Greece dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

10 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Greece does not require giving up your previous citizenship on naturalisation or citizenship by descent. We cover timelines, the exam, routes for Pontic Greeks, children, military duty and taxes.

In short

Yes: Greece does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, so the Russian passport is kept on naturalisation or citizenship by descent, and you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry.

Previous passport on naturalisation	Kept
Country rule	No need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basis	Greek Citizenship Code (Law No. 3284/2004)
What Russia requires	notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
Checked	October 2026

Russia allows a second citizenship and so does Greece, so both passports are kept. The key is choosing the route: it is shorter and cheaper for descendants of Greeks, while others need 7 years in the country and an exam.

What Greece requires on naturalisation

Citizenship is governed by the Greek Citizenship Code, Law No. 3284/2004. No route requires leaving the previous citizenship, and for Greece you are simply a Greek citizen.

Under Article 5 a foreigner applies for naturalisation after 7 consecutive years of legal residence, provided that on the filing date they hold a residence permit from the list in the law: long-term resident, investment and certain others. A spouse of a Greek citizen with a joint child needs 3 years. Besides residence you must pass a written exam in Greek at threshold level, the third of six on the European scale, and in history, geography, culture and the system of government. After the exam your integration into society is assessed.

Descendants of Greeks follow other routes. If an ancestor was a Greek citizen, citizenship is recognised by birth. Ethnic Greeks from the former USSR whose ancestors never held Greek citizenship naturalise through a consulate under Article 15 without 7 years in Greece: a 100 euro fee and a 30 euro consular charge, and an interview on ties to Greek culture instead of the exam.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.

Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

Choose the route. If you have Greek ancestry, check your ancestor's documents first: the descent route needs neither a move nor an exam.
For naturalisation, build up residence: 7 consecutive years of legal residence on a residence permit from the list in the law.
Pass the exam in the Greek language, history, geography and system of government; the exam costs 150 euros.
Apply to the regional citizenship directorate and pay the 550 euro fee; with the exam about $790.
Take the oath after the decision and receive a Greek passport.
Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

Naturalisation decisions take a long time, often more than a year. The consular route for descendants of Greeks is officially estimated at 18 months.

What happens to children

A child of a Greek citizen is Greek by birth wherever born, and with the other parent a Russian citizen usually Russian too; no choice is needed. A child of foreigners born in Greece obtains citizenship on the parents' application when starting first grade at a Greek school, if one parent had lived in the country legally for 5 consecutive years before the birth. The right also arises after 9 years of Greek schooling.

Taxes and military service

You become a Greek tax resident with 183 days in the country in a year or your centre of vital interests here. A resident pays tax on worldwide income on a scale from 9% to 44%, and new residents have special regimes: a flat 100,000 euros a year on foreign income and 7% on a foreign pension. Russia suspended most of the double taxation treaty with Greece on its side in 2023.

Military duty in Greece applies to male citizens aged 19 to 45, including naturalised ones; army service lasts 12 months. Those permanently living abroad for at least 11 years can get a deferral. The military duty of a Russian citizen with a second passport also remains.

Common mistakes

Living on a residence permit outside the list. Not every status leads to citizenship: on the filing date you need a permit that the law accepts for naturalisation.
Breaking residence. You need 7 consecutive years, and long absences put the residence in doubt.
Naturalising when you have Greek roots. The descent route is faster, cheaper and needs no 7 years in the country.
Forgetting military duty. A naturalised man under 45 can be called up if he lives in Greece.
Missing the Russian Interior Ministry notification. The deadline is 60 days from receiving the Greek passport or from entering Russia.

How to get Greek citizenship

The fastest route for Russian citizens is citizenship by Greek descent through a consulate, without moving and without a written exam. Others need a residence permit, such as the golden visa for property or the financially independent person visa, 7 years of legal residence in Greece and the exam.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Greek citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

Greek citizenship by the shortest route

The law does not stop you applying for Greek citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: a residence permit outside the list, a gap in the ancestor's document chain, an unprepared interview and a missed notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. We check whether you have a descent route, prepare the documents and the application, see it through to the oath and remind you to notify. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process.

The cost of support depends on the route and family size; our consultant in the chat will calculate it.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

FAQ

Can you hold Greek and Russian citizenship at the same time?

Yes: Greece does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, so the Russian passport is kept on naturalisation or citizenship by descent, and you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry.

Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Greek citizenship?

Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Does Greece allow dual citizenship?

Yes. The Greek Citizenship Code does not require renouncing the previous citizenship on naturalisation or citizenship by descent.

Do I have to renounce Russian citizenship to become Greek?

No. The Russian passport is kept; you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days.

How many years must you live in Greece before citizenship?

7 consecutive years of legal residence on a permit from the list in the law, or 3 years for a spouse of a Greek citizen with a joint child.

Can you get Greek citizenship by ancestry without moving?

Yes. Ethnic Greeks from the former USSR apply through a consulate without living in Greece and without a written exam; the official estimate is about 18 months.

How much does Greek citizenship cost?

For naturalisation, a 550 euro fee and a 150 euro exam, about $790 in total. By Greek descent, a 100 euro fee and a 30 euro consular charge.

Do you have to serve in the army after getting Greek citizenship?

Male citizens aged 19 to 45 have the duty, including naturalised ones. Permanent residence abroad for at least 11 years allows a deferral.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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Greece dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

What Greece requires on naturalisation

What Russia requires

How to keep both passports: step by step

What happens to children

Taxes and military service

Common mistakes

How to get Greek citizenship

This topic in other countries

FAQ

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

Programs in Greece

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