Citizenship Law of Greece (1984) (excerpts related to citizenship) (English)
Code of Greek Nationality
Chapter A
ACQUISITION OF GREEK NATIONALITY
Article 1.Acquisition of Greek Nationality by Birth
1. The child of a Greek acquires the Greek nationality as from the time of his/her birth.
2. The person born on Greek territory acquires the Greek nationality as from the time of his/her birth, provided that he/she does not acquire by birth a foreign nationality or that he/she is of unknown nationality.
Article 2.Acquisition of Greek Nationality byLegitimation
An alien born out of wedlock and duly legitimated as the child of a Greek, so as to be fully assimilated to a legitimate child of his/her parents, becomes Greek as from the date oflegitimation, if at that time he/she has not attained the 18th year of age.
Article 4.Effect of Marriage on Nationality
Marriage does not entail the acquisition or loss of Greek nationality.
Article 5.Recognition of Nationality of Ethnic Greeks abroad
Ethnic Greeks who are stateless or of unknown nationality, domiciled abroad and who really behave as Greeks may, provided they have attained their 18th year of age, berecognisedas Greek nationals, if they submit an application to that effect to the Greek consular authority of their domicile, who will then transmit it to the Ministry of the Interior, together with a report on its contents, if the Minister of the Interior accepts the application and if; subsequently, they take the oath of the Greek citizen specified by art. 9 s 2 before the consular authority or before a prefect prescribed for each individual case by the Minister of the Interior. The same provisions apply to the wives of the above persons, even if they are not ethnic Greeks.The results of the recognition begin as from the moment of the taking of the oath.The unmarried children of therecognisednational who have not attained the age of 18 years on the date of the taking of the oath become Greeks as from that dare.
Article 6.Acquisition of Greek Nationality byNaturatisation
An alien who has attained the 18th year of age may become Greek bynaturalisation.The following prerequisites are required fornaturalisation: a) 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 benaturalised. The declaration is submitted in the presence of two Greek citizens serving as witnesses,Forthe 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. 6) 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 fornaturalisationor five years of residence in Greece after the declaration concerningnaturalisation, In the above required period for each case the time spent in Greece by the alien as a diplomatic agent or administrative officer of a foreign country cannot be reckoned, These conditions are not required for the person who has been born and lives in Greece. c) An application fornaturalisationsubmitted to the Ministry of the Interior.Thenaturalisationtakes place following a decision of the Minister of the Interior after an investigation on the character and generally the personality of the alien. The marriage to a Greek is evaluated and in the case of spouses of Greek diplomatic agents who serve abroad the time spent abroad due to the service of their Greek spouses is reckoned for the completion of time as provided in the preceding paragraph, after a proposal of the competent Greek ambassador relating to their feeling like Greeks. The decision rejecting an application fornaturalisationneeds not to be reasoned.An alien whose deportation has been ordered, or who has been sentenced by a Greek court to imprisonment Longer than one year or for crimes of high treason, against public morals, theft, fraud, embezzlement, forgery, false certification, counterfeiting, coining false money, slander, smuggling or violations in the degree of felony ormisdemeanourof the laws on establishment and movement of aliens in Greece, on the protection of national currency and on narcotics, cannot henaturalised.The decision of the Minister of the Interior concerning thenaturalisationof an alien cannot be revoked during the annual period of time provided by art. 9 S 1 of the L.D. 3370/1955 "on the Code of Greek Nationality" unless a fraudulent act or omission on the part of the alien concerned led to its issuance,A newnaturalisationapplication is allowed only after the lapse of one year after the retention of the previous application.
Article 8.(This article has been repealed by the provision of art. 23 S 2 c of L. 213O/l993).
Article 9.
Naturalisationis completed by the taking of the oath of the Greek citizen by thenaturalisedperson within a year from the publication of thenaturalisationdecision in the Official Gazette.The oath is as follows: "I swear to pledge allegiance to my country, to show obedience to the Constitution and the Laws and to conscientiouslyfulfilmy duties as a Greek citizen.The oath is taken before the Prefect. Exceptionally the Minister of the Interior may authorize for the swearing the consular authority of the place of residence of thenaturalisedperson, specifically for each individual case.A protocol concerning the taking of the oath is drawn arid is signed by both thenaturalisedperson and the Authority of S 3.
