27897c26-af20-491c-9ff5-774f3210ba01
820916
Πολιτογράφηση Αλλογενών Αλλοδαπών
At a glance
Points of service
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
Digital provision points
- The service is not provided digitally
Number of required documents
Description
This process concerns the acquisition of Greek citizenship, through naturalisation, by non-nationals, including European Union citizens, third-country citizens, refugees, and stateless persons residing legally and permanently in Greece.
Basic information
Competent body
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
Authority/Public body’s Unit responsible for the institutional framework of the procedure
Application
Application Type
Application
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Title
Application for naturalisation
Notes:
Applicants should submit their application for naturalisation to the Regional Directorate of Nationality in their place of residence in person, through a lawyer acting on their behalf, or by registered post.
All fields on the application form must be completed. The form must be completed in capital letters, using Greek characters or Latin characters (LAT) where required. Where option boxes are available, select one by ticking: v
What you will need
Means of authentication, identification and signature
Related
Means of redress or appeal:
Other
1) Administrative appeal 2) Application for annulment
1) An appeal against a decision to reject an application – on the grounds that the formal requirements for naturalisation have not been met – may be lodged with the Minister of the Interior within the strict deadline of 30 days from the date of notification to the applicant. An appeal lodged in accordance with the foregoing must be accompanied by a fee receipt for one hundred euros (EUR 100) (fee code: 2161).
2) An application for annulment may be lodged at the competent local Administrative Court of Appeal against a decision rejecting an application on the grounds that the substantive conditions for naturalisation have not been met. Article 7(7) of the Greek Nationality Code (KEI), Law 3284/2004, Government Gazette, Series I, No 217)
Other information
Official title
Naturalisation for non-nationals
Languages supported
Greek, English
Categories
Trigger (submission method)
Application (handwritten)
D5
ΔΔ
4
10
0
0
16
0
46278
No
0
0
Indefinite
Identification document
727814
8210
Input in another process
This process concerns the acquisition of Greek citizenship, through naturalisation, by non-nationals, including European Union citizens, third-country citizens, refugees, and stateless persons residing legally and permanently in Greece.
100.00
550.00
10
0
1
1 year
,,,,,
1
Age
Applicants must be adults when submitting an application.
No
No
2
Conditions for non-commission of criminal offenses
They must not have a final conviction for an intentional offence given in the ten years before submitting their application for naturalisation.
• They must not have been given a sentence depriving them of their liberty for at least one year.
• They must not have been given a sentence of at least six months, irrespective of when the conviction was handed down, for specific offences listed exclusively in Article 5(b) of the Greek Nationality Code, as currently in force.
No
No
3
Conditions for non-commission of criminal offenses
They must not be under a deportation order or have other pending matters concerning their legal residence status in Greece.
No
No
4
Administrative
Applicants must hold one of the following residence permits:
• A long-term resident’s permit.
• A certificate or other residence document issued to citizens of EU Member States or EFTA countries.
• A residence permit or other residence document issued to family members of a Greek citizen, or a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, or to the parents of a minor Greek national.
• A document recognising the status of refugees or of beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, or of family members of holders of such documents.
• A travel document or special document issued by a national authority, in accordance with the provisions of the New York International Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons.
• A second-generation residence permit.
• A residence permit of unlimited duration.
• A 10-year residence permit.
• A residence permit for investment activity.
• A residence permit for property owners.
• A permanent residence permit for investors.
• A residence permit for citizens of the United Kingdom and their family members who fall within the scope of Article 10 of the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
No
No
5
Establishment
Applicants must have been residing legally and permanently in Greece for seven (7) years prior to submitting an application for Greek citizenship.
No
No
6
Establishment
It is sufficient to have resided lawfully in Greece for three (3) consecutive years (prior to submitting an application for naturalisation), for the following:
• Citizens of a Member State of the European Union.
• Spouses of a Greek citizen with a child.
• Those who have parental responsibility for a child of Greek nationality born in Greece.
• Stateless persons.
Yes
Yes
7
Establishment
Particular cases
• For those who were born in and have resided in Greece continuously, the seven-year residence requirement does not apply.
