Second citizenship in Greece: is it available to Russians in 2023 and how to get it

Many Russians dream of a second citizenship in Greece. The warm country on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea attracts with its beaches, ancient history and culture, friendly inhabitants. Having dual citizenship, you can live and work in two countries without limiting yourself. It is not surprising that the popularity of Greek passports shares the 4th place in the ranking with citizenship in the USA and Australia. We will tell you more about how Russians can obtain Greek citizenship.

Can Russian citizens obtain a second citizenship in Greece

The dream of a Greek passport can easily be made a reality if you put a little effort into it, because there are no obstacles to this. The Constitution of the Russian Federation allows Russian citizens to obtain second and subsequent citizenship in any country in the world. The only requirement is to notify the Federal Migration Service of Russia of the fact of obtaining a passport.

Conditions for obtaining citizenship:

• grandmother, grandfather or more distant ancestors are Greek-born who moved to Russia;
• a Russian citizen was born in Greece and there is a corresponding entry in the Birth certificate;
• the conclusion of an official marriage with a Greek or Greek woman;
• refugee status for political reasons;
• long–term residence in the country - for 7 years, without problems with the law.

For Russians, the latter option is the most accessible. You can apply for a residence permit or permanent residence without refusals through the website digital-nomad.gr. After obtaining a residence permit, it is renewed annually until the naturalization period expires. "Golden visas" or residence permits in Greece have been freely issued since 2022.:

• students of Greek universities, regardless of specialization and age;
• investors, owners of real estate or businesses in the country;
• "digital nomads" working remotely in any country in the world except Greece.

After the expiration of 7 years, it is enough to apply for citizenship at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Greece. The commission will check your language proficiency and schedule an interview. If the members of the commission are satisfied with the applicant's knowledge and answers, a positive response will be received. After that, it is enough to take the oath and get the coveted passport of a Greek citizen.