Article 10.Acquisition of the Greek Nationality by the Children of the PersonNaturalised
The children of the alien who isnaturalisedbecome Greeks if, at the time of completion of thenaturalisationproceedings, they are not married and they have not attained the 18th year of age.The children that become Greeks according to the provision of the preceding paragraph may drop the Greek nationality if: a) they are of foreign ethnicity, 6) they retain the nationality they had at the time ofnaturalisationof their parent, and C) declare to the mayor or the chairman of the village council or the Greek consular authority of their place of domicile or residence their wish towards abandoning of the Greek nationality, within a year from the date they completed their 18th year of age. A copy of the declaration is immediately submitted to the Ministry of the Interior by the above authorities.
Article 12.Acquisition by Joining the Armed Forces
Ethnic Greeks, accepted to the military schools for officers or non- commissioned officers of the armed forces according to the special law governing each school, or enlisted in the armed forces as volunteers according to the law governing each branch, acquire the Greek nationality without any other formality as from the time they enter the schools or they are enlisted.
Article 13.
Ethnic Greeks enlisted as volunteers at times of generalmobilisationor war according to the law "on recruiting of the armed forces"may, if they wish, acquire the Greek nationality by their petition to the prefect, without any other formality.If the above persons receive the rank of a regular or reserve officer they ipsojureacquire the Greek nationality without any other formality.The military oath taken by the persons described in this article as well as in art. 12, replaces the oath of the Greek citizen.
Chapter B
LOSS OF NATIONALITY
Article 14.Loss Due to Acquisition of a Foreign Nationality
The person, who, aftera permission, a) has acquired voluntarily a foreign nationality or, b) has accepted a position in the public service of a foreign state, provided such acceptance entails the acquisition of the nationality of that state, loses the Greek nationality. The permission may be granted for extraordinary reasons after the acquisition of the foreign nationality, in which case the loss of the Greek nationality occurs as from the time the permission was granted.The person who has a foreign nationality may also lose the Greek one, if his/her application for loss of the Greek nationality is granted. In such a case the loss of the Greek nationality occurs as from the time of the granting of the application.The permission of s1 is given and the granting of the application of S 2 takes place by a decision of the Minister of the Interior following consultation of the Nationality Council. The permission can never be given or the application granted if the applicant is subject to or delays a military obligation or is prosecuted for a felony ormisdemeanour.
Article 19.[abrogatedby L. No. 2623 of 24.06.98]
Article 20.Loss Due to Deprivation
A person who a) by violation of art. 14 has intentionally acquired a foreign nationality, b) has accepted a public service office of a foreign state and, ignoring an order to cease holding that office within a given time issued by the Ministry of the Interior addressed to him/her, continues to hold it, c) while living abroad has performed acts beneficial for a foreign state but incompatible with the quality of a Greek citizen and contrary to the interests of Greece, may be deprived of the Greek nationality.The above deprivation is pronounced by a decision of the Minister of the Interior following a concurring opinion of the Nationality Council, and the loss of the Greek nationality occurs from the time the above decision is published in the Official Gazette.The deprivation of the Greek nationality according to the present article occurs individually and does not influence the nationality of the spouse or the children, minor or adult, of the person deprived of the nationality.4. The deprivation of the Greek nationality according to the previous paragraph is pronounced for acts performed at any time in the past and even before the commencement of the Code of Greek Nationality.
Chapter D
COMPETENCE ON MATTERS OF NATIONALITY AND PROOF OF THE GREEK NATIONALITY
Article 24.All matters concerning nationality are within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior.
Article 25.Certificates of Greek Nationality
The mayor and the chairman of the village council issue certificates of Greek nationality of the members of the community according to their general municipal rolls. The certificate contains the legal grounds for the acquisition of nationality.Until the setting up of the general municipal rolls of the members of the community the nationality certificate of males may be issued on the basis of their special register.The above certificate proves the Greek nationality unless there is evidence to the contrary.
Article 26.Jurisdiction on Nationality Disputes
The Minister of the Interior is solely competent to decide on any nationality dispute.The Minister decides about each specific case stating the reasons following a concurring opinion of the Nationality Council. The summary of the decision is published in the Official Gazette and is duly notified through the administration to the applicant.Within three months from the date of publication any interested party may request the annulment of the decision by the Council of State.
Article 26-bis
Where the term "alien" is used by the present legislation on Greek nationality, alien is deemed to be the stateless person as well if nothing else is implied.
