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IMMIGRATION LAW IN GREECE

IMMIGRATION LAW IN GREECE

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Countries Requiring Visas:

All persons entering Greece, except the following require visas:

• citizens of all European Union countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and United States of America for staying up to 3 months provided they are in possession of a valid passport or travel document;
• citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Hungary, Hong Kong (passport holders of Special Administrative Region), Iceland, Israel, Korea (Republic), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macao (passport holders of Special Administrative Region), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, St. Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Switzerland and Vatican City for staying up to 3 months;
• citizens of Brazil, El Salvador and Uruguay for staying up to 2 months;
• citizens of Singapore for staying up to 2 weeks;
• transit passengers who are continuing their journey within 48 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft provided they are holding tickets with reserved seats and valid onward or return documentation. However, the citizens of Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Republic), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Turkey need a visa while transiting Greece by the same aircraft.

Types of Visa, Validity and Cost:

Short-stay Visa or Schengen Visa:

This is a uniform type of visa which is issued for tourist, business and private visits for stays of up to 90 days. This allows a person to enter one country and travel freely throughout the Schengen zone. The following are the main types of Schengen Visa:

·        Short-stay (single and multiple entry) Visa: This is for tourist and business visits and is valid for 6 months from the date of issue for stays of maximum 30 or 90 days per entry.

·        Transit Visa: This is valid for a maximum of 5 days per entry including the day of arrival and it enables the applicants to pass through the territory of one or more Schengen member states on their way to another country outside the Schengen area.

·        Airport Transit Visa: This allows a person to stay in the international transit area at the airport without a visa while waiting for his connecting flight. This is required by only some nationalities.

The prices of these visas vary depending upon the type of visa, the length of stay and the rate of exchange.

These visas are issued free of charge to spouses and children of European Union citizens subject to producing the citizen’s original passport, original marriage certificate and children’s full birth certificate.

This information was last updated on 01.02.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Visa:

• Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry date of visa;
• Completed Application Form;
• Two passport-sized photographs;
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover stay in Greece;
• Proof of medical and travel insurance;
• Proof of purpose of visit and / or hotel reservation;
• Return or onward ticket for Transit and Airport Transit Visas;
• A letter duly certified by a police station in Greece for applicants visiting friends or relatives;
• Letter from employer or from solicitor or bank manager if self-employed. If a student, letter from school or college confirming attendance;
• A business letter from the applicant’s company stating the purpose of the trip and stay duration for business visits;
• Stamped, self-addressed registered envelope for postal applications;
• Visa Fee payable in cash or money order only.

Along with the above documents the following documents are also required:

For Spouses of European Union citizens:

• EU citizen’s passport;
• Original Marriage Certificate.

For Children of European Union citizens:

• Original Birth Certificate of Child.

For Minors (under 18 years of age) who are not accompanied by their parents:

• A letter of authority from both parents or legal guardians authorizing the minor’s travel and stay in Greece and appointing a person to take the minor’s responsibility during his / her stay which should be authenticated by the consular officer of the applicant’s nationality;
• Valid passports of the minor’s parents;
• Minor’s Birth Certificate;
• Proof of Minor’s Legal Guardianship.

You can download a Visa Application Form from:www.greekconsulatehk.com/form/Visa%20form%202005.pdf

GREEK CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Greek citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.      By Birth: The following persons can acquire Greek citizenship by birth:

·        A person whose either parent is a Greek citizen;

·       A person born in the territory of Greece of unknown parentage or to stateless parents or of uncertain citizenship provided he / she does not acquire citizenship of another country at his / her birth.

2.     By Descent: The following persons can acquire Greek citizenship by descent:

• A legitimate child whose father is a Greek citizen, irrespective of the child’s place of birth;
• A legitimate child whose mother is a Greek citizen and the father is unknown or stateless, irrespective of the child’s place of birth.

3.      By Recognition: A foreigner born out of his / her parents’ wedlock and legally recognized by a Greek citizen acquires Greek citizenship from the date of the recognition provided he / she is below 18 years of age at that date.

4.      By Adoption: A person adopted by a Greek citizen before he / she attained 18 years of age, acquires Greek citizenship from the date of adoption.

5.      By Naturalization: A foreigner can acquire Greek citizenship by naturalization upon fulfillment of the following conditions:

• he / she has attained 18 years of age;
• he / she has no appeal pending for prior convictions for any serious criminal offences during the last 10 years preceding the application for naturalization;
• he / she is not facing any decision of deportation against him / her;
• if born in another country, he / she has been a legal resident of Greece for at least 10 out of the last 12 years;
• has sufficient knowledge of the language, history and culture of Greece.

The children of naturalized Greek citizens can acquire Greek citizenship if at the time of the naturalization proceedings of their parents, they are unmarried and have not attained 18 years of age.

Exceptions:

• Foreigners recognized as refugees or those having no nationality need to legally reside in Greece for 5 years out of the last 12 years;
• Spouses of Greek citizens, foreigners who have a child and have resided in Greece for at least 3 years, and foreigners born and continuously residing in Greece are exempted from the 10 year residency requirement;
• Athletes of Olympic games need to reside in Greece for 5 years out of the last 12 years;
• A foreigner who has offered special services to Greece or if his / her naturalization is likely to be in the interest of the country does not need to satisfy the residency requirement and can be naturalized as a Greek citizen by a Presidential order.

An application for naturalization must be made to the Ministry of the Interiors which shall decide about the applicant’s naturalization after investigating his / her character and personality.

6.      By enlistment to the Armed Forces: Foreigners of Greek ethnic origin who are admitted to military academies as officers or non-commissioned officers of the armed services or those enlisted as volunteers in the armed services may lawfully acquire Greek citizenship from the time of their admission or enlistment without any other formality, but subject to the regulations governing such institutions.

