Greek citizenship by descent passes automatically from a Greek parent to a child at birth, but Greece only recognises it once the person is entered in a Greek municipal register. For most people abroad, the process runs through the Greek consulate for their area. They supply birth and marriage records with an apostille and a certified Greek translation. Where the parent was never registered, claims through a grandparent use a separate naturalisation route for people of Greek origin.
Last checked: October 2026
At a glance
- Under Article 1 of the Greek Citizenship Code, a child of a Greek father or mother is Greek from birth.
- Citizenship is formally recognised only after registration in a Greek municipality’s records (δημοτολόγιο).
- Consulates receive and check files, but the municipality and the Ministry of Interior decide.
- Foreign documents need an apostille first, then a Greek translation by an approved translator.
- Claims through a grandparent, where the parent is not registered, follow the Greek-origin naturalisation route, with an interview.
- No official processing time is published for descent cases.
Who qualifies for Greek citizenship by descent
You qualify if one of your parents was a Greek citizen when you were born. The Code does not require you to have lived in Greece or to speak Greek.
Three situations are common:
| Your situation | Usual route |
|---|---|
| Parent is registered in a Greek municipality and was Greek when you were born | Register your birth through the consulate, then enter the municipal register |
| Born before 8 May 1984 to a Greek mother and foreign father (or before 16 July 1982 to a Greek father in some marriages) | Declaration under Article 14 through the consulate |
| Parent not registered, or became Greek after your birth; claim is through a grandparent | Naturalisation as a person of Greek origin under Article 10 |
The cut-off dates come from the old rules, under which citizenship passed mainly through the father. The Greek consulate in London also requires the Greek parent to have a “standard” rather than an “indicative” municipal registration.
The generations question: claiming through grandparents
Greek citizenship by ancestry can reach back more than one generation, but every link must be proven. The Greek Embassy in the United States says eligibility can rest on a grandparent or great-grandparent, “provided that the line of descent is properly documented”.
In practice, two cases arise:
- Each generation was registered. If your grandparent was registered and your parent was entered in the municipal register as their child, citizenship passed to your parent and then to you. You register in the normal way.
- The chain was broken. If your parent was never registered, or became Greek only after you were born, you cannot simply register. The consulate treats it as naturalisation of a person of Greek origin.
For the second case, the embassy in the US lists other evidence that may be considered, such as entries in the male registry (Μητρώο Αρρένων), civil records and old Greek passports. Each case is examined individually.
The Greek-origin route has no 7-year residence rule, and people of Greek origin are exempt from the PEGP knowledge exam. It does include an interview at the consulate, and the decision rests with the Ministry of Interior.
Step by step through the consulate
The process starts with the Greek consulate that covers your place of residence. The consulate does not decide citizenship. It checks the file and forwards it to the competent authorities in Greece.
- Trace the family record. Find the municipality where your Greek parent or grandparent is registered. A family member in Greece, or a Greek lawyer with a power of attorney, can request certificates.
- Order the municipal certificate. Obtain your parent’s registration certificate (πιστοποιητικό οικογενειακής κατάστασης or equivalent). The London consulate requires one issued within the last 6 months. A Greek birth record on its own is not enough.
- Collect your foreign records. Get full-form birth and marriage certificates for yourself and your parents.
- Apostille, then translate. Have each foreign document apostilled, then translated into Greek.
- Book an appointment. Use the consulate’s online system, under the “Greek Citizenship” service.
- Submit the file and pay. Attend in person with originals. Consulates keep the originals.
- Registration in Greece. Once accepted, your birth is recorded in the Greek civil registry and you are entered in the municipal register.
Since 1 January 2022, civil events of Greek citizens abroad are generally recorded by the competent Greek consulate, according to Mitos. The Special Civil Registry office of the Ministry of Interior in Athens handles exceptions, free of charge.
Documents: birth, marriage and baptism records
The core of every descent file is a paper trail linking you to a registered Greek citizen. The exact list depends on your route and your consulate.
Typical documents
- Application form, completed in Greek.
- Valid passport and one passport-type photo.
- Your full birth certificate, apostilled and translated.
- Your Greek parent’s municipal registration certificate, issued within 6 months.
- Your parents’ civil marriage certificate. A church certificate does not replace it, and a marriage abroad may also need recording in Greece.
- For Greek-origin claims: birth and marriage certificates of parents and Greek ancestors, baptism certificates if they exist, ancestors’ municipal or military records and a criminal record certificate from your country.
Under Article 10 of the Code, a baptism certificate can stand in for a birth certificate if none exists. Old Greek passports and records of attendance at Greek schools can support a claim of Greek origin.
Apostille and translation
- The apostille must be added before the translation.
- Translations are accepted from translators in the Greek Register of Certified Translators, qualified lawyers in Greece and graduates of the Ionian University translation department.
- Names must match across all documents. A name change needs an official document, apostilled and translated.
- Originals are kept by the authority and not returned, so order extra certified copies.
Fees and timelines
Consular fees are modest, but the time taken to gather records is often the longest part. The figures below are published by the Greek consulate in London.
| Service (London consulate) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Determination of nationality, child of a Greek parent | €100, paid in pounds |
| Naturalisation of a person of Greek origin | €140, paid in pounds |
| Notarised passport copy | €10 |
| Signature authentication | €10 for Greek or EU citizens, €30 for others |
| Declaration of birth of a child (under 18) | €10 |
Mitos lists a separate €100 fee for naturalisation applications by people of Greek origin; it is not an e-paravolo and is paid to the consular authority against a receipt. Ask your consulate which fees apply to your file.
No official processing time is published for descent or Greek-origin cases. Plan for several stages: tracing records in Greece, obtaining and apostilling foreign documents, translation, the consular appointment and the decision in Greece.
After registration, you can apply for a Greek identity card and passport like any other citizen. Many people then use their status to live in Greece; see our guide to moving to Greece. A Greek tax number (AFM) is a separate registration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Greek citizenship through my grandparents?
Yes, often, if you can document the line of descent. If your parent was registered as Greek, you register by descent; if not, you usually apply as a person of Greek origin through the consulate.
Is there a generation limit for Greek citizenship by descent?
The Code sets no fixed number of generations. Each person in the chain must have been Greek when the next was born and be properly documented, or the claim moves to the Greek-origin route.
Do I need to speak Greek for citizenship by descent?
No, there is no language test for citizenship by descent. People of Greek origin applying for naturalisation are also exempt from the PEGP exam, although they attend an interview.
Do I need my grandparents’ baptism certificates?
Only if they help prove the line, for example where no birth certificate exists. Under Article 10, a baptism certificate can replace a missing birth certificate.
Will I have to do Greek military service?
Greek men have military obligations under Greek law. The Greek embassy in Cyprus, for example, requires men over 18 to have settled their military position before it accepts a passport application. Check your own position with the consulate before travelling to Greece.
Does Greek citizenship by descent help if I inherit property in Greece?
Citizenship does not change how inherited property is taxed or transferred. See our guide to Greek inheritance and gift tax for that process.
This guide explains the rules; it is not legal advice. Applicants should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or their consulate.
Sources
- Greek Embassy in the USA: Greek citizenship
- Greek Embassy in London: Determination of nationality for children born to a Greek parent
- Greek Embassy in London: Naturalisation for people of Greek origin
- Greek Embassy in London: Declaration of birth
- Mitos: Transcription of a foreign birth record of a Greek citizen
- Greek Citizenship Code (Law 3284/2004), English translation
