“How to Get Greek Citizenship for Third Country Nationals: Step by Step Guide”

Chapter 1. Introduction to the Greek Citizenship System
Historical overview: how the Greek citizenship system has evolved over time.
Legal framework: important laws governing citizenship, such as Law 3284/2004 and its amendments.
Rights and obligations of Greek citizens: access to social benefits, legal protection, military service and other important aspects.

Chapter 2. Methods of acquiring Greek citizenship
Citizenship by birth (Jus Sanguinis): automatic citizenship for children of Greek citizens.
Naturalization: the main requirements for foreigners wishing to become Greek citizens.
Marriage to a Greek citizen: the specifics of obtaining citizenship for spouses of Greek citizens.
Investment programs: the Golden Visa program and how investments can lead to citizenship.
Citizenship for refugees and stateless persons: the process for persons with international protection.

Chapter 3. Citizenship by descent: reclaiming Greek roots
How to prove Greek ancestry: the documents and certificates required for confirmation.
Programs for the Greek Diaspora: Government initiatives to bring back descendants of Greeks.
Successful Case Studies: Stories of people who have restored their citizenship by origin.

Chapter 4. Naturalization: The process of obtaining citizenship for permanent residents
Minimum residency requirements: How long do you need to live in Greece to apply for citizenship.
Language and cultural tests: What do the Greek language and Greek history and culture exams include?
Required documents: How to properly prepare and collect documents to apply for citizenship.
Application process and review time: The stages of filing an application and how long does it take to review.

Chapter 5. Citizenship through marriage: Features and process
Conditions for obtaining citizenship through marriage: How marriage to a Greek citizen affects the naturalization timeframe.
Documents and checks: What the authorities check to confirm the authenticity of the marriage.
Problems with fictitious marriages: How Greece fights fictitious marriages in the context of obtaining citizenship.

Chapter 6. Citizenship by Investment: the Golden Visa Program
Basic requirements for investors: minimum investment amounts and areas (real estate, business).
Program benefits: what investors receive, including the right to permanent residence and citizenship.
Program changes and prospects: legislative changes and future forecasts for the Golden Visa program.

Chapter 7. The role of integration in the citizenship process
Integration into Greek society: how social and cultural adaptation affects the citizenship process.
Language and culture courses: accessible resources for learning Greek and passing cultural tests.
The influence of social connections: how involvement in local communities and society can help in the naturalization process.

Chapter 8. Denial of citizenship: reasons and appeal procedures
Main reasons for denial: insufficient integration, incomplete documents, problems with the right to citizenship.
Appeal procedure: how to appeal a denial of citizenship and the chances of success.
Tips to avoid rejections: how to prepare for your application to minimize risks.

Chapter 9. Dual citizenship and the rights of Greek citizens in the EU
Dual citizenship in Greece: how Greece views dual citizenship and which countries recognize it.
The rights of Greek citizens in the European Union: the benefits of free movement, work, and residence in EU countries.
Interaction with other EU countries: what obligations do Greek citizens have to the EU.

Chapter 10. Real-life examples of obtaining citizenship and advice from lawyers
Success stories of applicants: examples of people who have gone through the path to citizenship and their experiences.
The role of lawyers and consultants: when and how to engage legal assistance to ensure a successful application process.
Useful resources and links: government websites, law firms, and civil society organizations that can help.
Additions to expand the text:

Laws and articles: add links to specific laws governing citizenship in Greece, explaining their provisions and changes in the legislation.
Historical context: delve into the historical roots of Greek citizenship and the role of the diaspora, especially after World War II and the economic crisis.
Statistics: add data on the number of citizenship applications, approval and refusal rates, and trends over the past years.
Interviews and real stories: include interviews with people who have gone through the citizenship process, describing their challenges and successes.
Legal advice: add sections with detailed advice from lawyers on filing documents, presenting at interviews, and appeal procedures in case of refusal.

Obtaining Greek citizenship for third-country nationals (non-EU citizens) involves several stages and options depending on various grounds. Greece offers several naturalization programs, including for those who want to invest in the country, have Greek roots, or have lived in Greece for a long time. Let’s look at the key options and requirements.

1. Naturalization through permanent residence
   This is the main route to citizenship for most third-country nationals. It requires a number of conditions, the main one being long-term legal residence in Greece.

Conditions:
Legal residence for 7 years. The applicant must have legally resided in Greece for at least 7 years on the basis of a residence permit. This period is reduced to 3 years for those who:

are married to a Greek citizen;
have children with Greek citizenship;
are a political refugee or a stateless person.
Successful integration into Greek society. This includes:

B1 level Greek (to pass the language test).
Understanding of Greek history and culture.
Knowledge of the constitution and political system of the country.
Clean criminal record. Any serious violations of the law may result in denial of citizenship.

Financial stability. Having a stable income or employment in Greece is an important factor. The applicant must have evidence of financial independence and be able to support themselves and their family.

Application process:
The application for citizenship is submitted to the Greek Ministry of Interior.
Within a few months of submission, you will be invited to an interview and a language and history test.
After successfully completing all stages, a decision is issued confirming naturalization and the official oath takes place.

2. Greek citizenship through descent
   If you have Greek roots, the process of obtaining citizenship is significantly simplified.

Conditions:
Descendance from Greek parents or grandparents. You may be eligible for citizenship if one of your parents or grandparents was a Greek citizen.

Documentary evidence. You must provide documents proving your family ties, such as birth certificates or marriage certificates of your parents or grandparents in Greece.

3. Citizenship by Investment (Golden Visa Program)
   The Golden Visa Program allows you to obtain a residence permit in Greece, which can eventually lead to citizenship.

Terms:
Investment in real estate from 250,000 euros. Buying real estate for 250,000 euros or more gives you the right to a residence permit for 5 years with the possibility of extension.
After 7 years of legal residence with a residence permit, you can apply for citizenship.

4. Citizenship through marriage to a Greek citizen
   Persons who are married to a Greek citizen may apply for an accelerated procedure for obtaining citizenship.

Terms:
Minimum 3 years of cohabitation in marriage. The applicant must have resided in Greece for at least 3 years after the marriage.

Cohabitation and family relations. Evidence of the validity of the marriage (joint accounts, documents, etc.) will be required.

5. Conditions for naturalization for children
   If a child was born in Greece or has lived in the country for a certain number of years, he or she can apply for citizenship under a simplified procedure.

Conditions:
Birth on the territory of Greece. A child born on the territory of Greece can obtain citizenship if one of his or her parents lived in the country for at least 5 years before the birth.

School education. Children who have completed at least 6 years of education in a Greek school can also apply for citizenship under a simplified procedure.

6. Required documents for applying for citizenship
   When applying for citizenship, you will need to provide the following documents:

Passport.
Residence permit.
Birth certificate.
Marriage documents (if applicable).
Evidence of legal residence in Greece.
Income certificate and tax payment.
Certificates of knowledge of the Greek language.

7. Processing times
   The citizenship process can take from 1 to 2 years, depending on the workload of the authorities and the completeness of the documents provided. Participation in the Golden Visa program or the presence of Greek roots can speed up the process.
8. Refusal of citizenship
   Reasons for refusal may include:

Insufficient knowledge of the language or culture.
Incomplete or inaccurate documents.
Breaking the law in Greece or in other countries.
Conclusion
The process of obtaining Greek citizenship can be long, but if all conditions are met and successful integration into Greek society, third-country nationals are given the opportunity to obtain a Greek passport. It is important to carefully prepare all the necessary documents and pass tests on knowledge of the language and history of the country.

If you have more specific questions about the conditions or procedures, or you need clarification on specific situations, let us know!