• For spouses of Greek diplomatic staff and staff serving in diplomatic and consular authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the period of residence abroad due to the service of their Greek spouses is taken into account for the completion of the above time (7 years, or 3 years), provided that they have lived, at any time, for one (1) full year in Greece.
• Non-nationals holding any other valid residence document not included in the above documents must have resided lawfully in Greece for twelve (12) consecutive years prior to submitting an application for Greek citizenship.
Yes
Yes
8
Sufficient knowledge
In order to fulfil their obligations as a Greek citizen, applicants for Greek citizenship must:
• Have a sufficient knowledge of the Greek language.
• Have an adequate knowledge of Greek history and geography, Greek culture and the customs of the Greek people, as well as of the functions of institutions in the country’s political system.
In order to assess applicants’ knowledge of the Greek language, history, geography, culture, and institutions in the political system of Greece, applicants must obtain the Certificate of knowledge proficiency for citizenship by sitting the written examinations which are held twice a year; unless they fall into a category for exemption from this requirement due to having attended a Greek school or university.
No
No
9
Integration
Applicants must be properly integrated in the country’s economic system, and have identified it as the permanent base for their daily activities.
The following are considered proof of economic integration:
A) Income criteria.
B) Compliance with the applicant’s tax and social security obligations.
No
No
10
Integration
Proper integration in the country’s economic system, indicating it as the permanent base for their daily activities.
The following are considered proof of social integration:
• Having an established family link with a Greek citizen.
• Attending a Greek school.
• Vocational training.
• Participation in voluntary activities and civil society events.
• Continuous residence in Greece, in terms of having established stable links to the country, having identified it as the permanent base for their daily activities, whilst residing there continuously
No
No
11
Of National Security
There must be no grounds relating to public order or national security that prevent the applicant from being granted Greek citizenship.
No
No
1
Non-nationals, after 26/3/2019
550 €
No
2
Re-submission of applications by non-nationals
200 €
Yes
1
3
Submission/re-submission by members of the Greek diaspora, EU citizens, stateless persons/political refugees, objections
100 €
Yes
1
1
An exact copy of all the pages of your valid passport or travel document, or other proof of identity
Identification document
An exact copy of all the pages of your valid passport or travel document, or other proof of identity
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
In the case of submission in person and/or submission in the presence of a lawyer acting on their behalf, if the passport is presented to an official of the citizenship service, an exact copy of the passport may be kept for official use. Where the application for naturalisation is sent by post, a true copy of the passport, certified by a Greek lawyer, must be attached to it.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
2244
2
Valid lawful residence document
Residence Permit
Valid lawful residence document
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
4178
3
Certificate of knowledge proficiency for citizenship (P.E.G.P. - Π.Ε.Γ.Π.)
Certification
Certificate of knowledge proficiency for citizenship (P.E.G.P. - Π.Ε.Γ.Π.)
Relevant link:
https://exetaseis-ithageneia.ypes.gr/#home
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
259001: Applications to participate in the examinations for a Certificate of knowledge proficiency for citizenship (P.E.G.P. / Π.Ε.Γ.Π.)
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
8619
4
An original birth certificate issued by foreign authorities, the original document must bear legal certification (by apostille or the corresponding certification of consular authorities for a country that has not ratified the Hague Convention) and be accompanied by an official translation
Certification
An original birth certificate issued by foreign authorities, the original document must bear legal certification (by apostille or the corresponding certification of consular authorities for 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 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 applicants birth, as provided for in the legislation of their country of origin.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
8619
5
An original marriage certificate issued by a foreign authority, duly certified and translated, in the case of a change of surname after marriage
Certification
An original marriage certificate issued by a foreign authority, duly certified and translated, in the case of a change of surname after marriage
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
Where the applicant was married abroad, an original certificate issued by the competent foreign authority, duly certified (by apostille or the corresponding certification of consular authorities for a country that has not ratified the Hague Convention) and officially translated, must be submitted. For wives who take the husbands surname after they marry, the marriage certificate must document this change.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
8619
6
Proof of payment of the electronic fee
Proof of payment / Receipt
Proof of payment of the electronic fee
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
A fee of EUR 550 is required for submitting an application. For resubmitting an application, the fee is EUR 200.
