Greek citizenship is acquired in principle according to the basic principle of the law of descent or blood (jus sanguinis). Thus, anyone who comes from a Greek parent is considered a Greek. The manner or time of the acquisition of Greek citizenship by the parent has no importance in the acquisition of Greek citizenship by the child and the only condition is that the parent is a Greek citizen on the date of the child’s birth.
Under conditions, however, Greek citizenship can also be acquired based on the principle of territory, as in this way the essential bond of the foreigner with the Greek state and Greek society is sought. In particular, by virtue of Law 3838/2010, as subsequently amended by Law 4332/2015, the birth of a person in Greece or his attendance at a Greek school was established as a new way of acquiring Greek Citizenship.
I. Acquisition of Greek citizenship by birth and attendance in a Greek school
In particular, according to the provisions in force, the right to apply for Greek citizenship is granted to minor children born in Greece to foreign parents, provided of course that one of the two parents has resided in the country for at least five years or that they have long-term residence permits or by enrolling the child in 1st grade and continuing his studies at the time of submitting the application. The children of foreigners who are born and study in Greece can obtain Greek Citizenship, as long as their legally resident parents submit an application – declaration of acquisition of Greek Citizenship to the competent Decentralized Administration of their place of residence. For this purpose, when submitting an application – declaration of acquisition of Greek Citizenship by the parents, the following conditions must be cumulatively met:
1) The child is minor, i.e. under 18 years ols (if the child turns 18 while the procedure is pending, the process is not affected),
2) The child is enrolled in the 1st grade and the continuation of studies in a Greek school (if the studies in a Greek school are interrupted, the parents cannot submit the relevant application),
3) Legal residence of both parents with a valid residence permit,
4) One of the two parents must prove at least 5 years of continuous legal residence in the Country before the birth of the child and if this does not exist, then it should: a) one of the two must have been legal at least one day before the birth of the child and b) at the time of submitting the application – declaration to have completed ten years of legal residence in Greece,
5) One of the two parents must hold a valid residence permit of the type: a) long-term resident, b) second generation, c) indefinite or ten-year duration, d) certificate of permanent residence of an EU citizen, f) permanent residence card of a member family of a Greek or EU citizen, g) residence permit of a recognized political refugee or subsidiary protection status, h) special identity card of an expatriate, accompanied by a valid residence permit of a single type (ADET) or another document of legal residence of an expatriate.
II. Acquisition of Greek citizenship due to attending school in Greece
Furthermore, the right to acquire Greek citizenship is established by the foreigner who resides in the country legally with a permanent residence permit and attended a Greek school. Regarding the acquisition of Greek Citizenship due to attending a Greek school, the following conditions must be fulfilled, in accordance with article 1B par. 1, 5a and b of the Greek Citizenship Code (KEI) and article 2 par. 3 of Law 4332/2015:
1) To be a minor who has successfully completed either the nine (9) years of primary and secondary education prescribed by the Constitution, or six (6) years of secondary education,
2) To be an adult who has not reached the age of 21 and who has successfully completed, being a minor, either the attendance of nine (9) classes of primary and secondary education or six (6) years of secondary education,
3) To be an adult who has completed after 07-09-2015 the successful attendance of either nine (9) classes of primary and secondary education or six (6) years of secondary education, without having reached the age of 23. In this case, the relevant application – declaration must be submitted within an exclusive three-year (3) period from the completion of the required studies,
4) To be an adult regardless of age who has completed before 07-09-2015 the successful attendance of either nine (9) classes of primary and secondary education or six (6) years of secondary education as a minor. In this case, the relevant application – declaration must be submitted within an exclusive three-year (3) period from the publication of Law 4332/2015, i.e. until 07-09-2018,
5) To be an adult regardless of age who has completed before 07-09-2015 the successful attendance of either nine (9) classes of primary and secondary education or six (6) years of secondary education, not having reached the age of 23. In this case, the relevant application – declaration must be submitted within an exclusive three-year (3) period from the publication of the law.
III. Acquisition of Greek citizenship by graduating from a Greek institution of higher education
Finally, the acquisition of Greek Citizenship is also possible with the foreigner’s graduation from a Greek institution of higher education. For this to happen, the foreigner residing in our country must be provided with a legal definitive residence permit and must have attended a Greek school. In other words, he/she must hold a high school diploma from a Greek school and: a) either graduate from a Greek institution of higher education after 07-09-2015, at which point he/she can submit the relevant application – declaration within three (3) years from the date of his graduation, b) either to have graduated from a Greek higher education institution by 07-08-2015, at which point he can submit the application within three (3) years from the date of publication of Law 4332/2015, i.e. up to 09 -07-2018.
After making the payment (at this stage an advance payment of 30% of the total fee is paid), we will contact you to send the required supporting documents, so that the process can proceed. If you are not sure that you have the necessary conditions, before proceeding with the payment contact our office either by phone (2313 079293) or by email (info@siopi–law.gr).