Sixty Greek adoptees in the United States have regained their Greek citizenship after decades away from their country of birth.
Professor Gonda Van Steen presented the latest figures during a lecture in Thessaloniki on September 29, 2026.
Around 500 Greek-born people adopted by US families between 1950 and 1975 are now seeking to regain their Greek citizenship. Sixty have completed the process, while others are still waiting.
Thousands of Greek Children Were Adopted in the US
Van Steen’s research shows that around 4,000 Greek children went to families in the United States during the Cold War period.
Another 600 children went to families in the Netherlands, while about 50 went to Sweden.
The history of these adoptions has attracted extensive research. It has also prompted many adoptees to search for their birth records, biological families and Greek roots.
The children came from different backgrounds. Some had lost their parents, while others came from families facing poverty or difficult social conditions.
Research has also challenged the idea that all of the children adopted abroad were orphans.
Greece Opened a New Path in 2025
A major change came in April 2025.
The Greek Ministry of Interior issued Decision 21864/22-04-2025. It set out the documents needed to register, correct or add information to the municipal records of Greek citizens who had been adopted by foreign citizens before the relevant 1976 legislation took effect.
The measure gave Greek-born adoptees a clearer administrative route to establish their status in Greece.
The change followed years of research and advocacy by Van Steen and Greek-born adoptees, including Mary Cardaras.
King’s College London has documented Van Steen’s work on the issue and her efforts to help Greek adoptees regain their citizenship.
A Search for Identity That Spans Decades
For many adoptees, the issue goes beyond citizenship.
Some have spent years searching for documents that could reveal where they were born and what happened to their families.
Van Steen has worked with adoptees to bring attention to the history of these international adoptions. Her research has also examined the institutions and systems involved in the process.
The latest figures show that the effort is continuing.
Sixty people have now completed the process of regaining their Greek citizenship. Around 500 others are seeking the same recognition.
For people who left Greece as children decades ago, the process can restore an official connection to the country where they were born.
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