The nationality laws of Greece are based on the principles of ancestry or naturalisation. While the law permits dual citizenship, a Greek national is also a legal citizen of the European Union and has equal rights as other EU citizens. Details are highlighted below! Naturalisation If a child is born to Greek parents, nationality is automatically vested while the same rule applies to those children who’re born to parents residing legally within the country for five years or above. Meanwhile, children born outside Greece but whose parents are legal nationals may acquire citizenship after successful completion of elementary education; that is six years of schooling. Greeks born overseas may transfer citizenship to their children from one generation to another. Above 18 years old child to a Greek father doesn’t require naturalisation if they can form a chain of Greek nationality and furnish birth and marriage certificates. Ethnic Greek born out of the country may possess citizenship by naturalisation only if they fail to qualify the initial registration. However, Greek Cypriots are exempted from this rule who may seek Cypriot nationality instead. Applicant has to prove that at-least one of the parent or any grandparent is or was a Greek citizen by birth. These naturalisation requirements are different for ethnic and non-ethnic Greeks. In this case, ethnic has to make a declaration in presence of two Greek citizens as witnesses. This statement is taken before the mayor or village council chairman where the applicant wishes to be naturalised for! It’s then submitted to the consul of their domicile who further transfers the declaration to the Ministry of the Interior with a summary. A non-ethnic must have lived in Greece for seven years least before the declaration. While an application for naturalisation must be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior as well. Children of legally naturalised foreigners become Greeks if at the time of completing they’re less than 18 years and unmarried. The citizenship laws are governed by a panel of Council of State (Supreme Court) that would decide in the end who can legally reside in the country as a citizen and eligible to participate in local elections. Naturalisation by serving military forces Legal nationals who’re accepted to the military academics for Greek Armed Forces per the special laws of different schools or those enlisted to the army as volunteers are granted citizenship automatically. Loss of citizenship As dual nationality is allowed in Greece, one may not lose theirs unless a specific request is made. A Greek citizen on the contrary may deliberately and voluntarily renounce their citizenship by submitting an application to the ministry in Athens. Although legal nationals can acquire foreign residency, some countries actually ask you upon reaching adulthood whether to keep the Greek nationality or renounce it for another country. For instance, a dual Japanese and Greek citizen may acquire two nationalities initially but must choose one before getting 22 years. Conclusion You may check out Savory and Partners Dual Citizenship website for more details on how to get a Greece citizenship by investment program?
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