Naturalisation of expatriates residing abroad

From National Registry of Administrative Public Services



2d2b0df2-4ac5-4a3e-9365-6bff77005471 299428 Πολιτογράφηση Ομογενών που διαμένουν στο Εξωτερικό

At a glance

Points of service

Consulates, Central Directorate of Nationality

Digital provision points

  • The service is not provided digitally

Number of required documents

8 + (
2
)

Fees

Variable

Estimated Time

18 months

Description

The scope of Article 10 of Law 3284/2004 includes expatriate foreigners who reside abroad and wish to acquire Greek nationality through naturalisation. Consequently, the fundamental attribute of the entitled persons belonging to this category is their indisputable national origin (as a formal condition) in conjunction with the establishment of their national consciousness (an essential condition), attributes which are cumulatively verified by the competent consular authorities during two separate stages.

Basic information

Competent body

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

Authority/Public body’s Unit responsible for the institutional framework of the procedure

Service / organizational unit of a authority entity

Central Directorate of Nationality


Last update

03/11/2024

Application

Application Type

Application

Submission by:

Submitted by the applicant (exclusively in person)

Submitted by:

Persons

Title

Application for naturalisation

Notes:

The application for naturalisation must be submitted to the competent consular authority (determined on the basis of the interested partys place of domicile) and is deemed admissible if filled out using Greek characters and bearing a recent colour photograph with the seal of the consular authority. It is stressed that, when filing out the application form, the applicants name must fully match the information indicated in the translations of the other supporting documents submitted. Particular attention must be paid to filling out all information concerning the applicant’s national origin, as these are the most crucial parts of the application for naturalisation.

What you will need

Means of authentication, identification and signature

Identification document

    Print

    Requirements

      Fees

        Related


        Means of redress or appeal:

        Judicial redress

        Rejection of a naturalisation application is contested by means of an application for annulment filed with the locally competent Administrative Court of Appeal. (Article 7(7) of the Greek Nationality Code, Law 3284/2004, Government Gazette, Series I, No 217).

        Output & Results

        Output

        Decision

        Steps

          Digital steps

            Other information

            Alternative titles

            Naturalisation of expatriates residing abroad (Article 10 of Law 3284/2004)

            Official title

            Naturalisation of expatriates residing abroad

            Languages supported

            Greek, English

            Registries updated

            ΜΗΤΡΩΟ ΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ
            Ολοκληρωμένο Πληροφοριακό Σύστημα Ιθαγένειας

            Legislation

              Categories

              Τype of procedure

              Trigger

              Applied for

              Trigger (submission method)

              Public service / public body document

              Type

              Outgoing
              D5

              ,,,,,,


            • 1 Age The applicant must be an adult


              No No

            • 2 Citizenship The applicant must be a foreign national of proven Greek origin.


              No No

            • 3 Establishment The applicant must reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the consular authority with which the application is filed


              No No

            • 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.


              No No

            • 5 Other The existence of a Greek conscience must be established in the interested party.


              No No

            • 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.


              No No

            • 7 Administrative There are no grounds of public policy or public security for rejecting the application.


              No No

            • 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)

              No

            • 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 https://www.et.gr/api/DownloadFeksApi/?fek pdf=20140100024

              No

            • 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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 9429

            • 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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 2244

            • 3 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 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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 8619

            • 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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 4750

            • 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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 3798

            • 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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 8619

            • 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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 8619

            • 8 One (1) ID-standard colour photograph Photograph

              One (1) ID-standard colour photograph


              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 8298

            • 9 Exact copy of other proof of identity

              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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No

              Alternative document of: 2

              Yes

            • 10 Civil registry birth certificate

              Civil registry birth certificate

              Relevant link: https://www.gov.gr/ipire...xiarkhike-praxe-genneses

              Submission by: Ex officio (digital), Ex officio (manual), Submitted by the applicant (digital)

              Relevant Procedure: ΔΔ:106576

              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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No

              Alternative document of: 3

              Yes

            • 11 Civil registry marriage certificate

              Civil registry marriage certificate

              Relevant link: https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies...tase/lexiarkhike-praxe-gamou

              Submission by: Ex officio (digital), Ex officio (manual), Submitted by the applicant (digital)

              Relevant Procedure: ΔΔ:912456

              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.

