Law of Greece

Module 4

Rights, administration and citizenship: constitutional rights, challenging an administrative decision, the Ombudsman and transparency, Greek citizenship and the status of foreigners

The Constitution of 1975 gives a long catalogue of rights: equality, human dignity, personal liberty, religious freedom, free speech and press, assembly and association, privacy and data protection, property with compensation on expropriation, and social rights. Limits on rights must be lawful and proportionate (Article 25). Most people deal with the state through administrative law: an administrative decision can be appealed within the administration and challenged in the administrative courts, with the Council of State annulling unlawful acts. The Ombudsman and transparency rules add protection. Greek citizenship is acquired mainly by descent, and EU citizens and third-country nationals have very different rights. Rules and categories change often, so check the current requirements.

General education on the law of Greece, using invented people and businesses. It states laws and procedures in simplified form and is not legal advice. The law and its practice change, and every case turns on its facts and the authority concerned. It does not offer legal representation or a legal opinion on any case. Consult a Greek lawyer for any real matter.

This course was written on 6 November 2026. To the best of our knowledge, it describes the law of Greece as it stood on that date. Laws change, and we may have missed or misunderstood something. If you notice a change, or have other information, please do not hesitate to contact us: we will review it and update the course. We do not claim to be the final source of the law.