Thread by @mathaiaus, Because I get a few DMs about this, here are the steps [...]

Because I get a few DMs about this, here are the steps to getting Greek citizenship by descent/naturalisation, (from my own experience, which was fairly recent):

Greek citizenship follows a family chain, meaning that whoever came before you (your parent/s in other words) must be registered with a Greek municipality before *you* can be registered. "But my parent/s was/were born in Greece." Cool! So their registration already exists, now...

If your parent is Greek born you will need:

- their birth certificate/family status certificate (issued by embassy/consulate or directly with your municipality)
- parents marriage certificate
- your birth certificate
- your passport
- your marriage certificate (if applicable)

If your parent/s was/were NOT born in Greece, they have to be registered first (following the steps above), BUT pick which one has the easiest pathway. In other words, who has all their documents/certificates in order. Don't make it any harder on yourself!

Any certificates issued by non-Greek government bodies will also need an apostille (inc. their passport). For Aussies, these are done by DFAT (Passport Office) and each apostille is $85. Their website tells you how to lodge. They're fairly quick from memory, less than a week iirc

Also, whatever documents are not issued by a Greek authority MUST be officially translated either by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Translation Service in Athens, or by an accredited Greek lawyer in your country (although they'll charge you triple the price, because they can!)

Also be aware that if you get someone in Greece to go to the translation service on your behalf you need an authorisation form (εξουσιοδότηση) from the embassy/consulate including your person's name, father's name and ID card number. The form is 30€. Send it with your documents.

One translated and sent back to you, these documents are then lodged with the embassy/consulate, several fees are paid (from memory my mum paid about $300-400 AUD), and the documents are sent off to the municipality where your registration will be assessed and processed.

Hooray! After several months of waiting, the embassy/consulate calls to tell you you're now Greek and on the municipal register (copy provided)!

"But what if my parent was born outside of Greece? What can I do?"

1. They have to be registered before you can be, as per above steps

2. Once they're registered, you can now apply for Greek citizenship by naturalisation

Here's what you need:

- your birth certificate (translated, and apostille. See above)
- a police check (translated and apostille. See above)
- a copy of your passport (no translation needed)
- your parent's registration (family status certificate)

Now here's the fun part...

You also have to do an interview with the Consul General, in Greek, to prove your Greekness. You don't speak Greek? You better start learning. You speak a bit? Brush up or make sure your love and devotion for Greece is unquestionable! Tell them you piss ouzo and shit feta!

Also bring along any evidence that determines your relationship to Greece. A baptism certificate (if you were baptised Greek Orthodox), evidence of learning Greek, trips to Greece, community engagement etc. They may not ask for it but it doesn't hurt to have it.

You also need to bring two Greek citizens to act as witnesses and to confirm your identity. They must bring either a Greek identity card or a Greek passport. This is easier said than done (many don't bother with ID/passport), so start asking around sooner rather than later!

Now, 30€ and a few hours later your application will be sent to the decentralised administration that encompasses your municipality where it will sit on a bureaucrat's desk for up to 2 years before they go over it with a fine tooth comb. And then, if they accept it...

Congratulations, you're Greek!

Now you can go back to the embassy/consulate, pay another 200€ for your municipal registration and wait for that to come through before you can apply for a passport.

Now fellas, if you live permanently abroad you need to apply for a Permanent Resident Abroad certificate which gives you the right to stay in Greece for up to 6 months in a calendar year without military service. Do it, or risk arrest at Athens airport https://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/services/services-for-greeks/national-service-information.html#:~:text=The%20certificate%20of%20permanent%20residence%20abroad%20is%20issued%20by%20the,the%20postponement%20of%20your%20conscription.

If you have under 18, get them registered! It makes life a hell of a lot easier for you and them. It's the same process as it was for you, but this time with their birth cert, your marriage cert and your family status certificate. Spare them the pain of the naturalisation process

BUT, if your kids are born out of wedlock (as mine are), you will need a notary public (or the equivalent in your country) to issue a statement attesting to your relationship which also has to be apostilled and translated before you can lodge an application for your kids.

First piece of advice: be patient and expect the unexpected. That's all part of the fun of dealing with Greek bureaucracy. Occasionally they'll throw another hurdle up at you but just deal with it calmly and you'll have them in your corner (most of the time). Zen mode

Second piece of advice: do research before engaging a lawyer to do the work for you, especially if your family history isn't clear cut (like mine). Often they'll lead you up the garden path and along the dirt track just to drag out the process for as long as possible (more $$$)

Anyway, I hope this helps some of you, and if it doesn't, well all I've lost is half an hour :)

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