[kimba76]

Hi I am interested on gaining greek citizenship. I have read conflicting information about religion being used to deny citizenship. My grandfather was born in greece and migrated to Australia in 1938. My grandfather naturalised Australian (didn't notify Greece of this) before marrying an Australian in Anglican Church. My mother was baptised Greek Orthodox but she also married an Australian in Anglican Church and had me baptised Anglican. I will have all documents (birth and marriage certificated from australia) including my grandfathers military and birth records from Greece. My cousin has details of our Greek family tree going back 6 generations. BUT will having marriages and my baptism in Anglican Church rather than Orthodox prevent my becoming Greek citizen. Thanks in advance for your kind replies.

[acrules3]

Your situation is a difficult one. Greece discriminated among marriages prior to 1982, and children born in wedlock that was not recognized in Greece prior to 1982 are not necessarily considered Greek citizens as of their birth.

In your case, your Greek Orthodox grandfather married an Anglican in the Anglican Church, obviously prior to 1982. You need to check with the Greek Consulate in Sydney if that marriage was recognized ["ypostatos gamos"] per Greek law at the time. I believe it was not, but the Consulate can tell you.

Your mother, offspring of that marriage, is eligible to apply for Greek Citizenship per the current Code of Greek Citizenship, law 3284/2004, article 14 paragraph 2. If she does apply, her citizenship is applicable as of the date of the application.

If YOU are a minor [under 18] on the date that your mother applies for Greek citizenship, then you will automatically become a Greek citizen as well. If you are not a minor, then you do not have this remedy.

Best of luck in your endeavors.