At a glance
Points of service
Digital provision points
- The service is not provided digitally
Number of required documents
Fees
Provided without cost
Estimated Time
18 months
Description
Basic information
Competent body
Provided to
Last update
14/04/2025
Application
Application Type
Submission by:
Submitted by:
Title
Notes:
What you will need
Means of authentication, identification and signature
Identification document
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2
1
Birth certificate of the foreign child. ...
Registry certificate
Birth certificate of the foreign child.
Relevant link: Link
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: If the child was born in Greece, a birth certificate drawn up by the competent Greek authorities must be submitted.
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3
1.1
Birth certificate issued by a foreign authority ...
Certification
Birth certificate issued by a foreign authority
Relevant link: Link
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: If the child recognised was born outside Greece, a birth certificate issued by a competent foreign authority must be presented, with the original document bearing legal certification (Apostille or the corresponding certification of consular authorities in the case of a country that has not ratified the Hague Convention), accompanied by an official translation. The foreign birth certificate may function as an act of recognition, in which case a recognition report will be drawn up by the competent consular authority.
Alternative document of: 2
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4
2
A voluntary recognition act drawn up before a notary public, whereby the Greek father recognises the ...
Notarary document
A voluntary recognition act drawn up before a notary public, whereby the Greek father recognises the child as legitimate with the consent of the foreign mother.
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: In the case of voluntary recognition, a notarial recognition deed must be produced, drawn up in accordance with the provisions of Article 1475 of the Greek Civil Code on voluntary recognition. If the child is recognised after they have attained the age of three, the foreign mother must hold a lawful residence permit in order for the notarial recognition deed to be drawn up.
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5
2.1
A court judgment recognising paternity ...
Rule
A court judgment recognising paternity
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: In the case of a decision handed down by a Greek court whereby the Greek father is recognised as the biological father of the minor child, a copy of the recognition judgment must be produced, accompanied by a certificate confirming that it has become de jure non-appealable. If the recognition was effected pursuant to a judgment handed down by a foreign court which has become irrevocable, its res judicata must also be recognised in Greece.
Alternative document of: 4
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6
3
The Greek father’s certificate of municipal registration ...
Certificate from a Local Government Organization
The Greek father’s certificate of municipal registration
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: A certificate of registration in the competent municipal roll of the municipality must be produced, proving that the father held Greek nationality at the time of recognition.
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7
4
Family status certificate of the foreign mother ...
Certification
Family status certificate of the foreign mother
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: The original of the certificate must bear legal certification (Apostille or the corresponding certification of consular authorities in the case of a country that has not ratified the Hague Convention) and be accompanied by an official translation. Production of the aforesaid certificate (or its alternatives) is necessary in order to verify whether the main requirement for the validity of the recognition is met, i.e. confirmation either that the child to be recognised is the child of an unmarried mother, or that the child was born in wedlock by their foreign mother but the presumption of their origin from this marriage has been rebutted.
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9
4.1
Solemn declaration of non-impediment of the foreign mother ...
Declaration
Solemn declaration of non-impediment of the foreign mother
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: Submitted by the foreign mother if it is objectively impossible to issue a certificate of non-impediment. If the solemn declaration is prepared in a language other than Greek, it must be accompanied by an official translation. The solemn declaration must be accompanied by a certificate, issued by the competent foreign authorities, duly certified and officially translated, on the non-issuance of a certificate of non-impediment or similar certificates
Alternative document of: 7
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8
4.2
Certificate of non-impediment of the foreign mother ...
Certification
Certificate of non-impediment of the foreign mother
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: The original of the certificate must bear legal certification (Apostille or the corresponding certification of consular authorities in the case of a country that has not ratified the Hague Convention) and be accompanied by an official translation.
Alternative document of: 7
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10
5
Exact copy of the foreign mothers valid passport ...
Travel Document
Exact copy of the foreign mothers valid passport
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: An exact copy of the foreign mother’s passport is required in order to confirm her particulars
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11
5.1
Other proof of identity of the foreign mother ...
Identification document
Other proof of identity of the foreign mother
Alternative document of: 10
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1
6
A police-issued ID card ...
Police Identity Card (conditional)
A police-issued ID card
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: Required if the application is filed by the Greek father.
Document submitted under requirements: Yes
Document’s requirement: Administrative
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12
7
Residence permit of the foreign mother ...
Residence Permit (conditional)
Residence permit of the foreign mother
Notes: This is required if the application to acquire nationality upon recognition is (also) submitted by the foreign mother to the competent Greek nationality service.
Document submitted under requirements: Yes
Document’s requirement: Administrative
Requirements
-
1
Family
The person concerned must be a child of a foreign mother and a Greek father born out of wedlock, i.e. there must be no ‘presumption of being born in wedlock’ as provided for in Article 1465 of the Greek Civil Code.
-
2
Citizenship
The person concerned must not have acquired Greek nationality by any other lawful means prior to recognition, i.e. they must be foreign nationals.
-
3
Age
The child acquiring Greek nationality must not have attained the age of 18 by the date they are recognised as the child of a Greek father.
