At a glance
Points of service
Digital provision points
- The service is not provided digitally
Number of required documents
Fees
Variable
Estimated Time
18 months
Description
Basic information
Competent body
Service / organizational unit of a authority entity
Provided to
Related links
Last update
12/03/2025
Application
Application Type
Submission by:
Submitted by:
Title
Notes:
What you will need
Means of authentication, identification and signature
Identification document
-
1
1
Naturalisation declaration ...
Declaration
Naturalisation declaration
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: The naturalisation declaration shall be drawn up by the Consul or an employee of the competent consular authority, authorised by the Consul, in the presence of the interested expatriate and two Greek citizens as witnesses, whose full names and police-issued identity card or Greek passport numbers must be recorded in the naturalisation declaration. It is noted that officials of the consular authority may also serve as witnesses for the purposes of the declaration. The naturalisation declaration bears the round seal of the consulate in question and the date of issue.
-
2
2
Exact copy of the applicant’s passport ...
Identification document
Exact copy of the applicant’s passport
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: The applicant’s particulars must match the information in their birth certificate.
-
9
2.1
Exact copy of other proof of identity ...
Identification document
Exact copy of other proof of identity
Notes: This must be accompanied by an official translation if no Latin characters are used. The applicant’s particulars must match the information in their birth certificate.
Alternative document of: 2
-
3
3
In the case of a birth certificate prepared by foreign authorities, the original document must bear ...
Certification
In the case of a birth certificate prepared by foreign authorities, the original document 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
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: The naturalisation decision is issued on the basis of the information contained in the translation accompanying the birth certificate. For this reason, it is necessary to produce a birth certificate or other equivalent certificate of the civil registration of the interested partys birth, as provided for in the legislation of their country of origin.
-
10
3.1
Civil registry birth certificate ...
Birth certificate (ex officio)
Civil registry birth certificate
Relevant link: Link
Submission by: Ex officio (digital), Ex officio (manual), Submitted by the applicant (digital)
Notes: Where the applicant was born in Greece, submission of a civil registry birth certificate, duly prepared by the competent Civil Registry of a Greek municipality, is required.
Alternative document of: 3
-
4
4
Criminal record certificate issued by foreign authorities ...
Criminal Record Copy for General Use
Criminal record certificate issued by foreign authorities
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: A recent criminal record certificate presenting the applicants overall criminal record must be issued by the competent authority, at the care of the interested party, and produced by the applicant, duly certified and officially translated.
-
5
5
Documents and supporting documents proving Greek origin ...
Proof
Documents and supporting documents proving Greek origin
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: These include data concerning ancestors registrations (even in old population registers no longer in existence), information on the history of their family, consular registrations, acquisition of Greek nationality by their (blood) relatives and consular passports or by similar local authorities.
-
6
6
Marriage certificate from a foreign authority ...
Certification
Marriage certificate from a foreign authority
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: Where the applicant married abroad, an original certificate issued by the competent foreign authority, duly certified (Apostille or the corresponding certification of consular authorities in the case of a country that has not ratified the Hague Convention) and officially translated, must be submitted. With regard to wives who take the husbands surname after they marry, the marriage certificate must document this change.
-
11
6.1
Civil registry marriage certificate ...
Marriage certificate (ex officio)
Civil registry marriage certificate
Relevant link: Link
Submission by: Ex officio (digital), Ex officio (manual), Submitted by the applicant (digital)
Notes: Where the marriage was conducted in Greece, submission of a civil registry marriage certificate, duly prepared by the competent Civil Registry of a Greek municipality, is required.
Alternative document of: 6
-
7
7
Birth certificate of minor children ...
Certification
Birth certificate of minor children
Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by: Persons
Notes: Necessary for the municipal registration of the applicants children who are minors and unmarried at the time they take their oath, due to automatic acquisition of Greek nationality under Article 10(4) of Law 3284/2004.
-
8
8
One (1) ID-standard colour photograph ...
