Thousands of Albanian emigrants benefit, Greece’s Supreme Court makes a decision

The Supreme Court of Greece has issued a ruling (from which even non-Greek-citizen Albanians benefit) stating that foreigners applying for Greek citizenship are not required to prove a minimum annual income level in order to obtain citizenship.

In the decision published on May 27, 2026, the court emphasizes that the applicant’s income is only one of the elements that the administration takes into account when assessing their economic and social integration in Greece, but it is not a mandatory or decisive condition.

Therefore, the lack of a high salary or a specific income level (basic salary plus 10% for each family member) cannot automatically lead to the rejection of citizenship.

According to the court, the authorities must assess the applicant’s overall situation, taking into account factors such as stable employment, economic activity, payment of taxes and social security contributions, as well as the connections formed with the country’s economic and social life.

The court argues that Greek legislation does not provide a minimum income threshold as a requirement for obtaining citizenship. For this reason, an application cannot be automatically rejected solely because the applicant does not meet a certain income level, if there is other evidence showing their integration into Greek society.

The ruling is expected to impact the examination of Greek citizenship applications, as it limits the administration’s ability to use income level as an exclusionary criterion for citizenship.

For years, many immigrants faced administrative practice requiring them to prove substantial annual income in order to pass the “economic integration” filter.

Migration experts in Greece consider this an important victory for immigrant rights and a return to the real spirit of social integration, beyond “strict” economic criteria.

For thousands of Albanians who have lived and worked in Greece for decades, this decision is seen as an important step toward fairer treatment in the citizenship process.

“KORÇA BOOM”