Naturalization — Pontic Genocide victim descent

As of 2026, GR-NAT-08 is a reframed route, not a discrete statutory programme: there is no standalone 'Pontic-Genocide victim-descent' naturalisation statute in Greek law. Descendants of Pontic-Genocide victims who are ethnic Greeks (ομογενείς) of the former Soviet Union acquire Greek nationality under the general ex-USSR ομογενείς regime — Code Art 15, as modernised by Art 39 of Law 4604/2019 (ΦΕΚ Α' 50/26-3-2019). The genocide is recognised by L.2193/1994 but that law confers no citizenship right (MEDIUM-confidence negative finding).

As of 2026, eligibility under the operative Art 15 / Art 39 L.4604/2019 mechanism requires that (a) the applicant be an ethnic Greek (ομογενής) — the genocide narrative is supporting evidence of Pontic-Greek descent, not a separate ground; (b) the applicant be an adult (Art 15 expressly requires adulthood); (c) the applicant originate from or be domiciled in a former-Soviet-Union country; and (d) Greek nationality cannot be ascertained under the Ankara and Lausanne Conventions. If nationality can be ascertained, the applicant proceeds by determination under Art 25(2) instead, because they are already Greek.

ομογενείς are exempt from the Art 5(2) additional conditions (residence plus the ΠΕΓΠ language/history/culture examination), which apply only to αλλογενείς under the article's own chapeau; they remain subject only to Art 5(1) (adulthood, clean record, no pending deportation). Under the Art 15 / Art 39 mechanism there is no ΠΕΓΠ exam; the substantive test is the ethnicity (ομογένεια) assessment by the consular and special committees, including a Hellenic-consciousness (ελληνική συνείδηση) evaluation inherited from the L.2790/2000 lineage (as of 2026).

Documentation centres on proof of Greek ethnic origin (ομογένεια): birth/baptism and Orthodox-Church records, old Greek or Soviet identity and registry documents naming Greek ancestors, and family genealogy; Pontic-Genocide-era refugee records and Pontian-community attestations function as ethnicity evidence rather than a separate legal claim. The file also requires the applicant's FSU-country passport/ID, a foreign criminal-record certificate, and Greek translation plus legalisation/apostille of all foreign documents (as of 2026, per the mitos.gov.gr T1 procedure).

Practically (as of 2026): lead with ethnicity proof rather than the genocide story; run the ascertainment test first because a traceable registered Greek ancestor may make you already Greek (Art 25(2) determination, faster than acquisition); file at the Greek consulate if you live in the FSU or at the Regional Citizenship Directorate if you live in Greece; budget €100 plus translation costs (not €550) and expect exemption from the ΠΕΓΠ exam; anticipate the oath within one year; keep your dual nationality; and never cite L.2193/1994 or any 'Pontic-genocide statute' as a citizenship basis because none exists.

The FSU-ομογενείς mechanism evolved across eras: L.2790/2000 (ΦΕΚ Α' 24/16-2-2000, effective 1-4-2000) was the last FSU-specific statute, replacing the παλιννόστηση (repatriation) visa with a settlement visa plus an ελληνική συνείδηση interview and creating the ex-USSR ΕΔΤΟ alternative. From 2004 the regime folded into the consolidated Code's Art 15; Art 39 L.4604/2019 (26-3-2019) modernised the procedure and Art 36 L.4674/2020 amended it, with Art 15 retained through the L.5265/2026 consolidation (as of 2026).

As of 2026, FSU-resident applicants file with the Greek consular authority of their country of residence; applicants already resident in Greece file with the Regional Citizenship Directorate (Διεύθυνση Ιθαγένειας) of permanent residence. The deciding authority is the Minister of Interior, exercised through the Regional Citizenship Director under the Art 39 L.4604/2019 structure, which replaced the former 'Secretary-General of the Region' wording; all nationality matters fall under the Ministry of Interior per Art 25 ΚΕΙ.

On taking the oath the applicant holds full Greek and EU citizenship (free movement, residence, work, voting, consular protection), and dual nationality is permitted because Greece imposes no general renunciation requirement and is a non-party to ETS 043 (only a non-ratified signatory of CETS 166/ECN). Male new citizens become liable to military service under Art 4(6) of the Constitution and L.3421/2005 (19th-45th year; 12-month term since May 2021), with diaspora deferral available to long-term residents abroad (as of 2026).