Neos Kosmos continues to receive emails from around the world with questions about Greek citizenship.

Because there continues to be some confusion among some readers who contact us, and to avoid misunderstandings, we repeat that Neos Kosmos does not grant citizenship or issue passports. It publishes the answers of the General Secretariat for Citizenship to your questions, which must relate exclusively to citizenship matters.

Out of respect for personal data, we also do not publish names.

Specialised and authorised officials from the General Secretariat for Citizenship answer clearly and reliably to questions from readers concerning, among other things:

– the procedures for acquiring Greek citizenship,

– the required supporting documents,

– deadlines, competent authorities and practical steps,

– special cases involving second- and third-generation Greeks abroad.

SEND US YOUR QUESTION

Readers who wish to submit a question about Greek citizenship matters can send it to our email address editor@neoskosmos.com.au

Questions will be forwarded to the General Secretariat for Citizenship, so they can be answered by the competent officials.

Due to the large volume of questions sent to us, not all can be answered by the Secretariat through this joint initiative.

Question 13

My wife’s parents were both born in Greece. Can she acquire Greek citizenship, even though she was born in Australia?

Through inheritance, she owns a house and land in the Peloponnese.

If yes, how can she begin the process?

Can I also, as her spouse with no Greek background and born in the United Kingdom, acquire Greek citizenship?

Can our children, who were both born in Australia, also acquire Greek citizenship?

General Secretariat for Citizenship response:

Provided that your wife’s parents are registered in an active municipal registry entry in a municipality in Greece, their certificate of municipal registration and their marriage certificate from the authority of the country in which their marriage took place are sufficient for your wife to be registered in the municipal registry of a municipality in Greece, as well as your children, in accordance with the procedure provided for in decision no. 90294/2022 of the Minister of Interior.

If this is not the case, all available information about her parents will be jointly assessed in order to determine whether she can be registered today through a decision establishing Greek citizenship, or, if neither of these two options can be followed, whether her application can be examined through the naturalisation procedure for Greeks abroad who are permanent residents overseas.

Question 14

I am a first-generation Greek-American. My mother was born and raised in Athens, while my father was also born and raised in Greece and served in the Air Force. He was originally from Zevgolatio, Corinthia.

I am trying to acquire Greek citizenship, but unfortunately I do not have either my parents’ birth certificates or their marriage certificate. My father is deceased, but my mother is still alive and has the information of where they were married in Greece and where she was born.

Can you help guide me as to how I go about getting the required documents mentioned above, that would help me obain citizenship in Greece.

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

General Secretariat for Citizenship response:

In order to acquire Greek citizenship by birth or descent from a Greek citizen, you must provide evidence of your ancestors’ Greek citizenship. A person’s citizenship status can be easily established through the municipal registry in which they were registered.

Upon request by the interested person to that municipality, or through a Citizens’ Service Centre (KEP), or through the gov.gr online portal, provided you have Taxisnet codes, or through the Greek consular authority in your place of permanent residence, a certificate of municipal registration or family status certificate can be issued, on the basis of which the citizenship status of that person is established.

If you do not know exactly in which municipality the relevant search should be conducted, it is recommended that the search for relevant information initially be made through the Greek consular authority or, following your request, to the Directorate of Civil and Municipal Status of the Ministry of Interior at d.adk@ypes.gr.

In every case, an important prerequisite is that you have accurate details for the person who will be searched for, specifically surname, first name, father’s name, mother’s name, and year or date of birth.

Question 15

I went through the process of acquiring Greek citizenship in 2013, when my father was still alive. The process was carried out through the Greek Consulate in Melbourne. As far as I know, at the time my father had registered me in the records of the Serres prefecture, in Irakleia. I was told that I could obtain a Greek passport, but that it was not necessary.

Recently, I visited the Consulate again to begin the process for my daughter. I could not find any documents from my original application. The staff member at the information desk told me they were unable to search for me in the system and that I would have to contact Greece in order to obtain proof that I am registered and/or a citizen. This was very frustrating and unhelpful.

Could you help me with the following questions:

Who should I contact by email or telephone?
What supporting documents will be required from me, given that both of my parents have now passed away?
What documents should I request from them?

General Secretariat for Citizenship response:

A person’s citizenship status can be easily established through the municipal registry in which they were registered.

Given that you mention you had previously followed a procedure to become Greek, without knowing its outcome, in our view it would be useful first to contact the Municipality of Irakleia, Serres, at info@dimosiraklias.gr, in order to establish whether you or one of your parents is registered in the municipal registry of the above municipality.

Alternatively, you can request, through a Citizens’ Service Centre (KEP), through the gov.gr online portal, provided you have Taxisnet codes, or through the Greek consular authority in your place of permanent residence, whether a certificate of municipal registration or family status certificate can be issued for you or your parents.

In every case, an important prerequisite is that you have accurate details for the person who will be searched for, specifically surname, first name, father’s name, mother’s name, and year or date of birth.

Based on the information that emerges regarding whether you have acquired Greek citizenship, it will be determined whether your children can be registered in the municipal registry as Greek citizens in accordance with the procedure provided for in decision no. 90294/2024 of the Minister of Interior, or whether a relevant decision by our service is required first for you and/or your children, either through the procedure for determining Greek citizenship by birth to a Greek parent, or through naturalisation of Greeks abroad who are permanent residents overseas.