For stateless persons, refugees, and EU citizens, the fee is EUR 100 for the initial submission or a re-submission of an application.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
7053
7
Tax clearance certificates or administrative tax assessments
Proof of Income
Tax clearance certificates or administrative tax assessments
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
Tax clearance certificates for the past 3, 7, or 12 years for years of previous lawful residence in Greece, required on a case-by-case basis, demonstrating the applicant’s tax liability as a resident of Greece
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
6430
8
Social security number (AMKA)
Proof of Insurance
Social security number (AMKA)
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
7210
9
Supporting documents proving the applicant’s economic integration
Supporting documents per case
Supporting documents proving the applicant’s economic integration
Relevant link:
https://www.ypes.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/eggr6929-egk81-20220204.pdf
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
Supporting documents proving economic integration:
▪ Certificates of tax and social security clearance (e-EFKA).
▪ Social security certificates confirming periods of employment.
▪ Private employment contracts.
▪ Financial statements with information on business activity (form
E3).
▪ Real estate declarations (form E9)
▪ Certificate issued by a credit institution supervised by the Bank
of Greece on the holding of active bank account(s).
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
4332
10
Civil registry birth certificate
Birth certificate
Civil registry birth certificate
Relevant link:
https://www.gov.gr/en/ipiresies/oikogeneia/gennese/lexiarkhike-praxe-genneses
Submission by:
Ex officio (digital), Ex officio (manual), Submitted by the applicant (digital)
Notes:
If the applicant was born in Greece, a civil registry birth certificate, duly issued by the competent Civil Registry of a Greek municipality, must be submitted.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
Alternative document of:
4
Yes
9224
11
Proof of exemption from obtaining a mandatory P.E.G.P.
Certificate
Proof of exemption from obtaining a mandatory P.E.G.P.
Submission by:
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
• A certificate confirming nine years/six years of successful attendance at primary and/or secondary school, issued by the relevant Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education, or
• a copy of a degree in a Greek language programme awarded by a Greek Institute of Higher Education, or
• a copy of a postgraduate degree in a Greek language programme awarded by a Greek Institute of Higher Education, or
• a copy of the title page of a doctoral thesis in Greek from a Greek Institute of Higher Education.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
Alternative document of:
3
Yes
9703
12
Supporting documents proving an applicant’s social integration
Supporting documents per case
Supporting documents proving an applicant’s social integration
Notes:
Supporting documents proving social integration:
▪ Certificate of marriage to a Greek citizen.
▪ Birth certificate(s) for a child/children born
in Greece.
▪ Certificate confirming that the applicant or their child is enrolled in a Greek school or in Greek
preschool education structures in Greece.
▪ Utility bills and landline telephone bills in their name.
▪ A copy of the submitted real estate declaration with lease information
(AADE).
▪ Certificates of vocational education and training certificates from
relevant authorities.
▪ Certificates of participation in public benefit activities and volunteer
activity.
▪ Proof of continuous residence.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
No
4332
13
Electronic confirmation of submitting an application for renewing a residence permit
Certificate
Electronic confirmation of submitting an application for renewing a residence permit
Submitted by:
Persons
Notes:
In an initial application for the acquisition of Greek citizenship that
is accompanied by electronic confirmation of the submission of an application for renewing the residence permit, the final administrative decision is issued only on presentation of the definitive residence permit. As this must be one of the acceptable documents for the submission of the relevant application, in accordance with the provisions of the Greek Nationality Code for each category of application.
Document submitted under requirements:
No
Alternative document of:
2
Yes
9703
Law
35-36
4915
2022
63
Α
Description
Deadlines and suspension of the examination of the application for naturalisation if criminal proceedings are brought against the applicant for offences involving a sentence depriving them of their liberty of more than one (1)
year or for other offences, a conviction which constitutes an obstacle to citizenship.
Legal references
https://api.et.gr/apiLAW/1/2022/4915/pdf
Law
36,37,38
4873
2021
248
Α
Description
Protection of volunteering, strengthening of civil society action, tax incentives to support the public benefit activities of organisations of civil society, and other provisions. Chapter II: ‘Provisions relating to the competences of the General Secretariat for citizenship’
Legal references
https://api.et.gr/apiLAW/1/2021/4873/pdf
Law
52
4795
2021
62
Α
Description
Persons who have attended a Greek school or a school which follows the compulsory Greek curriculum and teaching programme are exempt from obtaining the mandatory P.E.G.P., provided that they have successfully completed either nine years of primary and secondary education or six years of secondary education. Furthermore, those who have graduated from a Greek-language programme at a Greek institute of higher education, or who have obtained a postgraduate qualification from a Greek-language programme at a Greek institute of higher education, or who have completed a doctoral thesis in Greek at a Greek institute of higher education, are also exempt.
