Greek Dual Citizenship: Rules for US, UK, Canadian and Australian Citizens

Greek dual citizenship is allowed. Greek law does not make you give up another nationality, and a Greek who takes a foreign passport keeps Greek citizenship unless the Minister of Interior approves a request to lose it. Whether you can hold both also depends on your other country. The US, UK, Canada and Australia all let their citizens hold Greek citizenship, but each has passport rules you need to follow.

Last checked: October 2026

At a glance

• Greece permits dual citizenship. Loss of Greek citizenship after taking a foreign one needs an application and the Minister of Interior’s permission (Article 16, Greek Citizenship Code, Law 3284/2004).
• The UK, Canada and Australia allow dual citizenship. Australia has done so for citizens taking another nationality since 4 April 2002. The US State Department accepts that Americans may hold another nationality.
• Each of the four countries expects you to use its own passport to enter it.
• Greek men abroad may have military service obligations, with an exemption route for permanent residents abroad.
• Tax residence is separate from citizenship. A Greek passport does not by itself make you a Greek tax resident.
• Routes to Greek citizenship include descent, naturalisation of people of Greek origin abroad and naturalisation after 7 years of legal residence.

Greek dual citizenship: does Greece allow it?

Yes. Greece does not require you to renounce another nationality to become or stay Greek.

Under Article 16 of the Greek Citizenship Code (Law 3284/2004), a Greek who voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship loses Greek citizenship only with the permission of the Minister of Interior. The official procedure on Mitos, the Greek register of public procedures, confirms that loss is not automatic. You must file a request at the Greek consulate where you live.

The same procedure sets a consular fee of €30 and an estimated processing time of about 6 months. Men must also show that their military obligations are settled. In practice, people apply to lose Greek citizenship mainly when their other country, or a foreign public post, requires it.

Recognition is a separate point. The Greek Consulate General network in the US explains that Greek citizenship is formally recognised only once you are registered in the records of a Greek municipality (dimotologio). A foreign birth certificate alone does not prove it.

What the US, UK, Canada and Australia allow

All four countries let their citizens also hold Greek citizenship. The table sets out what each government says about passports and travel.

The Australian change only applies to another citizenship acquired on or after 4 April 2002. Australians who took a foreign nationality before that date should check their status with the Australian government.

Israel, Turkey, the UAE, Lebanon and China have their own rules. Some restrict or do not recognise dual nationality, so check with that country’s authorities before applying for Greek citizenship.

Obligations that come with a Greek passport

Greek citizenship brings rights and duties. The two that matter most for people living abroad are military service for men and the way you travel.

Military service for Greek men

All Greek male citizens registered in the Male Registry (Mitroo Arrenon) are required to serve in the Hellenic Armed Forces. Men living abroad can apply for exemption or reduced service under set conditions.

The Greek Consulate General in Canada explains how this works for men living there:

• Men must file a census certificate within the first three months (January to March) of the year in which they turn 19.
• Men born and living abroad, or settled abroad for a set number of years, can apply for permanent resident abroad status. Each residence test requires more than 185 days a year abroad.
• The status is lost if you stay in Greece for more than 6 months in the same calendar year.
• With the certificate, you can visit Greece for up to 180 days per calendar year until you turn 45.
• Men who exceed the limit become liable to serve. Men over 33 may serve a shorter period and buy off the rest.

The US State Department also warns that dual nationals may be required to do military service in their other country, sometimes on arrival or when trying to leave. Settle your status with the consulate before a long stay in Greece.

Which passport to use

Use your Greek passport or Greek identity card when you enter and leave Greece. In Greece, you are a Greek citizen first, whatever other passport you hold.

The US State Department warns that local authorities may not recognise your other nationality, especially if you did not enter on that passport. The Greek consulate in Canada also advises having passports stamped on entry and exit, so you can prove how many days you spent in Greece. Use your other passport when you enter its home country, as the table above shows.

Tax residence is separate from citizenship

Holding a Greek passport does not make you a Greek tax resident. Tax residence depends on where you live, not on your nationality.

AADE, the Greek tax authority, applies Article 4 of the Income Tax Code. You are a Greek tax resident if any of these apply:

• your permanent or principal residence, habitual abode or centre of vital interests is in Greece;
• you are in Greece for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, unless the stay is only for tourism, medical treatment or similar private reasons and does not exceed 365 days;
• you are a Greek national working abroad as a diplomat, consular official or civil servant.

