GreeceCitizenship

Naturalisation, citizenship in Greece

Foreign nationals may obtain Greek citizenship through naturalisation if they meet the requirements on residence and on knowledge about Greece. The process involves examinations in the Greek language and culture, approval by the Ministry of the Interior and the taking of an oath. Citizenship arises from the moment the oath is taken and gives the right to work and live in Greece and the EU without restriction.

Source: Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου (migration.gov.gr)

Three routes to Greek citizenship

The choice of route depends on your current status and your country of origin.

A foreigner living in Greece

You have lived in Greece for at least 10 of the last 12 years (or 7 years with a particular residence permit)
You know the Greek language at level B1 and the culture of Greece
You want full citizenship and to work without a visa

An EU citizen or a refugee

You live in Greece and hold refugee status or come from the EU
A shorter period of residence is required (3-7 years)
You pay a lower naturalisation fee

The spouse of a Greek citizen

You are married to a Greek and live together in Greece
Only 3 years of living together are required
You may file the documents together with your spouse

When naturalisation is not a fit

You have been convicted of serious offences

You are not entitled to naturalisation; consider other residence statuses (a visa, a residence permit)

You have not lived in Greece for at least 10 of the last 12 years (or 7 years with a particular residence permit)

Continue to build up your period of residence, or move to a long-term residence permit, which reduces the requirement to 7 years

You do not speak Greek and do not know the culture

Take Greek language courses and prepare for the PEGP examination before applying

What it costs

Application fee (foreigners)For third-country nationals not of Greek descent	550 EUR
Application fee (EU citizens, refugees, stateless people)EU citizens, recognised refugees and stateless people pay the same for a first and for a repeat application	100 EUR
Examination for the certificate of knowledge adequacy (PEGP)Mandatory for everyone; it tests knowledge of the Greek language (B1) and of the history, geography and culture of Greece	150 EUR
Repeat application (if the decision was a refusal)For filing the application again after a refusal	200 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Application fee (EU citizens, refugees, stateless people)” branch replaces the “Application fee (foreigners)” line — 250 EUR; the “Repeat application (if the decision was a refusal)” branch replaces the “Application fee (foreigners)” line — 350 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	700 EUR

Paid separately

Translation of documents — An indirect cost; not part of the state fee
Lawyer's services — Optional; not part of the state fee
Background checks — Carried out free of charge by the state

Documents to gather

Provide all the documents in electronic and paper form where required; foreign documents must carry an apostille and an official translation into Greek.

Passport or travel document (original and copy)
Birth certificate with an apostille and translation
Criminal record certificate from the country of origin with an apostille and translation
Proof of lawful residence in Greece (a copy of the residence permit or confirmation of registration)
Certificate of knowledge (the PEGP certificate issued after passing the examination)
Colour photograph (ID format, 4x6 cm)
Naturalisation application (completed on the form provided by the citizenship authority)
Proof of payment of the fee
Certificate of income and social integration (for the last 5 years for certain categories)

How the process runs

The naturalisation process takes about a year from filing to obtaining citizenship, but the actual timescales may vary.

1
Preparing for the PEGP examination and registering
2-3 months
Take Greek language courses (level B1) and prepare for the examination on the history, geography and culture of Greece. Register for the examination through the TaxisNet portal and pay EUR 150.
2
Sitting the PEGP examination
1 day
The examination is held twice a year (in May and November) in 14 Greek cities. The results are announced within 30 days. The minimum pass mark is 70%.
3
Filing the naturalisation application
1-2 weeks
Once you have the PEGP certificate, file the application with the Regional Directorate of Citizenship for your place of residence, by post (registered letter) or through a lawyer holding a power of attorney. Pay the fee (EUR 550 or EUR 100 depending on the category).
4
Checking of the documents and preliminary investigation
3-6 months
The citizenship authorities check that there is no criminal record, that there are no grounds for exclusion, and that residence has been lawful and there has been integration into Greek society. An interview is held where necessary.
5
Decision of the Minister of the Interior
2-3 months
The Minister of the Interior decides whether to approve or refuse the application. If it is approved, the decision is published in the Government Gazette (FEK).
6
Publication in the Government Gazette
1-2 weeks
Once the decision has been published you receive notice that you may take the oath. That notice is valid for 1 year.
7
Taking the oath and obtaining citizenship
1-2 weeks
Attend the municipality or the citizenship authorities to take the oath within 1 year of publication. Citizenship arises from the moment the oath is taken. Minor children obtain citizenship automatically. You then obtain a Greek passport from the citizenship authorities.

