Mitsotakis Wants Easier Greek Citizenship for Diaspora

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has indicated that his government wants to make it easier for third- and fourth-generation Greeks living abroad to obtain Greek citizenship, acknowledging that the current process is more complicated than it should be.

In an interview with Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos, published on 16 October, Mitsotakis said citizenship applications were more straightforward for second-generation Greeks, but became increasingly complex for later generations.

“It’s more complicated than it should be,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that simplifying the process would be “one way of making more people Greek”.

His comments will be of particular interest to Greek communities in Australia, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, where generations of families have maintained their Greek heritage long after their ancestors emigrated.

However, Mitsotakis did not announce a new citizenship law or provide a timetable for legislative changes. No new eligibility criteria or specific measures were outlined in the interview.

Why Greek citizenship can be difficult to obtain

Under existing Greek nationality law, citizenship is primarily acquired through descent from a Greek parent.

Descendants may also be able to establish eligibility through a Greek grandparent or great-grandparent, provided they can produce the necessary evidence of their family lineage and the ancestor’s Greek citizenship.

The process can involve tracing family records through several generations and obtaining official birth, marriage and municipal registration documents.

According to guidance published by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claims involving grandparents and great-grandparents may require alternative historical records, including entries in municipal or male registers, older Greek passports and other official documents.

Each case is assessed individually by the competent Greek authorities.

For families whose ancestors left Greece decades ago, locating and verifying these records can be a significant obstacle.

What Mitsotakis’s comments mean for the Greek diaspora

The Prime Minister’s remarks form part of a broader effort by Athens to strengthen its relationship with Greeks living overseas.

In the interview, Mitsotakis identified diaspora communities across Australia, the United States, Canada and Britain as an important source of skills, investment and international connections.

He also highlighted changes allowing eligible Greek citizens registered to vote in Greece to participate in national elections from their country of residence.

His comments on citizenship suggest that the government recognises the need to make it easier for younger generations to maintain a formal connection with their ancestral homeland.

For now, however, the remarks represent an expression of government intent rather than a change in the law.

Any reform would need to be translated into specific administrative or legislative measures before descendants of Greek emigrants could benefit from new arrangements.

For thousands of families seeking to formalise their connection to Greece, the next question is whether the government’s stated intention will lead to practical changes in the citizenship process.

Sources: Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs citizenship guidance.