So a Greek-American living in Chicago is not a Greek tax resident just because of a Greek passport. Owning property in Greece still brings Greek tax duties, such as property tax. Our guide to ENFIA for non-resident owners covers this. You will also need a Greek tax number, explained in our guide to the AFM and a Greek bank account.

Tax treaties can settle cases where two countries both claim you. Buyers should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or accountant.

How to apply for Greek citizenship

There are three main routes for people abroad. Which one fits depends on your parents, your ancestry and how long you have lived in Greece.

1. By descent from a Greek parent

A child of a Greek parent is Greek by birth. The task is to get that recognised.

1. Contact the Greek consulate covering your place of residence. It is always the first step.
2. Prove that your parent is registered in a Greek municipality.
3. Where that is not possible, alternative evidence can be used, such as the Male Registry, civil records or older Greek passports.
4. The consulate checks the file and sends it to Greece. It does not decide.
5. The municipality and the Ministry of Interior confirm citizenship and register you.

2. Naturalisation of people of Greek origin abroad

Adults of Greek origin who live abroad can apply under Article 10 of the Code. You must prove Greek descent and show Greek national consciousness.

1. Apply in person at the competent Greek consulate, with two Greek citizen witnesses.
2. Bring your passport, apostilled and translated birth certificate, criminal record and proof of Greek descent.
3. Attend an interview with the consul on your Greek origin, language and knowledge of Greece.
4. Pay the fees, which total €130 according to Mitos.
5. Wait for the decision. Mitos estimates about 18 months.
6. Take the oath within one year of the decision’s publication in the Government Gazette, or the decision is revoked.

3. Naturalisation after living in Greece

Foreign nationals with no Greek origin can naturalise after long legal residence. The Ministry of Interior’s requirements, last updated on 30 January 2026, include:

Applications go to the Regional Citizenship Directorate where you live. Mitos lists a fee of €550, or €100 for EU citizens and people of Greek origin, with a target of one year. Citizenship takes effect only when you take the oath.

Golden Visa holders should note that the integration tests assume you actually live in Greece. Our Golden Visa and citizenship guide and the residence permits overview explain the link in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have dual citizenship in Greece?

Yes, Greece allows dual citizenship. You keep Greek citizenship when you take another nationality unless the Minister of Interior approves your request to lose it.

Do I lose my US citizenship if I become Greek?

The State Department accepts that Americans can be dual nationals, so becoming Greek does not by itself end US citizenship. You must still enter and leave the US on a US passport.

Can I have a Greek and a British passport?

Yes, the UK allows dual citizenship and you do not need to apply for it. The UK cannot give you diplomatic help in Greece, because you are also Greek there.

Does Australia allow dual citizenship with Greece?

Yes, Australians who acquired another nationality on or after 4 April 2002 keep Australian citizenship. You must enter and leave Australia on your Australian passport.

Do Greek dual citizens have to do military service?

Greek men registered in the Male Registry have a service obligation, but those living abroad can apply for permanent resident abroad status. That status lets you visit Greece for up to 180 days a year until 45, according to the Greek consulate in Canada.

Does Greek citizenship make me a Greek tax resident?

No, tax residence depends on where you live and how long you stay, not on your passport. The main test is more than 183 days in Greece in any 12-month period or your centre of life being in Greece.

Can I get Greek citizenship through my grandparents?

Possibly, if the Greek line is documented. Cases resting on grandparents or great-grandparents are examined one by one, so start by contacting the Greek consulate covering where you live.

Buyers should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or accountant. For the wider picture of moving, see our moving to Greece hub and the Golden Visa guide.

Sources

• Mitos: Loss of Greek citizenship after acquiring a foreign citizenship
• Mitos: Naturalisation of people of Greek origin living abroad
• Mitos: Naturalisation of foreign nationals
• Ministry of Interior: Requirements for naturalisation (30 January 2026)
• Greek consulates in the US: Greek citizenship
• Greek consulates in Canada: National service
• AADE: Tax residence for natural persons
• US Department of State: Dual nationality
• GOV.UK: Dual citizenship
• Government of Canada: Dual citizens
• IRCC: Dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport
• Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment Act 2002
• Australian High Commission, London: Dual nationals