Chapter E
TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL CLAUSES
Article 27.Nationality in Case of Adoption
An alien adopted to be the child of a Greek citizen before the completion of the 18th year of age becomes Greek as from the time of the adoption.A Greek adopted to he the child of an alien before the completion of the 18th year of age may, after the application of the adoptive parent, if he/she acquires his/her nationality, lose the Greek nationality by a decision of the Minister of the Interior, who will appreciate the special circumstances, following a concurring opinion of the Nationality Council. The application cannot be accepted if the adopted person is subject to or is delaying the military service or is prosecuted for a felony ormisdemeanour.
Article 28.Force of Provisions of International Treaties
The provisions of international treaties concerning nationality are not affected by the present law.
Article 29.Resumption of Greek Nationality by Ethnic Greeks
An ethnic Greek born inGreecewho, being a Greek national by birth, has lost the Greek nationality according to art. 23 of the Civil Law of 1856 for having intentionally acquired a foreign nationality, and has lost that nationality as well leaving that country.assumesthe Greek nationality ipsojureupon completion of a two years residence inGreece.
Article 31.Repealed Laws
a) Arts. 14-28 of the Greek Civil Law of 29.10/15.11 1856, b) Laws of 16/24.1.l858, 31.12.1883/24.1.1884, 18.2/20.2.1901, 26/27.7.1911, 120 of 31.12.1913/2.1.1914 and 5626 of 31/31.8.1932, c) Art.2 of the L.D. of 10/11.9.1925 "on the modification of the provisions concerning thenaturalisationof aliens", ratified by art.2 of the L.D. of 15/l9 October 1927, ratified by L. 3442 of 22/28 December 1927, d) Art. 1 of the L.D. of 5/28 May 1926 "on thenaturalisationof ethnic Greeks living in Greece etc. "ratified by L.D. of l5/29.10.1927, e) The L.D. of 13/15.9.1926 "on the amendment of certain provisions of the Civil Law" and the D. of 12/13.8.1927 ratifying and amending it, f) Art.3 of the N.L. of 2/2.11.1935 "on the taking of the oath of public servants and the oath of the Greek citizen", g) Arts.1-6 and 10 of N.L. 2280 of 2/6.4.1940, h) Art.2 of L. 468 of 10/13.8.1943,i) Arts.1 and 2 of L. 580 of7/10.9.1943, j) Art.2 of N.L. 3880 of 22.1.1942 "on rights rendered to Ministers of Army, Navy and Air Force" issued inLondonand republished in issue 137 of 2.6.1945 of the Official Gazette, k) L.D. 315 of 19/19.4.1947 "on the recognition of Greek citizens" and l) any other provision contrary to this law.
Article 32.
Sections 2, 3 and 4 of art.8 of L. 4310 of 6/16.8.1929 "on establishment and movement of aliens in Greece, police control of passports, deportations and displacements" are repealed as from the time of their commencement and they are deemed as having never existed, since they provide that the ethnic Greeks concerned are considered Greek citizens. Individual acts of the Ministry of the Interior, however, issued till the publication of this law, which considered persons falling under the repealed provisions as Greek citizens, retain their force.
Article 32-bis.
Persons registered as Greek citizens in the registers of the consular authorities in Turkey and in the United Arab Republic until the end of 1947 andrecognisedas such by the local authorities, who donor fall within the provisions of L. 1524/1918 "on the recognition as Greek citizens of the persons registered in the registers of the consular authorities in Turkey and Egypt andrecognisedas such by the local authorities", as well as their descendants, arerecognisedas Greek citizens irrespective of their registration or non-registration in the registers of males and in the municipal rolls.
Article 33
Laws Kept in ForceThefollowing are kept in force: a) SSof art. 6 and S 3 of art, 27 of the L.D. 1298 of29/3 1.10.1949 "on the Royal Family", b) The edict No AZ' of the D'RevisionalParliamentary Assembly of 4/9.12.1947 "on the deprivation of Greek citizenship of persons acting abroad against the nation" as it was complemented, c) Art, 1 of L. 5356/1932 "on amendments of certain articles of L. 4511/1930 on the creation of a naval school", d) Art, 50 S 2 of the codified law 1242a/1919 "on secondary education", art.8 of the codified law 1242a/1919 "on elementary education", art.2 S 3 of the L.D. of 20/22.8.1935 "on the amendment and completion of the existing provisions on the appointment and transfer ... of educators" and S E of art.6 of N.L. 692 of 19E24,5,1937"on the mode of appointment of educators of elementary education and the amendment of certain provisions of laws on education" as it was replaced by S 4 of N.L. 2029 of 12/19.10.1939, e) L. 1524/1918 "on the recognition as Greek citizens of persons registered in the registers of the consular authorities in Turkey and Egypt andrecognisedas such by the local authorities".
