Greek long-term residence and citizenship

In Greece, after 5 years of legal and continuous residence you can get EU long-term resident status, and after 7 years apply for citizenship. The key point: only actual residence in Greece counts; a golden visa holder who does not live in Greece accrues no time toward citizenship.

Long-term residence (5 years)

• 5 years of legal and continuous residence
• Allowed absences: up to 6 consecutive months and 10 months in total
• Stable income, health insurance and knowledge of Greek language and history

Citizenship requirements

• PEGP exam: Greek at B1 plus history, geography, culture and institutions; held twice a year.
• Application fee: €550
• Processing: usually 2 to 4 years
• Dual citizenship: allowed by Greece.

The golden visa and citizenship

The golden visa has no minimum stay, but for citizenship you must actually have lived in Greece. If a Greek passport is your goal, plan for real residence and Greek language learning from the start.

Frequently asked questions

How many years until an Iranian national can get Greek citizenship?

7 years of legal and continuous residence in Greece, plus passing the B1 Greek language and culture exam.

Do golden visa years count toward citizenship?

Only if you actually lived in Greece; holding the card without real residence does not build time toward citizenship.

Does Greece allow dual citizenship?

Yes. You do not have to give up your previous nationality to become Greek.

Based on the Greek Citizenship Code (Law 3284/2004); position as of October 2026.