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4
Citizenship
The recognising father must hold Greek citizenship at the time the recognition takes place.
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5
Administrative
The act of recognition must be valid under Greek law, with such validity determined in accordance with Articles 11 and 20 of the Greek Civil Code.
Related
Means of redress or appeal:
OtherSpecial Administrative Appeal
Rules concerning a lack of reply from the competent authority and the legal consequences for the use:
Tacit rejection
Output & Results
Output
Steps
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1
Application - issuance of reference number
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description The application is filed with the competent Regional Directorate of Nationality of the place of residence of the applicants parents if they reside in Greece, or with the competent Greek consular authority if they reside abroad. The application is filed by the father and/or mother if the child is a minor and by the applicant themselves if they are an adult. The application receives a file number and is assigned to the competent department.
Notes If the application is filed with a Greek consular authority, it will be sent in a diplomatic bag to the competent Regional Directorate of Nationality of the Municipality in whose municipal roll the Greek father is registered, and the aforesaid procedure will then be followed. If the application is submitted by a child who has become an adult, they may contact any Greek nationality service, depending on the Municipality with which they wish to register.
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2
Assignment to the rapporteur
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description The file is assigned by the competent Head of Unit via the Nationality IIS to the competent rapporteur.
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3
Check of requirements
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description At this stage, a completeness check of the file and legality audit of the supporting documents submitted are carried out.
Notes The competent rapporteur checks whether all the required documents have been submitted and whether the conditions for issuance of a decision on acquisition of Greek nationality due to recognition are met.
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4
Search for legal information or applicable law
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description If the recognition took place in a country for which the Directorate-General for Nationality has no legal information available, correspondence with the competent Greek consular authority will take place to examine whether the recognition was lawfully effected in accordance with the legislation of the country where it took place, and whether its content is assimilated to the status of the child born out of wedlock to a legitimate child is full without being subject to a condition or deadline or to revocation, as required under Greek law in order to generate legal effects.
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5
Search for additional supporting documents
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description If the supporting documents submitted are incomplete or were to submitted according to the established procedure, correspondence will take place in order to have them produced in due form.
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6
Preparation of a draft decision
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description A draft decision on acceptance or rejection of the application for acquisition of Greek nationality is prepared.
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7
Signing of the decision
Responsible for Implementation Competent Director
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description The draft decision is signed by all the department officers (rapporteur, Head of Unit, Director).
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8
Issuance of a decision determining Greek nationality due to recognition
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Software action
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9
Dispatch of summary of the decision to the National Printing Office for publication
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description A summary of the decision is sent electronically to the National Printing House for publication in the Government Gazette.
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10
Publication of the decision on acquisition of Greek nationality in the Government Gazette
Responsible for Implementation Co-competent Authority
Co-responsible for Implementation NATIONAL PRINTING HOUSE
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description A summary of the decision is published in the Government Gazette.
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11
Upload to DIAVGEIA
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description After it is published, the summary of the decision will also be uploaded to the website of the DIAVGEIA programme.
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12
Notice of acquisition of Greek nationality - Municipal Registration Order
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description A document is drawn up and sent to the competent Greek municipality ordering the registration of the recognised child in the municipal roll.
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13
Decision to reject the application
Responsible for Implementation Competent Director
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description Where the requirements are not met, a decision rejecting the application for acquisition of Greek nationality due to recognition will be issued.
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14
Notification of rejection decision
Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description A copy of the rejection decision will be sent to the applicant and to all the stakeholders.
Other information
Alternative titles
Official title
Languages supported
Legislation
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Law 3284/2004 (Government Gazette 217/Α) Articles 2
Description A foreign national who was born out of wedlock and was lawfully recognised as the child of a Greek father, in order to be fully assimilated to a legitimate child of their father, becomes a Greek national upon recognition, provided they are a minor at the time of recognition.
Legal references Link
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Law 1438/1984 (Government Gazette 60/Α) Articles 2
Description A foreign national who was born out of wedlock and was lawfully recognised as the child of a Greek father or mother, in order to be fully assimilated to a legitimate child of their parent, becomes a Greek national upon recognition, provided they have not attained the age of 18 at the time of recognition.
Legal references Link
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Presidential Decree 456/1984 (Government Gazette 164/Α) Articles 11, 20, 1475, 1479
Description Articles 11 and 20 of the Greek Civil Code provide for determining the validity of voluntary recognition, while Articles 1475 and 1479 of the Greek Civil Code provide for the method of voluntary and judicial recognition.
Legal references Link
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Legislative decree 3370/1955 (Government Gazette 258/Α) Articles 3
Description Any person who, before attaining the age of 21, has been recognised pursuant to voluntary or full judicial recognition as the child of a Greek father shall become a Greek as of the date of recognition.
Legal references Link
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Circular Φ.102744/9509/2008
Description Acquisition of Greek nationality due to recognition.
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Circular Φ.102744/71666/2007
Description Acquisition of Greek nationality upon recognition
Categories
Τype of procedure
Trigger
Trigger (submission method)
Life events
Type
End of Process
Ιndefinite