Photograph
One (1) ID-standard colour photograph
Relevant link: Link
Submitted by: Persons
Relevant Procedure: MyPhoto for citizens
Requirements
-
1
Age
The applicant must be an adult.
-
2
Citizenship
The applicant must be a foreign national of proven Greek origin.
-
3
Establishment
The applicant must reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the consular authority with which the application is filed.
-
4
Administrative
Consul report: provided that the applicant’s Greek origin has been certified, the Consul issues an opinion on whether the applicant’s Greek origin meets the substantive requirements, by substantiating the applicant’s expatriate status, taking account of their knowledge in key thematic units concerning Greece and the their level of national consciousness, thus establishing the applicant’s genuine interest in acquiring Greek nationality.
-
5
Other
The existence of a Greek conscience must be established in the interested party.
-
6
Conditions for non-commission of criminal offenses
The applicant must not have been irrevocably convicted of an offence committed with dolus, during the last 10 years prior to date the application for naturalisation was filed, to serve a custodial sentence of at least 1 year or at least 6 months and, irrespective of the date of conviction, for crimes of offences against the insulting the system of government, treason against Greece, intentional manslaughter and grievous bodily harm, crimes related to drug trafficking, money laundering, international economic crimes, crimes involving the use of high technology, currency-related crimes, crimes related to child trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography (Law 3625/2007 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 290), crimes of establishment of or membership in a criminal organisation within the meaning of Article 187 of the Penal Code and offences under Article 187A of the Penal Code, resistance against the authorities, child abduction, crimes against sexual freedom and exploitation of sexual life, theft, robbery, fraud, misappropriation, extortion, usury, violation of the law on intermediaries, forgery, false certificate, swearing to a false certificate, slander, smuggling, crimes relating to weapons, antiquities, trafficking of migrants lacking a residence permit in Greece or facilitating their transport or trafficking or providing accommodation to such persons for concealment.
-
7
Administrative
There are no grounds of public policy or public security for rejecting the application.
Fees
-
1
EUR 100 fee (either for an initial application or for re-submission following rejection). Payable to the consular authority in the form of a triplicate collection bill.
100 €
Cost Calculation One-off
Method of Payment Bank cashier, Digital (debit / credit card), Digital (web banking)
Type of Cost Administrative Fee (not provided by e-paravolo webpage)
-
2
This concerns consular acts requiring payment of compensatory consular fees on the basis of Presidential Decree 16/2014 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 24 of 31 January 2014).
30 €
Cost Calculation One-off, Quantitative
Method of Payment Bank cashier, Digital (debit / credit card), Digital (web banking)
Type of Cost Impost
Fee Link Link
Related
Means of redress or appeal:
Judicial redress
Output & Results
Output
Steps
-
1
Submission of a naturalisation declaration
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
-
2
Submission of and issuance of reference number to an application for naturalisation
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
-
3
File check
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description The completeness of the supporting documents, especially those from which the identity and Greek origin of the applicant arise, as well as their proper validation and translation are checked.
-
4
Interview with the Consul
Responsible for Implementation Consular Authority
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description The Consul conducts an interview with the applicant in order to ascertain their status as an expatriate and that the substantive requirements for naturalisation are met. In particular, the applicant’s knowledge of the Greek language and level of knowledge of Greek history, geography and political institutions are assessed.
Notes After the interview, the Consul prepares a report.
-
5
Dispatch of the file to the Central Directorate of Nationality of the Ministry of Interior
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Notes All supporting documents are transmitted in their original form.
-
6
Receipt and check of the file
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description The case receives a reference number and a file number is assigned via the Nationality IIS. The Expatriate Naturalisation Department of the Central Directorate of Nationality checks whether the naturalisation requirements are met.
-
7
Search for additional supporting documents
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description Where the supporting documents submitted are incomplete or have not been submitted in due form, correspondence will take place in order to submit them in accordance with the established procedure.
