Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson granted Greek citizenship for wildfire relief work

Pair frequently spend summers on the Greek island of Antiparos in the Cyclades

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitstotakis, second left, his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki, left, pose next to Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson holding up their new Greek passports, in the island of Antiparos, Greece on Saturday 25 July 2020. (Greek Prime Minister's Office via AP)

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are now Greek citizens.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the announcement on Sunday by sharing a photo of the couple holding up their new passports, with the caption: “@ritawilson @tomhanks are now proud Greek citizens!”

Greece offered citizenship to the pair and their two children in recognition of the family’s help in raising funds for the victims of a deadly wildfire near Athens in 2018.

Hanks and Wilson often visit the Greek island of Antiparos in the Cyclades during the summer.

Wilson has Greek and Bulgarian ancestry.

Back in January, Hanks announced on social media he was “starting 2020 as an honorary citizen of all of Greece”.

Greece offers honorary naturalisation to people who are seen as having provided exceptional services, or whose naturalisation is in the public’s interest.

Hanks and Wilson both tested positive for Covid-19 in March this year, as much of the US entered lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

They have since recovered and have urged others to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report