Timelines and rights

Work

A Greek citizen works without permits or visas — both in Greece and in the other EU countries.

Who you can bring with you

Family members may obtain citizenship together with the applicant, or automatically in certain circumstances.

The foreigner's spouse (a citizen of any country)

May file their own naturalisation application at the same time as you, if they live in Greece and meet the requirements (7 years' residence, knowledge of Greek).

Minor children (under 18)

Obtain Greek citizenship automatically when the parent takes the oath, if they live with the parent in Greece. No further documents or payments are required.

Adult children

Adult children have to file their own naturalisation application and meet the residence and knowledge requirements.

The applicant's parents

They are not entitled to naturalisation through the applicant. They have to file their own application and meet the requirements.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

On its consular pages the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that a foreigner not of Greek descent must have lived in Greece for at least ten (10) of the last twelve (12) years before applying. The requirement does not apply to people born and living in Greece, or to spouses of Greek citizens who live in Greece and have children.

Greek citizenship is indefinite and does not have to be renewed. Once you have obtained Greek citizenship you remain a Greek citizen for life. The Greek passport is valid for 10 years (or 5 years for children under 16) and has to be renewed, but citizenship status is not reviewed.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Seven years of lawful residence count only with a title from the list: long-term resident status, a second-generation residence permit, a ten-year residence permit, an indefinite residence permit, an investor's or property owner's residence permit, or a document as a family member of an EU citizen. With other residence permits the period is 12 years. Three years are enough for EU citizens, stateless people, spouses of Greeks with children in common, and parents of Greek minors.

Route to citizenship

The naturalisation decision is taken by the Minister of the Interior.

Frequently asked questions about Naturalisation, citizenship

What level of Greek is required for naturalisation?

Level B1 on the European CEFR scale is required in speaking and writing, as well as listening comprehension. This is assessed at the Certificate of Knowledge Adequacy for Naturalisation (PEGP) examination, which is held twice a year.

Can the application be filed while living abroad, or do you have to be in Greece?

The application is filed with the Regional Directorate of Citizenship for your place of residence in Greece, through a consul (if you are a Greek abroad), or by registered post. If you are a foreigner living abroad, naturalisation is possible only through a consulate, with Greek descent established beforehand.

What happens if I am unable to take the oath within a year of the decision being published?

If you do not take the oath within one year of the decision being published in the Government Gazette, the decision ceases to have effect and citizenship does not arise. You will have to file a naturalisation application again, starting from the first stage.

What is the minimum period of residence in Greece required for naturalisation?

The requirement depends on your status: ordinary foreigners have to have lived 10 of the last 12 years in Greece; with a particular residence permit (long-term resident, investor's residence permit and others) 7 years are required; refugees, stateless people and EU citizens — 3 years; spouses of Greeks and parents of Greek children — also 3 years.

How many times may the PEGP examination be re-sat if I do not pass at the first attempt?

You may re-sit the examination as many times as necessary. It is held twice a year (in May and November). EUR 150 has to be paid again for each re-sit. If you already have an active naturalisation application with the citizenship authority, you may be exempt from payment.

How does the naturalisation process work for refugees?

Refugees granted international protection status have to live in Greece for 7 years (it was 3 years before March 2020), pass the PEGP examination and file an application. The fee for refugees is EUR 100 instead of the EUR 550 for ordinary foreigners. The rest of the process is identical.

Other ways to move to Greece

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Greece.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.