Article 34 1.
Art. 4 of L. 517 of 3O.1.1948 "on the nationality of the inhabitants of theDodecaneseor of people originating from it", as it was amended and complemented by t. 1885/1951, is kept in force. 2. The deadline for the submission ofnaturalisationapplications by the persons entitled according to art.4 S 1 of L. 517, extended by art.2 S 1 of L. 1885 and the single art.ofL.D. 2491/1953 is extended till the end of the year 1958. 3'Naturalisationsperformed by the Greek consular authorities following applications submitted to them after the time-limit extended by L.D. 2491/1953 arelegalised.
Article 35Issuance of Regulatory Decrees
Royal decrees will define: a)Thedata that must be submitted by the person applying fornaturalisation, the investigation and generally the matters of enforcement of arts. 6-11 of this law, b) Matters concerning proof of the facts constituting grounds of deprivation according to art. 20 and the relevant procedure, c) Any detail necessary for the enforcement of this law,Until the issuance of the said decrees the preexisting decrees concerning the enforcement of preexisting corresponding provisions are applicable, provided their content is not contrary to the provisions of this law.
Law 1438/1984.Amendment of Provisions of the Code of Greek Nationality and of the Law on Certificates of Registration.
Part One
PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF GREEK NATIONALITY
Acquisition of Greek Nationality by Birth
Art. 1.(Replaces alt.I L.D. 3370/E955).Acquisition of Creek Nationality byLegitimation
Art. 2. (Replaces arts. 3 and 3 L.D. 3370/1955). Acquisition of Greek Nationality byNaturalisation
Art, 3.(Replaces arts. 6 and 7 L.D. 3370/1955).
Art. 4.(Replaces S 2 art. 9 L.D. 3370/1955). Acquisition of Greek Nationality by the Children of theNaturalisedPerson
Art. 5.(Replaces arts. 10 and 11-bis L.D. 3370/1955).Effect of Marriage on Nationality.
Art. 6.(Replaccsarts. 4.15, 16 and 22 L.D. 3370/E955). Transitional Provisions of L. 1438/1984
Article 7
An alien woman who has acquired the Greek nationality by her marriage to a Greek national and who maintains the nationality that she had before the celebration of the marriage, may drop the Greek nationalityifshedeclares her relevant intention until December 31, 1986 to the Minister of the Interior or to the prefect or to the Greek consular authority of her place of domicile or residence.A Greek woman who has lost her Greek nationality because of her marriage to an alien resumes that nationality if she declares her relevant intention until December31, 1986 to the Minister of the Interior or the prefect or the Greek consular authority of her place of domicile or residence. 3. The recognition of marriages as existing according to S I art. 7 of L. 1250/1982doesnot result to the acquisition of the Greek nationality bythcalien wife of a Greek or to the loss of the Greek nationality by the Greek wife of an alien.
Article 8
A child born before the commencement of this law to a mother being Greek at the time of birth or the celebration of the marriage that produced the child becomes Greek if he/she declares his/her relevant intention until December 31, 1986 to the Minister of the Interior or to the prefect or to the Greek consular authority of the place of his/her domicile or residence, 2. If the child has not attained the 18th year of age the declaration of the previous paragraph is made by the mother. The child, within a year after its coming of age, may lose the Greek nationality by adeclaration to one of the authorities mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Article 9
Children born to a Greek father and an alien mother before the commencement of t. 1250/1982 and provided they are considered legitimate according to the provision of art. 7 S 3 of the above law, may become Greek citizens if they declare intention to that effect to the Minister of the Interior or to the prefect or to the Greek consular authority of their place of domicile or residence,If the children have not attained the 18th year of age the declaration is made by the father. These children within one year from their coming into age may drop the Greek nationality by a declaration to one of the authorities mentioned in the previous paragraph.Thelegitimationof children born in a marriage of a Greek, as it is provided by art. 7 of L. 1250/1982, does not entail any change of the nationality of these children.At the end of S I of art. 7 of L. 1250/1982 the following words are added: "or if an irrevocable judgment of a Greek courtrecognisingthat the marriage is non-existent has been issued".At the end of S 3 of art. 7 oft. 1250/1982 the following words are added "but no succession rights are created in the case that these children are born in a marriage which is considered as non-existent according to this article".
