Greece allows foreigners who have lived in the country legally and continuously for 7 years to apply for citizenship. You also need to:
- pass the B1 Greek language, history and culture exam (ΠΕΓΠ)
- meet your tax and social security obligations
- have a clean criminal record
The Golden Visa itself does not grant citizenship, and buying a property does not make you a citizen. Years on a Golden Visa count towards the 7 years only if you actually live in Greece. For the Golden Visa conditions, see Greece Golden Visa requirements.
Greek citizenship requirements (current)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal residence | 7 years of continuous, legal and actual residence before applying. The Golden Visa (investor residence permit) is on the list of accepted permits |
| Actual residence | You must really live in Greece; years spent abroad while holding the card do not count |
| Language and culture exam (ΠΕΓΠ) | B1 Greek, history, geography, culture and institutions; held twice a year; exam fee €150 |
| Economic integration | Tax returns for the last 5 years, tax and social security clearance, regular income |
| Clean record | No final conviction for an intentional offence in the last 10 years |
| Application fee | €550 |
| Interview and oath | Interview after applying, oath ceremony after approval |
| Official processing time | 1 year; often longer in practice |
Source: Greek Citizenship Code, Law 3284/2004, and the Greek administrative procedures portal (mitos.gov.gr). Fees are current and this table is updated when they change.
Can I Get Greek Citizenship by Buying a Property?
No. Greece has no citizenship-by-investment programme. Buying a property gives you a Golden Visa, which is a 5-year renewable residence permit. To become a citizen, you must also live in Greece for 7 years and meet the other conditions.
How Many Years Does It Take to Get Greek Citizenship?
The general rule is 7 years: you must have lived in Greece legally and continuously for the 7 years before you apply. Some groups have a different period:
- 3 years: EU citizens, people married to a Greek citizen with a child together, guardians of a Greek child born in Greece, and stateless people.
- 12 years: People living in Greece on a residence permit that is not on the list accepted for citizenship.
Only time spent on an accepted residence permit counts. Time on temporary documents does not.
Do Golden Visa Years Count Towards Citizenship?
The investor residence permit is one of the permits accepted for citizenship. However, the law requires “legal and permanent” residence. Years in which you hold the card but live abroad do not count towards the 7 years.
If you want to use the Golden Visa as a path to citizenship:
- You need to move to Greece and spend most of the year there.
- You need to become a Greek tax resident.
- You need to declare your income in Greece every year.
The Golden Visa has no residence requirement, but citizenship does. This is the key difference between the two.
What Is the Citizenship Exam (ΠΕΓΠ)?
The ΠΕΓΠ is a written exam that shows you have the knowledge needed for citizenship. It tests:
- B1-level Greek
- Greek history and geography
- Greek culture and state institutions
The exam is held twice a year and costs €150. You pay the fee again for each new attempt.
You are exempt if you completed 9 years of school in Greek in Greece, or graduated from a Greek-language programme at a Greek university.
What Are the Economic and Social Integration Requirements?
You must show that you take part in Greece’s economic life. You will need:
- tax returns for the last 5 years
- a certificate showing you have no tax debt
- a certificate showing you have no social security debt
- a regular income
For a single applicant, the expected income is about €7,500 a year, and it rises for each dependant. According to a ruling by Greece’s Council of State, income below this level is not, on its own, a reason to refuse an application. Your social ties to Greece are also assessed.
You must not have a final conviction for an intentional offence in the last 10 years.
How Do I Apply for Citizenship?
- Exam: Pass the ΠΕΓΠ exam and get the certificate.
- Documents: Prepare your passport, residence permits, birth certificate, tax and social security documents and criminal record. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled and translated into Greek.
- Application: Pay the €550 fee and apply to the citizenship directorate for the area where you live. You cannot apply from outside Greece.
- Interview: If needed, your economic and social integration is assessed in an interview.
- Decision and oath: After approval, you take the oath and are entered in the civil register.
The official processing time is 1 year. In practice, it can take longer depending on the region.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
For an investor who moves to Greece with a Golden Visa, the fastest path looks like this:
- Card: The Golden Visa card is issued about 6 months on average after the property purchase.
- Residence: You live in Greece for 7 years and learn Greek during this time.
- Exam and application: You pass the ΠΕΓΠ exam and apply for citizenship.
- Decision: 1 year by law, longer in practice.
So, from the first residence permit to the passport, the realistic timeline is more than 8 years.
Can I Keep My Current Citizenship?
Greece allows dual citizenship, so you do not have to give up your current nationality to become Greek. Your home country’s rules may be different. Some countries, such as China and India, do not allow dual citizenship, and acquiring Greek citizenship would mean losing your original one. Check your home country’s rules before applying.
Can Family Members Become Citizens Too?
Yes, but each adult family member must meet the conditions in their own right: 7 years of actual residence, the exam and the other requirements. The spouse, children and parents included in the Golden Visa can all follow this path. For details, see Greece Golden Visa family members.
Can I Get Permanent Residence After 5 Years?
Foreigners who have lived in Greece legally and actually for 5 years can apply for EU long-term resident status. This is not citizenship, but unlike the Golden Visa, it also gives the right to work. For the Golden Visa work rules, see Can you work in Greece with a Golden Visa?
Is the Golden Visa Still Worth It If I Don’t Want Citizenship?
Yes. Most investors apply for the Golden Visa for residence and free travel in the Schengen area, not for citizenship. For them, these points matter most:
- No minimum stay: You do not need to live in Greece to keep the card.
- Schengen travel: With the card, you can travel visa-free to 29 Schengen countries (countries you can visit with a Greece Golden Visa).
- Renewal: The card is renewed every 5 years as long as you keep the property.
- Your nationality: It does not affect your current citizenship.
If you plan to live or retire in Greece, the Greek passive income visa (FIP) is another option.
Sources
- Greek Citizenship Code, Law 3284/2004 (Articles 5, 5A and 7)
- Greek administrative procedures portal mitos.gov.gr, “Πολιτογράφηση Αλλογενών Αλλοδαπών”
- Greek Migration Code, Law 5038/2023, Article 100 (Golden Visa)
