — eligible for US investor visa
How to apply
- Method
- Both
- Apply from abroad
- Yes
- Application type
- Open
- Official website
- www.mfa.gr
- Legal basis
- Greek Citizenship Code (Law 3284/2004, as amended by Law 4332/2015 and Law 4735/2020)
Notes and caveats
The key challenge is proving the ancestor was registered in Greek municipal rolls (dimotologia). Greek MFA guidance treats citizenship as primarily parent-based and includes different declaration/recognition paths for pre-1984 Greek-mother and pre-1982 Greek-father cases, so older lineage cases are more complex than a simple paternal-only rule. Processing through consulates is significantly slower (2-3 years for grandparent claims) because records must be manually verified in local Greek archives. Greek passport is only valid 5 years (not 10).