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Side-by-side comparison of Greece and Spain citizenship by descent programs — timeline, cost, generational limit, dual citizenship, language requirement, visa-free travel, EU/Schengen free movement, and filing venue. Which is right for you depends on your ancestry.
Greece
3
advantages
vs
Spain
1
advantages
The comparison
Factor
Typical timeline
Greece
10–24 months
Spain
12–24 months
Greece is typically faster, with processing starting at 10 months vs 12 months for Spain.
Factor
Estimated cost (all-in, low end)
Greece
$3,000+
Spain
$8,000+
Greece tends to be less expensive, starting at $3,000 vs $8,000 for Spain.
Factor
Generational limit
Greece
Up to grandparent
Spain
Up to grandparent
Both countries allow the same generational distance.
Factor
Dual citizenship
Greece
Permitted
Spain
Permitted
Both countries permit (or restrict) dual citizenship equally.
Factor
Language requirement
Greece
None for descent
Spain
A2 Spanish (naturalization only)
Greece has no language requirement for the descent path; Spain requires a2 spanish (naturalization only).
Factor
Legal path
Greece
Ελληνική ιθαγένεια — descent
Spain
Ley de Memoria Democrática · descent
Each country has its own legal framework. Greece: Ελληνική ιθαγένεια — descent. Spain: Ley de Memoria Democrática · descent.
Factor
Filing venue
Greece
Consular or administrative
Spain
Consular or administrative
Both countries offer standard consular or administrative filing.
Factor
Visa-free travel (passport power)
Greece
190 destinations
Spain
193 destinations
A Spain passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations, vs 190 for Greece — a difference of 3 destinations.
Factor
EU/Schengen free movement
Greece
Yes — EU citizen + Schengen
Spain
Yes — EU citizen + Schengen
Both countries are EU member states — citizens of either can freely live, work, study, and travel across all 27 EU countries plus the Schengen Area.
EU & Schengen free movement benefit
Greece
Spain
An EU passport is one of the most valuable travel documents in the world. Citizens of EU member states enjoy the right to freely move, reside, work, study, and retire in any of the 27 EU member states, plus the 29-country Schengen Area for visa-free travel. This is the single most powerful benefit of reclaiming an EU citizenship by descent — and a key reason EU CBD programs (Italy, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and 21 others) are so popular with the global diaspora.
Live and work in any of 27 EU member states without a visa or work permit (Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union).
Travel visa-free across the 29-country Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland).
Access to EU healthcare, education, and social security systems on the same terms as nationals of the host country.
Set up a business, buy property, or open bank accounts in any EU country without restriction.
Bring non-EU family members to live with you in the EU under the EU Family Reunification Directive.
Retire in any EU country with full pension portability under EU coordination rules.
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 170+ destinations worldwide (Henley Passport Index 2025).
Consular protection from any EU embassy worldwide when your home country has no diplomatic presence.
The Schengen Area: 29 countries, zero borders
The Schengen Area is a zone of 29 European countries that have abolished all passport and border control at their mutual borders. An EU citizen can travel from Lisbon to Tallinn — through Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — without ever showing a passport. This is on top of the right to live, work, and settle in any of the 27 EU member states. No other citizenship bloc in the world offers this level of freedom.
The verdict
Overall, Greece is the stronger choice for most applicants — faster, more affordable, or more accessible than Spain. However, the right choice depends on your specific ancestry. Book a consultation to confirm which path applies to your case.
Deep dives
Ελληνική ιθαγένεια
Greek citizenship by descent is transmitted through Greek parents, with the 2015 amendment enabling registration of children born abroad. We file through the Greek consulate (with the relevant municipality in Greece) and recover records from the General State Archives in Athens.
Ley de Memoria Democrática · descent
The 2022 Ley de Memoria Democrática opened Spanish citizenship to descendants of exiles from the Civil War and Franco era. We handle both the historical-exile path and standard grandparent descent.