Originally Posted by
ipatrox
Perhaps there is some confusion to clear up.
I was born in Greece to a known (family name) Greek birth mother. My father's background is not known. My American-born adoptive parents are Greek Orthodox. My lawyer says that my adoptive parents need to become Greek citizens for me to obtain a legal Greek birth certificate. I have been baptized Greek Orthodox in America.
Greek Nationality Law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acquisition of Greek Nationality by Birth
The child of a Greek citizen acquires the Greek nationality as from the time of his/her birth, the birth place is irrelavent.
The child born on Greek territory acquires the Greek nationality as from the time of their birth, provided that they do not acquire by birth a foreign nationality or that it is of unknown nationality.
Acquisition of Greek Nationality by Recognition of a Child
An alien born out of wedlock is automatically Greek if the mother is Greek. If the father is Greek and paternity can be proven,the child will become Greek when an application is submited for the child to become a Greek citizen, providing the child has not yet reached his/her 18th birthday, then he/she must make a request themselves to become Greek.
Acquisition of Greek Nationality by Naturalisation
An alien who has attained the 18th year of age may become Greek by naturalisation.
The following prerequisites are required for naturalisation: A declaration of the alien made before the mayor or the chairman of the village council where he/she is domiciled or resides, wherein it is stated that he/she wishes to be naturalised. The declaration is submitted in the presence of two Greek citizens serving as witnesses, For the alien ethnic Greek living abroad this declaration may be submitted before the Greek consul of his/her domicile, who will then transmit it to the Ministry of the Interior together with a relevant report.
If the alien is not an ethnic Greek, a total of ten years of residence in Greece within the last twelve years before the submission of the application for naturalisation or five years of residence in Greece after the declaration concerning naturalisation. An application for naturalisation submitted to the Ministry of the Interior.
The children of the alien who is naturalised become Greeks if, at the time of completion of the naturalisation proceedings, they are not married and they have not attained the 18th year of age.