Greek Citizenship by Descent
- Max stay
- 9999days
- Processing
- 180–540days
- Fee
- €100.00≈ $117.61
Difficulty4/10·Realism9/10Why? ▾
Difficulty
Moderate paperworkSome paperwork and processing time. Start a few weeks ahead.
Why this score?
- —Embassy/consulate visa application
- +1Strong baseline access — visa-free tourism eases the application footprint
- -2Long processing time (up to 540 days)
- -0.5Moderate documentation list (6 items)
Approval realism
Approval is likelyMost applicants with the right paperwork get approved.
What drives this score?
- —Embassy visa applications generally succeed when documentation is complete and ties to home are clear
- +1.5Visa-free baseline access — approval rates are routinely high for this passport
Step-by-step checklist
Your application checklist
- 1
Check your passport validity
840+ days beforeMost countries require 6+ months of validity beyond your travel dates and at least one blank page. If it's close, renew before applying.
- 2
Gather supporting documents
824+ days beforeYou'll need: Have a Greek parent (automatic citizenship by birth) OR a Greek-born grandparent (qualification process); Register the Greek ancestor's birth, your parent's birth, and your own birth in the Greek municipal records (Demos); Apostilled foreign documents + certified Greek translations; If great-grandparent: case-by-case via the Greek embassy / consulate; not guaranteed; and others (see full list above).
- 3
Submit the application to the embassy or consulate
810+ days beforeIn person at the consulate with jurisdiction over your residence. Bring originals + photocopies of every document. Most consulates require a prior appointment.
- 4
Track the application; print the approval
7+ days beforeDecisions typically take 180–540 days. Print or save a clear PDF of the approved visa — airlines check this at check-in.
- 5
On the day of travel
day of travelCarry: passport (printed visa if applicable), onward ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, travel insurance. Border officers retain discretion regardless of visa status.
Show full requirements, fees, and source
What you need
- Have a Greek parent (automatic citizenship by birth) OR a Greek-born grandparent (qualification process)
- Register the Greek ancestor's birth, your parent's birth, and your own birth in the Greek municipal records (Demos)
- Apostilled foreign documents + certified Greek translations
- If great-grandparent: case-by-case via the Greek embassy / consulate; not guaranteed
- Once registered: Greek + EU citizenship + passport eligibility
- Mandatory military service for males 19–45 (currently 1 year, can defer if living abroad)
Fee breakdown
- Greek registry + citizenship documentation (typical)€100.00≈ $117.61