Article 10
Wherein this Code of Greek Nationality the 20th or the 21st year of age is mentioned it is replaced from now on by the 18th year. Repealed Provisions
Article 11
Articles 11,17,18,21,23and 30 of the Code of Greek Nationality are repealed.Paragraph 7 of art. 4 L. 1250/1982 is repealed.
Law 183211989.Revision and Completion of the Laws on Local Government,Decentralisationand Other Provisions.Complementation of the Laws on Greek Nationality
Article 40
(Replaces the provision of art. 7 S 3 oft. 1438/1984).The alien wife of a Greek citizen whose marriage is valid according to the provisions of art. 7 S 1 oft. 1250/19a2, provided she has been registered in the municipal rolls of a town or a village after the commencement of L. 1250/1982 and until the commencement oft. 1438/1984, is considered as having acquired the Greek nationality as from the date of the above registration. She may, however, within a time limit of three years from the commencement of this law, refuse the acquisition of the Greek nationality by an irrevocable declaration to the competent mayor of chairman of the village council. In such a case she is considered as never having acquired the Greek nationality and her registration in the municipal rolls is erased. The above declaration's unacceptable if the woman by her refusal of the Greek nationality becomes stateless.Children born in a marriage to a Greek male citizen which (marriage) isrecognisedas valid according to S 1art.ofL. 1250/1982, provided they have been registered in the registers of males or the municipal rolls of a town or village until the commencement of L. 1438/1984, are considered as having acquired the Greek nationality as from the date of the said registration. However they may, within a time limit of three years from the commencement of this law, refuse the acquisition of the Greek nationality by an irrevocable declaration to the competent mayor or chairman of the village council. If the children are minors the declaration is made by the Greek father. In such a case they are considered as never having acquired the Greek nationality and their registration in the registers of males or the municipal rolls is erased. The above declaration is unacceptable if the child, by the refusal of the Greek nationality, becomes stateless.
Law 2130/1993.Amendment and Completion of Provisions on Regional Government of the Code of Greek Nationality, of the Town and Village Code, of the Provisions on the Income of the Local GovernmentOrganisationsand Other Provisions.Chapter B CIVIL STATUS
Article 4.Acquisition of Greek Nationality byNaturalisation
(Replaces the provision of art. 6 S 2 of L.D. 3370/1955 as replaced by art. 3 L. 1438/1984).(Adds S 6 to art. 6 of L.D. 3370 as replaced by art. 3 oft. 1438/1984).Pending applications-declarations fornaturalisationflied with the Ministry of the Interior till the publication of this law and in conformity with the formal requirements of the law (eight-year period, three-year period) are examined on the basis of the previously applicable provisions.
Article 5.Deadline for Dispatching of Nationality Cases
The time limits of art. 5 oft- 2943/199 (Official Gazette Issue 50 A') are not applicable in cases concerning the acquisition-recognition, loss, resumption of the Greek nationality and change of municipality.
Article 6.Documents Necessary for the Registration of Repatriating Creeks Originating from the Black Sea in the Registers of Males, Municipal Rolls and Register Offices
The registration of repatriating Greeks originating from theBlack Seain the registers of males, municipal rolls and register offices on the basis of the information shown in their passports is allowed, by deviation from any other general or special provision providing for the submission of certain documents, when the above persons are unable to furnish such documents. Data and facts which do not appear in the passport may be established before the competent authorities through a formal declaration of art.8 L. 1599/1986 (Official Gazette Issue 75 A'), with the exception of the dare of birth, for the establishment of which the provisions oft.2119/1993 (Official Gazette Issue 23 A') are still applicable.
Article 7.Registration of Repatriating Ethnic Creeks in the Municipal Rolls
After art.18 of the Town and Village Code P.D. 323/1989 (Official Gazette Issue 146 A') the following art.18a is added;
Article 18a
Repatriating ethnic Greeks who are found to have the Greek nationality become members of the municipality of the town or the village where they intend to settle. The ascertaining of their Greek nationality is effected by a decision of the competent prefect, issued after an application of the person interested, in which the facts are stated and the documents that support it are attached. By the same decision their registration in the appropriate municipal rolls is ordered. 2.By the application for registration in the municipal rolls the person concerned may request thehellenisationoff his/her first and last name, if these had been changed in the country from which the person originates. In such a case, provided that the prefect agrees with the person concerned about the rendering in the Greek language of his/her first and last name, by his decision (the prefect) orders the registration in the municipal rolls by thehellenisedname. If the person concerned is married, an application of both spouses is required and the translation of the first and last name of both spouses as well as those of their minor children who are to be registered in the same section takes place under the same conditions as above. If the children are adults they must give also their consent.The provisions of the previous paragraph are proportionately applicable in the case of repatriating ethnic Greeks who have already been registered in the municipal roll, as tong as they submit the relevant application. In the case the prefect by his decision orders the correction of the relevant data in the municipal roll,Repatriating ethnic Greeks who have become members of the community in a town or village may apply for their official transfer to another town or village of their preference, where a special program for repatriating inhabitants is in progress, according to the provisions of S 8 of art, 18, without the condition of the two year residence provided by the said provision. This opportunity is offered only once.
