Golgothas the exams for acquiring Greek citizenship

Came to Greece Many years ago, they learned the language, worked, acquired a family, integrated into Greek society, initiated into its culture and eventually felt our country as their second place. They have fought for years and now pursue what will formally do them part of this country and its people: the acquisition of Greek citizenship.

« Symbolically there is nothing more expensive than becoming a citizen of a state. You become his people and you gain the part of the popular sovereignty you are. But beyond the symbolic dimension, there are great practical issues that nationality solves for foreigners in one country. The main thing is that they do not need to deal with their residence, « says Professor of Politics at Panteion University Dimitris Christopoulos.

Golgothas the exams for acquiring Greek citizenship

But, as he himself explains, naturalization in our country remains a labyrinthine and time -consuming administrative process. The result is that « unfortunately in Greece, under the responsibility of the Greek state, there are people who are called upon to settle their stay in the country every now and then, even if it has been for 30 years. »

The acquisition of the coveted Greek citizenship for first generation immigrants presupposes that the applicant has been socially and economically integrated into the country. Social integration is ensured, among other things, through written exams, while the economic is taking into account income criteria. So how easy is it to become a Greek citizen today?

A prerequisite for the completion of the naturalization process is to obtain the certificate of proficiency of knowledge of naturalization, which is ensured by success in written exams twice a year. Candidates must successfully respond to the cognitive fields of the examination of Greek language and history, geography, culture and institutions of the country’s state. Their topics and answers are posted on a special subject bank.

As the Ministry of Interior informs us through the mouth of the General Director of Citizenship, Katerina Ullis, statistics show an increase in the relevant applications: « In 2022, 1,179 were filed, in 2023 we received 2,290, while in 2024 there were 2,933 applications for naturalization (56%), Citizens of Albania, 7.13% from Russia, 6.59% from Ukraine, followed by lesser applications from countries such as Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, agriculture, etc. In total we have applications from about 110 countries. « 

Do not tell me that you know « an important institution of Hellenism in Trebizond in the 19th century », wonders Dimitris Christopoulos, commenting on the degree of difficulty of issues for candidates. He emphasizes that « While, before, the naturalization was done by oral examination, the test was introduced in the name of the objective and impartial process. This is done in many states. The point is what test you put on people. It is another for Germany to ask the name of a German poet and wait for Goethe in response to ask people when he was born and where Goethe lived. Unfortunately, the content of the questions raised in the Greek test moves in the second direction. « 

At the same wavelength is the team of Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity, the non -profit organization of people of different origin that work together to promote equal participation in a multicultural society, through the strengthening of communities. They argue, « many of the questions are details of knowledge objects, rather than important knowledge of the average citizen of Greece. How much reflects the degree of integration of a man into Greek society to know if « the Castle of Monemvasia is of the classical period » or if « all those who are unaware of Mount Athos acquire Greek citizenship as soon as they are hired as monks »? This group also stresses that the questions contained in the subject bank are cut off from « the skills of the candidates, their particular characteristics, their immediate experiences and the particular bonds they have shaped with their new homeland ».

For her part, the Director General of Citizenship emphasizes that « we recognize that there is room for improvement, which is why we are systematically working so that exam issues are scientifically documented, objectively and adapted to the needs of candidates ». She refers to the seven -member Scientific Committee responsible for the establishment and management of the Bank of Themes, the renewal and selection of examination questions, as well as the supervision of the exam procedure, including oral examinations for the specific categories of candidates, which was reconstituted in 2024 after the termination of the previous term.

« It has already reshaped and updated the thematic units by simplifying the content of the examination, without degrading scientific validity and prestige of examinations. In this context, the replacement and verbal recasting of questions have been completed, as well as the update of the whole material.  » On the other hand, for Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity, the nature of the questions does not take into account the individual features of the contestants, as « a man may be 55 years old, live in Greece for the last 30 years and work in some manual labor. This man is not familiar with this way of examination: I read, disintegrate, and be examined in writing.  » Katerina Ulli notes that « the posting bank, which is available for the preparation of the examiners, includes a certain number of questions along with their answers. Thus, a candidate who lives, works and actively participates in Greek society does not find it difficult to meet the requirements of the exams. The success rate of 59.45% in the latest examination process confirms this fact. « 

However, as D. Christopoulos points out, « the government of Greece in the context of a comprehensive anti -immigration narrative it has adopted, has explicitly aimed at reducing naturalization and therefore introduced retroactive income criteria to applicants. That is, you go through the test and then they say « you are cut because your income is not enough ». This is truly unacceptable, and that it was applied for pending applications is unconstitutional. «