Greece Greek citizenship by descent

A child of a Greek citizen is Greek from birth, but the right is recognised only by registration in the municipal register (dimotologio) where the Greek parent is registered. Minors are registered through the consulate free of charge; adults whose parents are registered file for initial registration; births before 1982–1984 to mixed marriages and some other cases need a declaratory decision from the Regional Directorate of Nationality, which costs EUR 240 (≈ $270) to 340 and is estimated at 18 months. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

• A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · State fee for a declaratory decision on Greek nationality from birth; consular fees of EUR 140 (≈ $160) to 240 are added only when the application is filed at a Greek consulate, making EUR 240 (≈ $270) to 340 in total. An appeal costs EUR 100 (≈ $110). ³

Requirements

• At least one parent held Greek citizenship at your birth and is registered in a Greek municipal register. ^{1 2}
• Children born before 18 July 1982 to a Greek father and foreign mother, or before 8 May 1984 to a Greek mother and foreign father, need a declaratory decision. ³
• Children whose parents became Greek only after the birth also go through the declaratory decision procedure. ³
• Registration of minors and of adults with registered parents is provided without cost; a declaratory decision costs EUR 100 (≈ $110) when filed in Greece and EUR 240 (≈ $270) to 340 in total when filed at a Greek consulate. ^{1 2 3}
• Civil registry birth certificate drawn up within 90 days of birth, or hospital records or a court decision establishing the birth. ²
• Certificate of the parents' registration in a valid municipal register, and the parents' marriage certificate if born in wedlock. ²
• The parents' marriage and the child's birth must be recorded in the Greek civil registry for automatic acquisition. ¹
• Residents abroad file through the Greek consulate for their domicile, which forwards the file to the municipality or Regional Directorate of Nationality. ^{1 3}
• Registration of a minor is estimated at 3 days to 2 months, adult initial registration has a 50-day deadline, and a declaratory decision is estimated at 18 months. ^{1 2 3}

Stay

• Citizenship is permanent once acquired; it is not a time-limited permit.

Nationality

Open to anyone of any nationality whose parent, or more distant ancestor through an unbroken registered line, is a Greek citizen.

Work

A Greek citizen may live and work in Greece and, as an EU citizen, across the EU and EEA.

Family

Each child is registered separately by the Greek parent or the parent with custody.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Automatic acquisition of Greek citizenship by a juvenile child born to a Greek citizen · National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr), Ministry of Interior · checked 2026-10-11
2. Initial registration of an adult in the municipal register · National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr), Ministry of Interior · checked 2026-10-11
3. Acquisition of Greek nationality from birth by issuance of a declaratory decision · National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr), Ministry of Interior · checked 2026-10-11