-
8
Ex officio search on grounds of public policy or national security
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF CITIZEN PROTECTION
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description The competent Expatriate Naturalisation Department submits an online query through the Nationality IIS to the Aliens Division of the Hellenic Police regarding the non-existence of grounds of public order or national security relating to the applicant.
-
9
Preparation of a draft decision
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description Once the file check has been completed and all the required steps have been taken, having considered all the information, a draft decision is drawn up by the competent rapporteur, setting out the full reasons for accepting or rejecting the request.
Notes Processing times may vary from those estimated depending on the complexity of the case.
-
10
Signing of the decision accepting the request
Responsible for Implementation Competent General Director
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description The draft decision is signed by all the department officers in the hierarchy. Once all signatures have been placed, a decision accepting the naturalisation request is issued.
-
11
Preparation of a draft summary
Responsible for Implementation Responsible Head of Department
Μethod of Implementation Software action
Description After the decision has been issued, a draft summary is prepared and signed by the rapporteur and the competent Head of the Expatriate Naturalisation Department.
-
12
Dispatch of summary to the National Printing House for publication
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Co-responsible for Implementation NATIONAL PRINTING HOUSE
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.
-
13
Naturalisation notice
Responsible for Implementation Competent Director
Description Following publication of the summary in the Government Gazette, the Expatriate Naturalisation Department of the Central Directorate of Nationality will send the naturalisation notice to the competent consular authority, so that the naturalised person can be summoned to take an oath.
-
14
Summoning the naturalised expatriate to take an oath
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Description In accordance with Article 9(1) of Law 3284/2004, Greek nationality is acquired upon taking an oath, which must be done within 1 year of the date of publication of the naturalisation decision in the Government Gazette. Following the oath-taking ceremony, a report is drawn up, accompanied by a solemn declaration by the interested party concerning the Greek municipality with which they wish to register both themselves and any minor children.
Notes The naturalisation decision shall be revoked if the oath is not taken within the aforesaid one-year deadline. Therefore, it must be proven that the interested party was notified to take the oath in good time and using all appropriate means by the competent consular authority of their place of residence.
-
15
Notice of acquisition of Greek nationality
Responsible for Implementation Competent Director
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description After receiving the relevant correspondence from the competent consular authority, the Expatriate Naturalisation Department will forward the supporting documents necessary for completing the municipal registration of the interested party and their minor children to the competent municipality.
-
16
Signing of the decision rejecting the request
Responsible for Implementation Competent General Director
Μethod of Implementation Manual Action
Description If the applicant does not qualify for expatriate status (Greek origin and Greek consciousness) and does not meet the formal and/or substantive requirements for naturalisation, a decision rejecting their application to acquire Greek nationality will be issued.
Notes It is noted that rejection decisions are not published in the Government Gazette.
-
17
Notification of rejection decision
Responsible for Implementation Competent Department
Description A copy of the rejection decision is sent by the Expatriate Naturalisation Department to the competent consular authority, which will ensure that the interested party is informed.
Other information
Alternative titles
Official title
Languages supported
Legislation
-
Law 4735/2020 (Government Gazette 197/Α) Articles 8,9
Description Article 8: Fee for the naturalisation of expatriates residing abroad – Amendment to Article 10(1) of the Greek Nationality Code Article 9: Acquisition of Greek nationality by a child of a naturalised person residing in Greece
Legal references Link
-
Law 3284/2004 (Government Gazette 217/Α) Articles 10
Description Article 9: Oath-taking Article 10: Naturalisation of expatriates residing abroad Article 11: Acquisition of Greek nationality by children of a naturalised person
Legal references Link
-
Circular 34/2014
Description Guidance on the procedure for the naturalisation of foreign expatriates residing abroad – Article 10 of Law 3284/2004
Legal references Link
ΑΔΑ ΒΑΧΞΝ-Κ9Χ
Categories
Τype of procedure
Trigger
Trigger (submission method)
Type
End of Process
Ιndefinite
