Greek citizenship

Greek citizenship and its validity

Greek citizenship validity is internationally high compared to other countries. In 2018, the Greek passport was the 5th one according to the Passport Index site, and in 2019, it obtained fourth place according to the latest report. This country is on the same level as prestigious countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Britain, Japan, Ireland, Belgium, and Canada. This country’s passport scores 164, which means that people who have Greek citizenship can travel to 164 countries without a visa, so this privilege shows this passport’s strength and superiority in the world.

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Topics reviewed in this article:

• The methods of obtaining Greek citizenship
• Obtaining Greek citizenship by work
• Obtaining Greek citizenship by study
• Obtaining Greek citizenship by investment
• Obtaining Greek citizenship by birth
• Obtaining Greek citizenship by marriage
• Obtaining Greek citizenship by asylum

The methods of obtaining Greek citizenship

There are several ways to obtain Greek citizenship, for example, investment in several ways, such as buying a property, a Golden Visa, registering a company, and retirement visas. This method is currently one of the most popular methods for obtaining Greek citizenship. Other ways and methods include work, study, marriage, and birth, each of which has special conditions. We will discuss and scientifically evaluate each of these methods in the following.

Obtaining Greek citizenship by work

The applicants can obtain Greek citizenship by a work visa and work residence in this country. If a non-Greek applicant intends to work in Greece, one must enter Greece on a tourist visa and get a job offer and support for obtaining a work visa and work permit from an employer. The applicant then returns to one’s home country and waits for one’s employer to submit the job offer to the OAED (Greek Employment Agency) and the Interior Ministry to complete the necessary paperwork and administrative process. They must prove why they need to hire a non-Greek person instead of a Greek or an EU citizen and the employer’s reasons for choosing this person. After that, the non-Greek applicant must obtain a Greek work visa and complete the work visa application process.

Immigrants (non-EU citizens) who obtain a work visa and intend to obtain Greek residency and citizenship by working in Greece will first receive a one-year visa. The applicants must apply for this visa in the first two months. They can stay in Greece by working and extend their visa after a one-year residency. After five years of residence in the country, they can apply for permanent residence for their family members and receive a long-term permit throughout the European Union. They can also obtain Greek citizenship after about seven years.

Obtaining Greek citizenship by study

The applicant cannot receive Greek citizenship by studying in this country. However, they can reside in this country under some special conditions. So, after the students complete their studies at different study levels can stay in this country if they find a job related to their study field for about six months after graduation. They can obtain work residence, meaning that they will convert their study residence into work residence. Therefore, after paying taxes for up to five years, they can receive permanent residence in Greece, and after two years of permanent residence, they can apply for Greek citizenship. However, the unemployment rate in this country is high and people cannot easily find work after graduation, unless they apply for residency and citizenship by investing, buying a property, or a retirement visa.

Obtaining Greek citizenship by investment

The applicant can obtain Greek citizenship by investment. Applicants can apply for a Greece residence permit and citizenship by purchasing a property, a retirement visa, or presenting a business plan and economic justification plan for registering large businesses in this country. The applicant can immigrate to Greece in the following ways and obtain residency and citizenship.

• Investment by providing a business plan and work permit

Individuals can define an economic justification plan for 300,000 euros and start a profitable business in the Greek trade market, thus continuing their economic activity annually. People applying for investment can work in this country and initially receive a two-year residency. If they continue their business, they can extend their residence once every two years. They can obtain Greek citizenship after five years of permanent residence and after seven years.

• Investment by self-supporting accommodation or financial assets without a work permit

Another way to obtain Greek citizenship is to reside in Greece with a visa. People have to show that they have enough financial support in their account of about 20,000 to 22,000 euros and prove that they can provide living expenses for themselves and their children under 18 years old. In this way, people cannot work and can only enjoy all this country’s services like other European citizens. Individuals can also apply for their spouse and children under the age of 18. They initially receive a two-year residency, then they can extend their residence for another three years, after which they can obtain Greek citizenship. It is one of the best and fastest ways to get a residence permit in Greece, which does not require paying taxes and providing a special language certificate. In this method, people can travel freely in any European country without restrictions, even live, work, or study, and live like a European citizen in all parts of Europe.

• Investment in real estate and buy a property

Another way to obtain Greek citizenship is to buy a property for 250,000 euros, which is much cheaper than a property residence visa in some European countries. Several people can jointly combine the investment into a property. Besides, a foreign investor can buy several properties for 250,000 euros to provide the required investment amount.

In this method, people are not restricted to be present in this country and can receive a five-year residence in Greece from the beginning. If they continue to maintain the above capital, they can extend their residency after five years. According to this country’s law, they can apply for Greek citizenship after seven years. In this way, if the applicants can pay their children’s (over 18 years old) living expenses, they can apply for their companion residence permit.

Obtaining Greek citizenship by birth

The applicants can receive Greek citizenship by birth if one of the child’s parents has Greek citizenship, that child will automatically be granted Greek citizenship. This law indicates that Greece, like most countries, follows the blood law, which means that due to the parents’ residence and citizenship, the child is also granted citizenship and residency, not because of the birthplace. Another point is that if neither of the child’s parents is Greek but has lived in Greece for the last five years, their child will receive this country’s residence and citizenship from the time of birth. In this case, these children, like a European citizen, can enjoy all the facilities of this country. Moreover, Greece, unlike other countries, does not oppose dual citizenship, and its citizens can have two citizenships at the same time.

Obtaining Greek citizenship by marriage

Foreigners intending to marry a Greek citizen must complete the interview process and submit the required documents at the Greek Embassy in their home country. One of these steps is that the Greek must prove that one can support one’s foreign spouse’s living expenses with one’s income and financial assets. The Greek applicant must also have suitable accommodation for living with a foreigner. The foreigner must also prove their marriage purpose through a series of documents such as print conversations, chats, and photos of themselves together.

The visa officer also asks these people a series of other questions, and the officer will grant the foreigner a two-year visa if one is convinced that they intend to marry. After entering this country, a person applying for Greek citizenship by marriage can marry the Greek citizen by registering Greek marriage laws and register one’s marriage in this country, and after completing one’s two-year residence, if they maintain their marriage, the foreigner can receive another three years residence. After five years, the foreigner can obtain a permanent residency in Greece and after seven years, Greek citizenship.

Obtaining Greek citizenship by asylum

Asylum is one of the worst ways to obtain Greek citizenship. Because Greece is in a place with maritime borders with Asian and African countries, many asylum seekers initially enter Greece. These people of different nationalities, several countries, and diverse cultures settle in Greece take refuge in unsanitary, very polluted, and unsuitable camps until they are divided into various countries by the Greek special authorities. Many of these people will return to their home country after enduring many hardships and difficulties. The number of asylum seekers returning to their original country has risen dramatically, and the asylum seekers would despair and have to face the legal consequences in their own country. So now, rarely asylum in Greece can lead to Greek citizenship.