Obtaining Greek citizenship through adoption is a sensitive and legally complex process, especially for families of the Greek diaspora. When a child is adopted abroad — in the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK or any other country — the adoption does not automatically grant Greek citizenship. For a child to be legally recognized as a Greek citizen through adoption, the adoption must first be legally recognized in Greece and correctly registered with the Greek Registry and the Special Registry of Athens. Under Greek law, an adopted child may obtain Greek citizenship by descent when the adoption has been lawfully completed and the adoptive parent is a Greek citizen. In cases where the adoption took place outside Greece, the foreign court decision must first be recognized in Greece (Recognition of Foreign Court Decisions), and then the adoption must be officially recorded in the Greek civil records.

At E. Chatzidimitriou LLC, we guide families through every step of the legal process, including legal review of the adoption, court recognition of foreign adoption decrees where required, registration with the Special Registry of Athens, Municipal Family Registries, and completion of the citizenship and passport process so the child may be issued a Greek passport and full Greek citizenship status. We also assist in complex adoption-related citizenship matters such as adult adoptions, historical adoptions lacking documentation, adoptions involving name changes, cross-border adoption recognition, and cases where the adoption must first be validated by a Greek court before citizenship can be granted.

Proper legal recognition ensures the adopted child receives full Greek citizenship rights, including the right to live and work in Greece and the European Union, inherit property in Greece, register life-events in Greek registries, and apply for a Greek passport. Because Greek citizenship law is detailed and strict in matters involving adoption, professional legal handling is essential to avoid delays, refusals, or gaps in legal recognition.

If you or your child were adopted abroad and wish to pursue Greek citizenship through adoption, you may submit your details through our consultation form. A qualified attorney at E. Chatzidimitriou LLC will review your case and provide an initial legal assessment at no cost, explaining clearly the eligibility, documentation requirements, and next legal steps.