IMMIGRATION LAW IN GREECE

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Countries Requiring Visas:

All persons entering Greece, except the following require visas:

• citizens of all European Union countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and United States of America for staying up to 3 months provided they are in possession of a valid passport or travel document;
• citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Hungary, Hong Kong (passport holders of Special Administrative Region), Iceland, Israel, Korea (Republic), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macao (passport holders of Special Administrative Region), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, St. Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Switzerland and Vatican City for staying up to 3 months;
• citizens of Brazil, El Salvador and Uruguay for staying up to 2 months;
• citizens of Singapore for staying up to 2 weeks;
• transit passengers who are continuing their journey within 48 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft provided they are holding tickets with reserved seats and valid onward or return documentation. However, the citizens of Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Republic), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Turkey need a visa while transiting Greece by the same aircraft.

Types of Visa, Validity and Cost:

Short-stay Visa or Schengen Visa:

This is a uniform type of visa which is issued for tourist, business and private visits for stays of up to 90 days. This allows a person to enter one country and travel freely throughout the Schengen zone. The following are the main types of Schengen Visa:

·       Short-stay (single and multiple entry) Visa: This is for tourist and business visits and is valid for 6 months from the date of issue for stays of maximum 30 or 90 days per entry.

·        Transit Visa: This is valid for a maximum of 5 days per entry including the day of arrival and it enables the applicants to pass through the territory of one or more Schengen member states on their way to another country outside the Schengen area.

·        Airport Transit Visa: This allows a person to stay in the international transit area at the airport without a visa while waiting for his connecting flight. This is required by only some nationalities.

The prices of these visas vary depending upon the type of visa, the length of stay and the rate of exchange.

These visas are issued free of charge to spouses and children of European Union citizens subject to producing the citizen’s original passport, original marriage certificate and children’s full birth certificate.

This information was last updated on 01.02.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Visa:

• Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry date of visa;
• Completed Application Form;
• Two passport-sized photographs;
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover stay in Greece;
• Proof of medical and travel insurance;
• Proof of purpose of visit and / or hotel reservation;
• Return or onward ticket for Transit and Airport Transit Visas;
• A letter duly certified by a police station in Greece for applicants visiting friends or relatives;
• Letter from employer or from solicitor or bank manager if self-employed. If a student, letter from school or college confirming attendance;
• A business letter from the applicant’s company stating the purpose of the trip and stay duration for business visits;
• Stamped, self-addressed registered envelope for postal applications;
• Visa Fee payable in cash or money order only.

Along with the above documents the following documents are also required:

For Spouses of European Union citizens:

• EU citizen’s passport;
• Original Marriage Certificate.

For Children of European Union citizens:

• Original Birth Certificate of Child.

For Minors (under 18 years of age) who are not accompanied by their parents:

• A letter of authority from both parents or legal guardians authorizing the minor’s travel and stay in Greece and appointing a person to take the minor’s responsibility during his / her stay which should be authenticated by the consular officer of the applicant’s nationality;
• Valid passports of the minor’s parents;
• Minor’s Birth Certificate;
• Proof of Minor’s Legal Guardianship.

You can download a Visa Application Form from:www.greekconsulatehk.com/form/Visa%20form%202005.pdf

GREEK CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Greek citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.      By Birth: The following persons can acquire Greek citizenship by birth:

·        A person whose either parent is a Greek citizen;

·        A person born in the territory of Greece of unknown parentage or to stateless parents or of uncertain citizenship provided he / she does not acquire citizenship of another country at his / her birth.

2.     By Descent: The following persons can acquire Greek citizenship by descent:

• A legitimate child whose father is a Greek citizen, irrespective of the child’s place of birth;
• A legitimate child whose mother is a Greek citizen and the father is unknown or stateless, irrespective of the child’s place of birth.

3.     By Recognition: A foreigner born out of his / her parents’ wedlock and legally recognized by a Greek citizen acquires Greek citizenship from the date of the recognition provided he / she is below 18 years of age at that date.

4.      By Adoption: A person adopted by a Greek citizen before he / she attained 18 years of age, acquires Greek citizenship from the date of adoption.

5.      By Naturalization: A foreigner can acquire Greek citizenship by naturalization upon fulfillment of the following conditions:

• he / she has attained 18 years of age;
• he / she has no appeal pending for prior convictions for any serious criminal offences during the last 10 years preceding the application for naturalization;
• he / she is not facing any decision of deportation against him / her;
• if born in another country, he / she has been a legal resident of Greece for at least 10 out of the last 12 years;
• has sufficient knowledge of the language, history and culture of Greece.

The children of naturalized Greek citizens can acquire Greek citizenship if at the time of the naturalization proceedings of their parents, they are unmarried and have not attained 18 years of age.

Exceptions:

• Foreigners recognized as refugees or those having no nationality need to legally reside in Greece for 5 years out of the last 12 years;
• Spouses of Greek citizens, foreigners who have a child and have resided in Greece for at least 3 years, and foreigners born and continuously residing in Greece are exempted from the 10 year residency requirement;
• Athletes of Olympic games need to reside in Greece for 5 years out of the last 12 years;
• A foreigner who has offered special services to Greece or if his / her naturalization is likely to be in the interest of the country does not need to satisfy the residency requirement and can be naturalized as a Greek citizen by a Presidential order.

An application for naturalization must be made to the Ministry of the Interiors which shall decide about the applicant’s naturalization after investigating his / her character and personality.

6.      By enlistment to the Armed Forces: Foreigners of Greek ethnic origin who are admitted to military academies as officers or non-commissioned officers of the armed services or those enlisted as volunteers in the armed services may lawfully acquire Greek citizenship from the time of their admission or enlistment without any other formality, but subject to the regulations governing such institutions.