Naturalização — comum de 7 anos

GR-NAT-01 é o caminho de naturalização normal padrão da Grécia (status: ativo; rota de assinatura) para nacionais adultos de países terceiros (αλλογενείς) que não são de origem étnica grega. A partir de 05/06/2026, são necessários 7 anos contínuos de residência legal imediatamente antes do depósito, um título de residência definitivo qualificado, aprovação de pré-condições formais e de segurança, satisfação das condições substantivas do Art 5A e aprovação no exame ΠΕΓΠ. É discricionário: o cumprimento das condições cria elegibilidade, não um direito.

[Fontes:, ]

Typical NAT-01 applicants include a long-settled αλλογενής worker holding an EU long-term-resident permit after 7+ years; a childless foreign spouse of a Greek (who naturalises on the general 7-year basis, GR-MAR-02); and a Golden-Visa investor who naturalises on the 7-year track. Recognised refugees and subsidiary-protection beneficiaries also use this standard 7-year track (NOT a 3-year reduced track) since Art 94 L.4674/2020 (ΦΕΚ Α' 53/11-03-2020).

The ΠΕΓΠ (Πιστοποιητικό Επάρκειας Γνώσεων για Πολιτογράφηση) is a mandatory written exam for αλλογενείς applicants from 1-4-2021 (L.4735/2020 arts 3,5,6,18; Code Art 6(2)(γ) + Art 7(2)). It certifies Greek at a level analogous to B1 plus knowledge of Geography/History/Culture/Institutions, drawn from a bank of ≥100 language texts and 300 knowledge questions. The exam is held twice a year, typically May and November.

Required documents (per ypes.gr official guidance, updated 2024-2025) include the naturalisation declaration, a valid definitive residence title, proof of 7 continuous years' lawful residence, Greek and foreign criminal-record certificates, the ΠΕΓΠ certificate (unless exempt), integration evidence spanning the proof window, birth/civil-status documents, and e-paravolo payment proofs. Foreign public documents generally require official translation and, where applicable, apostille (Hague 1961) or consular legalisation.

Practical sequencing as of 2026-06-05: first confirm the residence title is one of the Art 5(1)(ε) definitive titles (a temporary title disqualifies regardless of years); start ΠΕΓΠ preparation early since the exam runs only twice yearly and the integration reference period runs before obtaining the ΠΕΓΠ; document integration across at least 5 of the 7 years; pay the correct €550 παράβολο (code 2159); present income as one rebuttable indicium post-ΣτΕ 715-717/2026; and calendar the oath to swear within one year of ΦΕΚ publication or lose the grant.

The residence prerequisite is 7 continuous years before filing. The ΠΕΓΠ is offered roughly twice yearly (typically May and November). The Code sets no fixed statutory decision deadline for ordinary αλλογενής naturalisation (unlike the Art 1B birth/schooling deadlines of 6 months/1 year, which govern the BTH cluster); practice is multi-year. Crucially, the Art 9 oath must be sworn within ONE YEAR of the decision's ΦΕΚ publication or the decision is revoked.

Per the official mitos.gov.gr administrative registry «Πολιτογράφηση Αλλογενών Αλλοδαπών» (last updated 10-03-2025), the αλλογενής application fee is €550 (e-paravolo code 2159), the re-submission fee €200 (code 2162), and the reduced fee for ομογενείς, EU nationals, recognised refugees and stateless persons €100 (code 2161). The ΠΕΓΠ examination participation fee (εξέταστρο) is €150 (code 2158).

The residence threshold has evolved: the 2004 Code originally required '10 years in the last 12' (old Art 5(2)(a)); Art 2 L.3838/2010 (in force 24-3-2010) replaced this with 7 continuous years, unchanged after L.4735/2020. As of 2026-06-05, the controlling text is the ministry consolidation current to 17-9-2025. The '10-in-12' wording is SUPERSEDED and must not be cited (V-CORR-16).

The Regional Citizenship Directorate (Περιφερειακή Διεύθυνση Ιθαγένειας) receives the declaration, conducts any integration interview, and administers the oath. The Ministry of Interior issues the naturalisation decision (Art 8) and publishes it in the Government Gazette; all citizenship matters fall under the MoI per Art 25. The Ministry of Citizen Protection advises on the Art 5B security bar. The position is as of 2026-06-05.

Three frequent errors must be avoided: (1) citing '10 years in the last 12' — the standard is 7 continuous years since 24-3-2010 (V-CORR-16); (2) claiming '3 years for refugees' — recognised refugees and subsidiary-protection beneficiaries are on the standard 7-year track since Art 94 L.4674/2020 (V-CORR-10); and (3) conflating the ΠΕΓΠ exam, the Art 12 Naturalisation Committee, and the integration interview (συνέντευξη), which are three distinct things. Using the stale €700 fee instead of the current €550 is a further common error.