Legal references
https://api.et.gr/apiLAW/1/2021/4795/pdf
Law
4735
2020
197
Α
Description
Amending the Greek Nationality Code as regards the substantive conditions for the naturalisation of non-nationals, the necessary supporting documents and the naturalisation process.
Legal references
https://api.et.gr/apiFEK/1/2020/197/pdf
Law
36, 37,94
4674
2020
53
Α
Description
Amendments to the Greek Nationality Code concerning the authority to administer the oath, the right to lodge a special appeal against a decision to reject an application, and the time requirement for lawful residence prior to submitting an application.
Legal references
https://api.et.gr/apiFEK/1/2020/53/pdf
Law
4604
2019
50
Α
Law
31
4531
2018
62
Α
Description
Citizenship issues relating to the completion of the required period of residence for spouses of Greek diplomatic staff, the introduction of a 12-year period of lawful residence for holders of any valid residence document, and the correction of the full name details of naturalised citizens with regard to their spelling or phonetic rendering.
Legal references
https://api.et.gr/apiLAW/1/2018/4531/pdf
Law
142
4251
2014
80
Α
Description
A criminal conviction of a non-national, where the sentence has been suspended, continues to constitute an obstacle for acquiring Greek citizenship by naturalisation, even if the period of suspension has elapsed without the suspension being lifted or revoked.
Legal references
https://api.et.gr/apiFEK/1/2014/80/pdf
Law
3838
2010
49
Α
Law
3284
2004
217
Α
Ministerial Decision
Φ. 29845
2021
1652
Β
Ministerial Decision
738
2022
121
Β
Circular
81 (Φ.130181/6929)
2022
Circular
715/Φ.130181/75619
2021
Circular
1465/Φ.131181/63
2021
Circular
207/19857
2022
1
Registration of the application
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation
Manual Action
Description
All legally required supporting documents must be submitted with the application.
No
No
2
Assignment of the case to a rapporteur and checking the completion of supporting documents
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation
Software action
Description
The case is assigned by the relevant head of department in order of priority, determined by the date on which the application was submitted, in conjunction with the date of acquisition of the P.E.G.P., where required.
Notes
Where the submitted supporting documents are incomplete or have not been submitted in the correct way, correspondence will take place in order to have them submitted correctly.
No
No
3
Verification of formal requirements for naturalisation
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation
Manual Action
Description
The rapporteur checks whether the formal conditions for naturalisation, as set out in the supporting documents submitted, have been met.
No
No
4
Ex officio search for a criminal record and a certificate of non-deportation
Co-responsible for Implementation
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Μethod of Implementation
Software action
Description
The relevant department of the Regional Directorate of Nationality will submit an electronic enquiry via the Integrated Information System (IIS) to the Ministry of Justice to search for a criminal record for judicial purposes, and will submit an enquiry to the Ministry of Citizens’ Protection as to whether the applicant is subject to deportation.
No
No
5
Rejection of a request for naturalisation on the grounds of not meeting the formal conditions
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Director
Μethod of Implementation
Signature
Description
Where the formal requirements for naturalisation are not met (incomplete supporting documents, the existence of a criminal disqualification, or deportation), the application is rejected by decision of the competent head of the Regional Directorate of Nationality
Notes
A copy of the decision to reject the application will be sent to the applicant. A new application for naturalisation, following the rejection of a previous one on the grounds that the formal conditions were not met, may be submitted as soon as the outstanding conditions have been met, without the need to wait for one year to have elapsed and without the payment of a new application fee.
Yes
Yes
6
Verification of the substantive conditions for naturalisation
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Employee
Μethod of Implementation
Manual Action
Description
Verification of the economic and social integration of the applicant
Notes
The applicant’s economic and social integration is verified by the submission of supporting documents certifying that they meet the criteria for economic integration for the period specified as follows:
• Anyone required to have seven years of lawful residence must provide proof of economic integration for at least five (5) years.
