Acquisition of Greek Citizenship by Birth or School Attendance in Greece

Greek legislation provides specific mechanisms through which children of foreign nationals who live in and integrate into the Greek social and educational environment may acquire Greek citizenship. These provisions recognize that a strong and lasting connection with the country is formed not only through birth but also through long-term residence, education, and gradual integration into the everyday life of Greek society.

The current framework includes two main pathways: one concerning children who were born in Greece and attend a Greek school, and another based exclusively on school attendance—both for minor students and for adult graduates of Greek educational institutions. Below is a detailed and accessible presentation of the requirements and procedures for each category.

1. Acquisition of Citizenship for Children Born in Greece and Attending a Greek School

A child of foreign nationals who has been born in the country may acquire Greek citizenship, provided that certain conditions relating both to the child and to the parents are met.

Stable School Attendance

The child must be enrolled in the first grade of a Greek primary school or a school that follows the official Greek curriculum and must continue to attend that school at the time the application is submitted.

For children with a certified disability of 80% or more, the law allows, instead of formal school attendance, the submission of documents proving receipt of specialized therapeutic or psychosocial services.

Legal and Continuous Residence of a Parent Prior to Birth

One of the parents must have lived legally in Greece for five consecutive years prior to the child’s birth.

If the child was born before these five years were completed, the right to citizenship is established once the parent completes ten years of legal residence.

Legal Residence of the Family at the Time of Application

At the time the application is submitted, the parents must legally reside in Greece. In addition, at least one of them must hold a specific type of permanent or long-term residence permit, such as a long-term resident permit, a ten-year residence permit, refugee status, a second-generation residence permit, or a permanent residence card as a family member of a Greek or EU citizen.

Temporary certificates or documents that merely allow residence until an application is decided are not considered acceptable residence titles.

Submission and Completion of the Procedure

The application is submitted by both parents through a joint declaration to the competent service of the Decentralized Administration.

In single-parent families, or when the child is a beneficiary of international protection, the procedure is undertaken by the parent who has custody or by the legal representative. For unaccompanied minors, the appointed guardian is responsible.

Finally, the decision granting Greek citizenship is published in the Government Gazette after its issuance, and the child is registered in the municipal registry.

2. Acquisition of Citizenship Based on Attendance at a Greek School

The second category concerns children and adults who have developed strong ties with the country through school attendance. This model reflects the reality of many young people who grow up, are educated, and become fully integrated into the Greek social and cultural environment.

For Minor Students

A minor foreign national may acquire Greek citizenship when:

• they have completed nine school grades of primary and secondary education (primary school and junior high school), or

• they have attended six grades of secondary education only (junior high school and high school).

Attendance in kindergarten does not count.

For students with a disability of 80% or more, certified programs of specialized therapeutic support for an equivalent period are taken into account instead of school attendance.

For Adult Graduates of Greek Universities (AEI/TEI)

A foreign national who has completed studies at a Greek university (AEI) or technological institute (TEI) acquires the right to citizenship, provided that they also hold a Greek high school diploma or a diploma from a school that follows the Greek curriculum. The application must be submitted within three years from graduation from the AEI/TEI.

Procedure and Deadlines

The declaration is submitted by the applicant personally to the competent Regional Directorate of Citizenship.

The decision is issued and becomes final upon publication of its summary in the Government Gazette.

An application may be rejected when there are serious criminal impediments or issues of public order and security.

Options After Reaching Adulthood

If the application was not submitted while the person was a minor, it may be submitted:

• up to the age of 21, provided the person continues to reside legally and permanently in the country, or

• up to the age of 23, if the required school grades were completed after reaching adulthood.

Citizenship of a Minor through the Parent

If an adult foreign national acquires citizenship under these provisions, their minor and unmarried child automatically becomes a Greek citizen without additional procedures.

3. Supporting Documents, Name and Surname, and Administrative Fee

The identity details of the child or adult applicant are established from the birth certificate or, where this is not available, from an official document of the country of origin. For beneficiaries of international protection or stateless persons, the details of the relevant acts or residence permits are used.

If desired, the applicant may request the Hellenization of their name and surname, both for themselves and for their minor children.

For the submission of each declaration, an administrative fee of 100 euros is required.

Our Law Firm Supports You at Every Step

With specialization in citizenship law and many years of experience in handling complex administrative procedures, our firm provides comprehensive and personalized support to families and adults who wish to acquire Greek citizenship through the provisions relating to birth and school attendance. We undertake the careful assessment of requirements, the preparation of documentation, and guidance at every stage of the process, aiming for a safe, swift, and successful outcome.