Obtaining Greek Citizenship through naturalization requires applicants to successfully pass an interview conducted by a government official, in accordance with Article 10 of the Greek Nationality Code. Of course, not everyone pursuing citizenship needs to go the naturalization route – only those whose parents weren’t citizens, and therefore must link their ancestry through a more distant relative, such as a grandparent or uncle.
Many people are curious about what the interview entails, and the easiest way to explain it is by characterizing the test as a measure of one’s Greekness. Those who have completed it say they’ve been asked anywhere between two and 30 questions regarding their knowledge of Greek history, Greek affairs and their subjective love of Greece.
It’s not a difficult test to pass. Several consulate employees have told us that most applicants don’t actually know a thing about Greece and just want access to the greater European Union. However, if you can speak to your affinity for Greek culture or ways you’ve kept Hellenism a focus in your life, you’ll be in good shape. Oh, and the interviews are conducted in English unless requested as otherwise.
The questions vary by consulate and depend on who is behind the desk on the day of your interview, but here are the most common ones:
Who is the current Prime Minister of Greece?
Answer: Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Who is the current President?
This one sometimes trips people up, because the President and the Prime Minister are two separate roles.
Who is the current President?
This one sometimes trips people up, because the President and the Prime Minister are two separate roles.
What kind of government does Greece have?
Greece has a parliamentary democracy.
When is Greek Independence Day?
March 25, 1821.
When is ‘Oxi’ Day?
October 28th, the date in which the Greek government denied Italy’s ultimatum and joined the Allies in World War II.
Which political party is currently the ruling party?
Nea Dimokratia or “New Democracy.”
What are the four largest/most populated cities in Greece?
Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion.
What is the capital of Greece?
Athens.
How many stripes are on the Greek flag, and what is the meaning of them?
Nine blue and white stripes correspond to the nine syllables in ελευθερία ή θάνατος (freedom or death).
Which seas border Greece?
The Aegean, the Ionian, and the Mediterranean.
What is the largest Greek island?
Crete.
How much Greek do you know?
For this one, be honest and rely on common phrases if you don’t know much: “Good morning,” “good night,” “hello,” “please/thank you,” etc.
They may also ask you to recite the Greek national anthem. Then, the questions transition toward understanding your personal closeness with the country. It’s also the most open-ended portion of the test, with each question generally asking, “Tell me about your connection to Greece and Greek culture.” They include:
Are you able to spell your name in Greek?
Did you go to Greek school?
How often do you travel to Greece?
What part of Greece is your family from?
How connected are you to Greece?
Keep in mind that some, not all, of these questions will be asked at your interview. It really does depend on a variety of factors, not the least of which being if your interviewer already knows you or what they feel like asking that day. It’s the Greek Consulate, after all – the very picture of operating under an inexact science.
As you can see, the focus is mostly on your subjective love for Greece and pure intentions for obtaining citizenship. The far more difficult task is even getting to the interview stage by compiling all the necessary legal documents – a long process you can prepare for by reading about it here.