The right to acquire citizenship is granted to applicants on the following grounds:
- by birth (from Greek citizens),
- as a result of recognition of paternity by a Greek citizen,
- as a result of adoption by a Greek citizen,
- ethnic Greeks who join the Armed Forces of Greece,
- through naturalization (“politographisi”).
Greek citizenship can be obtained through naturalization.
Greek citizenship is also granted to any child born on the territory of Greece if the child does not acquire another citizenship at birth, or if the child is stateless, provided the following conditions are met:
(a) enrollment in the first grade of a Greek primary school and continued attendance at a Greek school at the time of submitting documents;
(b) five-year residence of one of the parents.
If the child is born during the parent’s five-year residence, the right to acquire Greek citizenship is based on the completion of ten years of continuous residence of the parent in the country.
- A spouse of a Greek citizen has the right to citizenship after three years of marriage and residence in Greece if there are joint children,
- after ten years if there are no joint children.
Olympic athletes representing Greece can obtain Greek citizenship after five years of residence in Greece.
