Indeed, Greece is not just a land of ancient history, sunsoaked islands and Mediterranean allure, it is also a pathway to European Union citizenship. Long-term residents and investors wishing to strengthen their links with the EU can apply for Greek citizenship. But as exciting as the dream of wielding a Greek passport might be, the legal process to get one can be complicated and lengthy. And this is where the role of a Greek citizenship lawyer is crucial.
In this blog post, we’ll go over the process of obtaining citizenship, typical routes of eligibility, legal hurdles to citizenship, and how working with an experienced Greek citizenship lawyer, like the professionals at Lexidy, can make all the difference in your application.
Why Greek Citizenship?
Greek nationality gives you all the rights and responsibilities of an EU-national. These benefits include:
The freedom to live, work, and travel in the EU
Social and health services in Greece
The right to own property(straight up no chaser)
EU tuition rate for study opportunities throughout Europe
The inter-generational heritage of citizenship
Greece also permits dual citizenship, so in most cases you won’t have to renounce your other nationality. Still for the advantages it offers, obtaining Greek citizenship is not a simple process to be achieved with the couple of clicks, minutes, or days mentioned by the new agency.
What Does a Greece Citizenship Lawyer Do?
Greek citizenship lawyers are experts in Greek nationality law and related immigration law. Their sole purpose is to assist you with the legal process, collect and organize required paperwork, and advocate on your behalf with Greek officials. Whether you are applying by descent, residency or naturalization, a lawyer will ensure that your application is complete, on time and accurately prepared.
Here’s how a Greek citizenship lawyer can help you:
Eligibility assessment: Assessing if you are eligible for citizenship based on ancestry, residency or other legal avenues.
Preparation of document: Obtaining birth, marriage and citizenship certificate, some of which may need to be translate by a legal translator.
Submission and monitoring: Handling correspondence with Greek municipalities, consulates and ministries in order to check status of the case.
Legal services: Adversing and appealing denial or delays of response.
Paternal Ancestral research: Pater Achaion and governmental records from local authorities.
Collaborating with a Greek citizenship lawyer helps avoid mistakes, speeds up the procedure and ensures that the applicant is in accordance with Greek and European Union law.
Who Is Eligible for Greek Citizenship?
In order to figure out if you’d need legal help, it’s helpful to understand the main ways to obtain Greek citizenship. The following are the most popular:
Citizenship by Descent
This is the simplest way. If you have a parent, grandparent or even great-grandparent who was Greek, you may be eligible for citizenship. A lawyer specializing in Greek nationality can assist tracking lineage and the acquisition of Greek civil registry documents verifying the lineage.
It’s often difficult for people to obtain original documents or to get translations of documents decades old. A lawyer who has access to Greek public office and can cross-check document has been known to save month of time.
Citizenship by Residency and Naturalization
Foreign citizens who have been legal residents of Greece for a certain number of years may apply for naturalization. The general requirement is seven years of uninterrupted legal residence, though it can be shorter for spouses of Greek citizens or people with Greek ancestry.
Applicants must also take a citizenship exam that includes questions about Greek history, culture and language. A Greek citizenship lawyer can assist with gathering the necessary documents, like residency permits, tax filings and criminal record checks, as well as studying for the exam.
Citizenship for Minors or Spouses
If a child is born to a Greek parent, that child becomes a Greek citizen at the moment of birth. But when the parent is a late reg ident or a Greek national born by descent, the need for legal processes is frequently require. The spouses of Greek citizens may also be naturalize under specific regulations.
Legal counsel is vital here to avoid any misinterpretation of eligibility and mistakes in filing family-based applications.
Frequent Legal Problems That Arise When Applying for Greek Citizenship
Though they’re eligible, many applicants are still delay or decline due to common mistake. And this is where a Greek citizenship lawyer can provide additional value:
Incomplete documentation: With any missing documents especially when applying based on ancestry can result in denied applications.
Language requirements: Greek law requires documents to be translate into Greek by certified translators and legalized with apostilles.
Complicated bureaucracy: Greek public offices are very organize. A single error in the order of filing can cost you weeks of time.
Contradictions in records: If names and birth dates are even slightly different in records held by different countries, your application can be flagge.
A good lawyer, like one at Lexidy will help minimise the risk of these challenges. With local knowledge and global knowledge, they fill the void between non-Greek applicants and Greek laws.
Lexidy’s Role in Greek Nationality Legislation
Lexidy are a European immigration and citizenship law firm. Reis team of Greek lawyers has successfully assisted clients and families in obtaining their Greek nationality.
What makes Lexidy different is that they are a global firm. They provide:
Lawyers That Speak English Who Take The Mystery Out Of The Law
Digital documentation and remote consulting
Transparent pricing and consistent communication
ASeat at the table in Greece and at Greek consulates around the world
Whether you’re in the US, Australia, Canada or the UK, Lexidy provides in-person and online support that you need to get that Greek citizenship once and for all.
Cost and Time Frame Associated with Hiring a Greek Citizenship Lawyer
Legal fees are different for each case, depending on a variety of factors. A simple ancestry application may be cheaper than a full naturalization process, which can include court representation and interviews. The typical range of legal fees, depending on the services provided, will be between €1,500 and €4,000.
The timeline also varies:
By descent: 12 – 24 months.Mutex: Here are the numbers18 Comments.
Naturalization: 18 to 36 months
Appeals: 6 to 12 more months, if necessary
These are estimates and times may vary depending on workload in Greek authorities, accuracy of documents and complexity of cases. Your attorney will offer regular updates and aid in guiding you through any delays.
Tips for a Successful Application
If you are starting your journey, here are the best practices:
Begin early: Gathering documents and translating them will take time.
Seek legal assistance: Hiring a Greek citizenship lawyer is a time-saver and mistake-avoider.
Conclusion
The path to Greek citizenship is paved with opportunity, but also clearly with hard work and legality. Within 2-3 years, you and your family can legally live, work, and study anywhere in Europe with full EU citizenship… or in other words, with the help of a knowledgeable Greek citizenship lawyer the process can be quick and easy.
Their experience can save you from making expensive mistakes, understand local regulations, and better your chances at a successful outcome. Companies like Lexidy provide a bespoke and modern legal service that enables applicants from around the world to realise their dream of being Greek.
Don’t walk the path toward Greek citizenship alone if that is your next step. Talk to a Reliable Greek Citizenship Lawyer who shares your vision—and who can make it a reality.