Article 8.Change of First and Last Name
The following S 2 is added to art. 90 of the R.D. of 5/8.10.1949 (Official Gazette Issue 246 A') as replaced by the single article of L.D. 2573/1953 (Official Gazette Issue 241 A'):In relation to a) Greeks living abroad, b) alien ethnic Greeks acquiring the Greek nationality and C) repatriating ethnic Greeks who have the Greek nationality, the prefect as regards thehellenisationof their names, may, according to the procedure of the preceding paragraph, approve the change of both the first and the last nameBy a Presidential Decree, issued after a reasoned decision of the Council of Ministers, and without fulfilling the conditions of §S 2, 3 and 5 of art, 6 of the Code of Greek Nationality as amended by the provisions of art. 3.ofL. 1438(1984, an alien who has offered exceptional services toGreeceor whosenaturalisationmay serve a special interest ofGreecemay benaturalised.Concerning aliens of foreign ethnicity the change of their last and first name has to be approved by the Minister of the Interior together with the decision on theirnaturalisationafter their application. After thenaturalisationthe matter of the change of the first and last name are decided by the competent prefect.The provisions of the previous paragraph concerning the first name are applicable in the case of children who acquire the Greek nationality by the act of adoption.
Article 23.Repealed Provisions
The provisions of arts. 11 and 12 oft. 2280/1940 (Official Gazette Issue 177 A') are retrospectively repealed and deemed as never in force. Cases regulated according to the repealed provisions are re-examined after an application of the persons concerned.The following are repealed as from the time this law commences; a)Theprovisions of art. 76 of L. 1892/1990 (Official Gazette Issue 109 A'). b) S 3 of art. 73g of the presidential decree 323/1989 (Official Gazette Issue 125 A'), added to that decree by (27 of art. 1 of L. 1900/1990. c)Theprovisions of art. 8 of L.D. 3370/1955 of the Code of GreekNationatity.
Article 32 (After section (a) a section (1) is added to art. 6(3oft.D. 3370/1955 as it had been replaced by art. 3 L 1438/1984).Ministerial decision No.106841/1983 of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Public Order.Free Repatriation andRestiturionof Greek Nationality to Political Refugees.
Having in mind the provisions of L. 400/1976 "Ministerial Council and Ministries" as amended by L. 1266/1982 and within the framework of the policy of the Government concerning the national reconciliation and unanimity we decide chat: All ethnic Greeks who, during the civil war 1946-1949 and because of it, took refuge abroad as political refugees, may return freely to Greece, even if they have been deprived of the Greek nationality. The return and the time for it will depend on the wishes of the persons that are subject to this arrangement and will beeffectedafter they obtain a travel document from the Greek consular authority of the country where they presently reside. The travel document will be granted after a Form of Personal Data is filled and submitted to the above authority. The F.P.D. will contain the following information: Last and first name, father's name, mother's name (persons born abroad will write the place of birth of their father and mother), place of birth (town or village and prefecture), date of birth, nationality (present),ethnicity. Date of departure from Greece (year, month), countries of residence since the departure, present home address, education, profession or specialty. Foreign languages, the time of anticipated repatriation, wish to acquire the Greek nationality at present or later, wish to keep the foreign nationality as well and any other remarks of the interested person. The process for the restitution of the Greek nationality to those that have been deprived of it and irrespective of the time of their repatriation will be initiated by the same document, according to the existing provisions on the revocation of administrative acts, by the Minister of the Interior. The same regulation includes the spouses and the descendants of the above political refugees, who will acquire the Greek nationality according to the Code of Greek Nationality. Specific instructions to the competent authorities will be issued for thematerialisationof this decision and the regulation of matters that may ensue. This decision is in force as from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.