Greek citizenship for Russians in 2026: how to get it
Descendants of Greeks get a passport for 130 euros in fees without moving, everyone else needs 7 years in the country and an exam in Greek. Five routes, costs and what a Russian should know.
The short answer: descendants of Greeks get Greek citizenship fastest and cheapest. They are naturalised through a consulate without moving and without a written exam, state fees are about $150, and the official timeline is about 18 months. Everyone else needs 7 years of legal residence in Greece, an exam in Greek and fees of about $790. The roots route in detail is on the page Greek citizenship by descent.
How a Russian can get Greek citizenship: 5 routes
| Route | Who it suits | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| By descent through a consulate | ethnic Greeks, including from the former USSR | documents proving Greek origin and an interview with the consul, no need to live in Greece |
| Recognition by birth | children and grandchildren of Greek citizens | a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was a Greek citizen, each generation is registered |
| Naturalisation | everyone else | 7 years of continuous legal residence, an exam in language, history and civics |
| Marriage | spouse of a Greek citizen | 3 years living in Greece in the marriage with a shared child |
| Birth in Greece | children of foreigners | a parent lived legally in the country for 5 consecutive years before the birth; the application is made when the child starts first grade at a Greek school |
Greece has no citizenship by investment programme. A golden visa gives residence, and a passport only after the same 7 years and the exam. Minor unmarried children become citizens together with the parent without separate applications.
How much Greek citizenship costs
Amounts are at the European Central Bank rate of 6 October 2026, $1.1269 per euro, rounded up.
- By descent. A 100 euro fee and a 30 euro consular charge, together about $150 per applicant.
- Naturalisation. The exam is 150 euros and the application fee 550 euros, together about $790.
- Documents. Archive certificates of origin, apostilles and certified translations into Greek are paid at archive and translator rates.
Total state fees are about $790 per person for naturalisation and about $150 by descent. This excludes archive searches, translations, trips to apply and the residence permit itself for 7 years. The cost of support depends on the route and the number of documents, and a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Fees from $150, but a certificate with the wrong ancestor nationality costs more
The law does not stop you applying for Greek citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: an archive certificate that records an ancestor as non-Greek, an uncertified translation, a consular interview without knowing your family history and customs, and for naturalisation a gap in the 7 years from a long trip or an exam passed after filing. We choose the route for your family history, search the archives, prepare translations and the declaration, coach you for the interview and handle the case up to the oath and the notice to the Russian Interior Ministry.
The cost of support depends on the route and the number of archive documents; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Which residence permit a Russian needs for the 7 years
The shortest investor road to naturalisation is closed to Russians in particular: since 2022 Greece has not accepted golden visa applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens. The restriction concerns the passport, not the money, so an investor with a second citizenship of another country applies with it.
With a Russian passport people move to Greece on a residence permit for remote work or for financially independent persons, both with income from abroad of $4,000 a month or more. Details are in the article Greece residence permit for Russians. Whether years on your permit count towards the 7 years for citizenship depends on its type: ask an expert.
Ukrainian citizens can get a golden visa on general terms, and since 16 January 2026 Ukraine's multiple citizenship law lets them keep the Ukrainian passport: Greece is on the list of states approved by the Ukrainian government.
What to consider: a second passport, the army and taxes
Greek bureaucracy is not hostile, it simply keeps its own pace: an appointment at a consulate can take longer to get than the review itself. So the key is to know in advance which obligations come with the passport.
- Dual citizenship. Greece does not require you to give up your Russian passport. Russia requires notice to the Interior Ministry within 60 days, or criminal liability applies. Details are in the article Greek and Russian dual citizenship, and any pair of countries can be checked with the dual citizenship check.
- Army. Male citizens aged 19 to 45 are subject to conscription, including naturalised ones. Permanent residents abroad get a deferral, and those who became citizens after 35 serve a shortened six months.
- Taxes. You become a Greek tax resident after 183 days in the country in a year, with rates on worldwide income from 9 to 44%. New residents have a flat tax option of 100,000 euros a year on foreign income. Rates are on the page taxes in Greece.
- What the passport gives. The right to live and work in any EU country and 185 destinations without a prior visa. The list is in the article visa-free countries with a Greek passport.
How we help
The law does not stop you applying for Greek citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: an archive certificate recording an ancestor's nationality the wrong way, an uncertified translation, an unprepared interview with the consul, a gap in the 7 years from a long trip and a missed notice to the Russian Interior Ministry. Murblz specialists choose the route for your family history, search the archives, prepare translations and the declaration, prepare you for the interview and track deadlines up to the oath. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first application.
Greek citizenship by descent
Who qualifies, documents, interview and timing.
Learn more →How much Greek citizenship costs
Fees and costs for a family of 2-4.
Learn more →Greece residence for Russians
Which grounds are open and what they cost.
Learn more →We will check which route to a Greek passport is open to you. Tell us whether there were Greeks in your family and whether you hold a Greek residence permit. We will show the route, documents and timing.
FAQ
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We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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