• Anyone required to have three years of lawful residence must provide proof of their economic integration for the three (3) consecutive years.
• Anyone required to have twelve years of lawful resident must have met the economic criteria for at least seven (7) years.
• In the case of an applicant who was born and has resided continuously in Greece, whilst the seven-year residence condition does not apply, the substantive conditions must nevertheless have been met by the applicant for a period determined on the basis of the time requirements applicable in relation to their residence permit or status.
If there is any doubt as to whether the applicant has achieved economic and social integration, the applicant will be summoned to an interview before a three-member panel, in order to ascertain precisely the extent of their economic and social integration in the country. The non-national is summoned by registered post. If this summons is returned undelivered on two (2) occasions, or if the non-national fails to attend the interview without there being any objective reasons for this, the application for naturalisation will be rejected by the head of the Regional Directorate of Nationality
Yes
No
7
Rejection of a request for naturalisation on the grounds of failing to meet the substantive conditions
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Director
Μethod of Implementation
Signature
Description
If the substantive requirements for economic and social integration are not met, a draft for rejecting the application shall be drawn up and signed by the head of the Regional Directorate of Nationality.
Yes
Yes
8
Ex officio search on grounds of public policy or national security
Μethod of Implementation
Software action
Description
The competent Regional Directorate of Nationality will submit an online query through the IIS to the Aliens Directorate of the Hellenic Police regarding the non-existence of grounds of public order or national security relating to the applicant.
Yes
No
9
Rejection of a request for naturalisation on grounds pursuant to Article 5b
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Directorate
Μethod of Implementation
Signature
Description
If there are grounds relating to public order or national security with respect to a non-national who wishes to become a Greek citizen, a draft decision to reject the application is drawn up.
Notes
Where the Regional Directorate of Nationality has doubts as to whether grounds of public order and national security apply, the Regional Citizenship Director will, in accordance with Article 7B(2) of the Greek Nationality Code, as currently in force, refer the case to the Minister of the Interior for a decision
to be issued. The Secretary-General for Citizenship may refer the case to the Citizenship Board
to issue an opinion on the application.
Yes
Yes
10
Approval of an application for naturalisation
Responsible for Implementation
Competent General Director
Μethod of Implementation
Signature
Description
Provided that it is established that the non-national meets the substantive conditions, a decision to accept the application is prepared. When this has been signed by the head of the Regional Directorate of Nationality, it is sent, together with the relevant file, to the head of the General Directorate for Citizenship.
The head of the General Directorate for Citizenship signs the decision to approve the application for naturalisation and then returns the naturalisation file to the relevant Regional Directorate of Nationality so that the process can be completed.
Yes
No
11
Sending a summary of the decision to the National Printing Office for publication
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation
Software action
Description
The competent Regional Citizenship Agency sends a summary of the naturalisation decision to the National Printing Office for publication in the Government Gazette.
Yes
No
12
Publication of the summary of the decision
Description
The summary of the naturalisation decision is published in the Government Gazette, Series II.
Yes
No
13
Invitation to the applicant to take an oath
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Department
Μethod of Implementation
Software action
Description
Following publication of the naturalisation decision, the competent Regional Directorate of Nationality summons the non-national, on presentation of proof, to take the oath within a strict deadline of one year from publication of the decision. For persons with physical disabilities, taking the oath may take place in their home or by videoconference.
Notes
Greek citizenship is acquired when the non-national takes the oath, which must take place within one year from the date of publication of the naturalisation decision in the Government Gazette. The naturalisation decision is revoked if the oath is not taken within the one-year deadline.
Yes
No
14
Order for registration in the municipal register of the municipality of permanent residence
Responsible for Implementation
Competent Directorate
Μethod of Implementation
Software action
Description
The process is completed with the issuance of a decision to enter the applicant in the municipal register of their municipality of permanent residence.
Notes
The foreign-born children of a naturalised non-national, provided that on the date of their parent’s oath-taking they are minors, unmarried and permanently residing in Greece, acquire Greek citizenship automatically pursuant to Article 11 of the Greek Nationality Code, as currently in force.
Yes
No
Ministry of the Interior – General Secretariat for Citizenship
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