              Document submitted under requirements: No

              Alternative document of: 6

              Yes

            • Law 10 3284 2004 217 Α

              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 https://www.et.gr/api/DownloadFeksApi/?fek pdf=20040100217

            • Law 8,9 4735 2020 197 Α

              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 https://www.et.gr/api/DownloadFeksApi/?fek pdf=20200100197

            • Circular 34 2014

              Description Guidance on the procedure for the naturalisation of foreign expatriates residing abroad – Article 10 of Law 3284/2004

              Legal references https://diavgeia.gov.gr/decision/view/%CE%92%CE%91%CE%A7%CE%9E%CE%9D-%CE%9A9%CE%A7

              ΑΔΑ ΒΑΧΞΝ-Κ9Χ

            • 1 Submission of a naturalisation declaration

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department

              Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action


              No No


            • 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


              No No


            • 3 Check Folder

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department

              Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action

              Description Check the completeness of the supporting documents, in particular those from which the applicant's identities and Greek origin are established, as well as the correct validation and translation thereof;

              No No


            • 4 He conducts an interview before the Consul

              Responsible for Implementation Consular Authority

              Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action

              Description The Consulate shall interview the applicant in order to establish the homogeneous status of his or her person as well as to contribute to the essential conditions of naturalization. In particular, the knowledge of the Greek language and the level of knowledge of Greek history, geography and political institutions shall be evaluated.

              Notes At the end of the interview, the Consul's Report is drawn up

              No No


            • 5 Send Folder to the Central Integration Directorate 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 shall be sent in original form.

              No No


            • 6 Receipt and check the folder

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department

              Μethod of Implementation Software action

              Description The case is registered and a number of dossiers are assigned through the Nationality OP.

              No No


            • 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 not lawfully submitted, correspondence shall be made in order to submit them in accordance with the procedure provided for.

              No No


            • 8 Private search for reasons of public order or national security

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department

              Co-responsible for Implementation MINISTRY OF CITIZEN PROTECTION

              Μethod of Implementation Software action

              Description The competent Department of Homogeneous Civilisation submits an e-mail question via the OPC Nationality to the Immigration Department of the Greek Police on non-help to the applicant's person on grounds of public order or national security

              No No


            • 9 Drawing up a draft decision

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action

              Description Where the control of the dossier has been completed and all the measures envisaged have been taken taking into account all the information, a draft decision shall be drawn up by the relevant rapporteur, which gives full reasons for accepting or rejecting the request.

              Notes Manipulation times may deviate from the estimated complexity of each case

              No No


            • 10 Signature of a request for acceptance decision

              Responsible for Implementation Competent General Director

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action

              Description The draft decision shall be signed hierarchically by all relevant bodies; a decision to accept the request for naturalisation shall be issued after the signatures have been completed.

              Yes No


            • 11 Drawing up a summary plan

              Responsible for Implementation Responsible Head of Department

              Μethod of Implementation Software action

              Description After the adoption of the Decision, a summary plan is drawn up, signed by the rapporteur and the competent Head of the Department of Civilisation of Homogeneous People.

              Yes No


            • 12 Mission of a summary for publication at the National Printing Office

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department

              Co-responsible for Implementation NATIONAL PRINTING HOUSE

              Μethod of Implementation Software action

              Description A summary of the decision shall be sent electronically to the National Printing Office in order to be published in the Official Journal of the Government.

              Yes No


            • 13 Publication of naturalisation

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Director


              Description Following the publication of the summary of the Government, it shall be sent by the Department of Civilization of the Central Nationality Department to the Consulate Authority, in order to invite the naturalist to take an oath.

              Yes No


            • 14 Call of the naturalized homosexual in 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, the Hellenic Nationality is acquired by oath, which must take place within one year of the publication of the decision on naturalisation in the Official Journal of the Government.

              Notes The decision on naturalisation shall be revoked if the oath is not given within that annual period; it must therefore be demonstrated that the person concerned has been informed by the competent consular authority of his place of residence by any appropriate means for his prompt invitation to take an oath.

              Yes No


            • 15 Notice of acquisition of Greek nationality

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Director

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action

              Description After receipt of the correspondence from the competent consular authority, the Department of Civilisation of Homogenes shall send the necessary documents to the competent municipality to complete the localisation of the person concerned and to its minors.

              Yes No


            • 16 Signature of a request rejection decision

              Responsible for Implementation Competent General Director

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action

              Description Where the applicant does not see the existence of the nationality (Greek origin and Greek conscience) as well as the fulfilment of the formal and/or substantive conditions for naturalisation, a decision rejecting the request for the acquisition of Greek nationality shall be adopted on the basis of a decision rejecting the request for the acquisition of Greek nationality.

              Notes It should be noted that the rejection decisions are not published in the Official Journal of the Government.

              Yes No


            • 17 Notification of a rejection decision

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department


              Description A copy of the rejection decision shall be sent by the Department of Civilisation of Homogenes to the competent consular authority which shall ensure that the person concerned is informed.

              Yes No


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