Greek Citizenship Through the Golden Visa: 7-Year Path (2026)

The Golden Visa does not grant citizenship directly. The path to a Greek passport: 7 years of real residence, long-term status, B1 Greek and the PEGP exam.

"If I get a Golden Visa, will I get a Greek passport after 7 years?" It is one of the questions investors ask most often. The short answer: possibly, but not automatically. The Golden Visa is a residence permit. Citizenship requires a separate application, separate conditions and, above all, really living in Greece.

This article walks step by step through the path from the Golden Visa to Greek citizenship, with a realistic timeline.

Short answer

Golden Visa holders can apply for citizenship after 7 years of continuous, lawful residence in Greece. But "residence" means actually living there, not on paper; a holder who visits Greece a few times a year does not meet the requirement. At the time of application you will usually need long-term resident status, B1-level Greek and a pass in the PEGP exam. After applying, the decision can take 2–4 years in practice.

The 7-Year Roadmap

Period	Step	Details
Year 0	Golden Visa card	Make the investment and get the 5-year residence card.
Years 1–5	Move to Greece and live there	The citizenship clock runs on actual residence. File Greek tax returns, get an AMKA (social security number) and start learning the language.
Year 5	Golden Visa renewal	Keep your investment and renew the card for another 5 years.
After year 5	Long-term residence (EU LTR)	After 5 years of actual residence, apply for long-term resident status. See our LTR article.
Years 6–7	PEGP exam	Pass the B1 Greek and the history, culture and political institutions exam.
Year 7	Citizenship application	Declaration at the municipality and application to the regional authority.
Years 9–11	Decision and oath	The legal deadline is 1 year; in practice it can take 2–4 years.

This timeline assumes an investor who moves to Greece right after getting the Golden Visa. Every year you keep living in your home country pushes the citizenship timeline back by the same amount.

Citizenship Requirements

1. Seven years of continuous, lawful residence

According to the Greek Ministry of Interior's guide, the standard period for non-EU nationals is 7 years of permanent, lawful residence in Greece. The Golden Visa having no minimum stay is enough to keep the residence permit, but not for citizenship. The authorities assess actual residence through tax returns, social security registration, leases or utility bills. In practice you are expected to spend most of the year in Greece.

2. The right residence status when you apply

The Ministry's guide lists the residence types you must hold when applying for citizenship: long-term residence permits, permits for spouses of Greek or EU citizens, refugee and stateless status and others. The investor residence permit is not listed separately. So most Golden Visa holders move to long-term resident (EU LTR) status after 5 years of actual residence, before applying.

3. Tax residence

Someone who actually lives in Greece for 7 years will very likely become Greek tax-resident and be taxed in Greece on their worldwide income. Recent tax returns are requested with the application. For tax planning, see our tax residency and non-dom regime articles.

4. Language and the PEGP exam

You must obtain the PEGP certificate before applying. The exam tests B1-level Greek and Greek history, geography, culture and political institutions. It is held twice a year; according to Global Citizen Solutions the fee is €150 and 70% is required in both parts. See our language and integration exam article.

5. Income, criminal record and integration

Regular income, a clean criminal record and integration into Greek society are assessed. The process also includes an interview and a security check.

6. Keeping the investment

You must keep your residence permit valid until citizenship is granted. If you are proceeding through the Golden Visa, that means keeping the investment.

The Application Process

A "declaration of naturalisation" is made at the municipality where you live.
The application is filed with the Citizenship Directorate of your Decentralised Administration.
The file is reviewed; a security check and, if needed, an interview follow.
After a positive decision you take the citizenship oath and are entered in the civil registry.

Cost and Timing

Item	Amount / time
PEGP exam fee	€150 (per attempt)
Citizenship application fee	Sources give €550–700 for a first application; €200 to reapply
Decision time	Legal deadline 1 year; in practice 2–4 years
Translation, apostille, lawyer	Depends on the file

The fee may change, so confirm the current tariff before applying.

Dual Citizenship

Greece allows dual citizenship, so Greece will not ask you to give up your current nationality. Whether you can keep it depends on your own country's law: some countries allow dual citizenship (Türkiye, for example, requires only that you notify its authorities), while others do not. Check your home country's rules before you apply.

Shorter Paths for Children

There are shorter paths to citizenship for children born in Greece or educated in Greek schools. If your family is moving with children, these options can deliver results faster than the 7-year path. See our EU citizenship path for children article.

Who Is Citizenship a Realistic Goal For?

Profile	Citizenship goal
Moving to Greece with family, children attending school in Greece	Realistic; shorter paths for the children may also apply
Works remotely, will spend most of the year in Greece	Realistic; plan for tax residence
Keeps living in their home country and wants the card for Schengen	Not realistic; for this profile the Golden Visa is a residence and travel tool
Visits Greece a few weeks a year	Not realistic; the actual residence requirement is not met

Keeping the Golden Visa as a "plan B" while living in your home country is also a valid choice. What you can do in that case is covered in our living in another country article.

Sources: Greek Ministry of Interior – How can I become a Greek citizen?; Global Citizen Solutions – Greek Citizenship (10 August 2026); Lexidy – Greece Citizenship by Investment: A Realistic Path.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many years does it take to become a Greek citizen through the Golden Visa?
You can apply after at least 7 years of continuous, lawful residence. In practice the decision can take another 2–4 years. The clock runs only on the years you actually live in Greece.

2. Can I get citizenship without living in Greece?
No. You do not need to live in Greece to keep the Golden Visa, but actual residence is required for citizenship. The authorities assess it through tax, social security and housing records.

3. Is there direct Greek citizenship by investment?
No. Greece has no citizenship-by-investment programme. The Golden Visa is a residence permit; citizenship is gained through a separate application with residence and integration requirements.

4. Will I lose my current citizenship if I become Greek?
Not because of Greece: Greece allows dual citizenship. Whether you can keep your current nationality depends on your own country's law — some countries allow it (Türkiye, for example, with notification), others do not. Check before you apply.

5. Is the citizenship exam difficult?
The PEGP exam tests B1 Greek and knowledge of history, culture and political institutions; 70% is required in each part. With regular language study it is an achievable goal for someone living in Greece.

This article is general information and not legal advice. Citizenship legislation and fees can change; confirm the current position with your lawyer before applying.