Greece - Access to nationality




To be eligible for citizenship, migrants must haved lived in Greece for ten of the previous twelve years. Their descendants face additional requirements to naturalise. The husbands and wives of Greeks can acquire nationality sooner, but only if they have a child of Greek nationality while married. To naturalise, migrants must fulfill conditions involving much administrative discretion and pay a high fee (€1500 for submitting an application). They must take an oath and pass a simple language interview, a vague 'good character clause', and a high criminal record check. Migrants who do naturalise are critically insecure in their status under the law, as they are in LV (see box). Greece reaches halfway to best practice on dual nationality.


Security of nationality critically weak
The administration has absolute discretion to decide whether or not to answer a citizenship application,  which they can refuse on a number of grounds. No matter how many years citizens have been naturalised, their nationality is not protected from withdrawal, even if it would leave them stateless. Decisions to refuse or withdraw do not take into account many important aspects of their personal circumstances such as links with Greece. Few legal guarantees are offered and there are no avenues for redress. For best practice, see country profile for Sweden. 


Results by strand

Greece - Overview
Greece - Labour market access
Greece - Family reunion
Greece - Long-term residence
Greece - Political participation
Greece - Access to nationality
Greece - Anti-discrimination
Greece - Public perceptions
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