Legal Requirements for weddings Abroad
GREECE
Documentation;
An original full birth certificate must be provided.
A Consular Registration Certificate
Two separate Certificates of No-Impediment (this can be obtained from the Superintendent Registrar. The document should not be issued more than 3 months before the wedding date). Bare in mind it takes approximately 1 month to issue the certificate.
Decree Absolute (the final divorce paper, if applicable)
Death Certificate (if you are a widow or widower)
Change of Name Deed (required if you have changed your name)
Adoption certificate (if applicable)
The documents above have to be certified (legalised) by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Legalisation Department.
Once the documents have been legalised they have to be translated into Greek. (see fees below)
Documents required for a religious ceremony also have to be translated into Greek, authenticated and the Official Translators signature legalised.
All documents upon translation and legalisation have to be sent forward to either the Registry Office, or the priest four weeks before your wedding day.
Allow enough time to organise your documents especially if they have to be sent by post.
Allow time for your marriage Banns to be posted in your local church or Town Hall prior to your wedding day.
Civil Ceremony
Couples wishing to have a Civil Ceremony can do so in any of the following buildings:
A Registry Office
Town Hall or other Community Office
A hotel
Ceremonies can either be conducted in Greek or English.
The official certificate is issued within 3 days of the wedding.
Wedding planners can send certificates for translation and then forward to their clients at theit home address.
The number of documents required for a civil marriage may vary from one Registry to the next so it is vital that you seek clarification on exactly what documents are needed.
Religious Wedding Ceremony
The priest who performs the marriage ceremony will issue the official certificate and will forward it to the priest in the local parish in the UK, where it can be passed on.
Wedding certificates must be translated from Greek into English, otherwise the marriage will not be legal. Thjsi applies to both religious and civil ceremonies.
NB. Greek Law does not allow a religious marriage between a Christian and a non-Christian
Religious ceremonies can either be Catholic wedding or Orthodox, both of which will be conducted in Greek.
Catholic Wedding Ceremony
Catholic ceremonies can take place if-
a) neither the bride or groom has previously been married,
b) Either the bride or groom is catholic
c) They have both been baptised and have a Baptism Certificate
d) They have contacted their local parish priest and informed him they wish to marry abroad.
The local parish priest must issue the Baptism and Confirmation Certificate, within 3 months of your wedding date.
For more information you should consult with the priest at your local parish to find out what other documentation may be required.
Orthodox Wedding Ceremony
a) Either the bride or groom is orthodox
b) They have both been baptised and have a Baptism Certificate signed and stamped by your local parish priest.
The Greek Orthodox Church must issue a certificate giving you freedom and consent to marry (otherwise known as the letter of ‘Celibacy’).
They must contact their local Orthodox priest and informed him they wish to marry abroad.
For more information you should consult with the Orthodox priest at your local parish, to find out whether you require any more documentation.
Fees Required: Translation of documents £19 (variable)
Marriage License TBA: Special License TBA: Certified copy of marriage certificate TBA
Blood Test: None
Residency Requirements and Marriage Licenses:
Minimum residency is eight days. This is to allow the local authorities time to receive and process applications. On completion of the necessary paperwork the bride and groom will be able to pick up their Marriage License, ready for the wedding ceremony. Passports are required, when picking up Marriage License
Legality: For the marriage to be legal in the UK, the couple must declare their marriage at the local Registry Office in Greece within 40 days of marrying, so that a Marriage Certificate can be issued. Once the Marriage Certificate is obtained it has to be translated into English at the British Embassy in Athens, where a request can be made for the certificate to be forwarded by the British Consular to the General Register Office in the UK where it can be deposited.
It is essential that bride and groom check that all the necessary certificates and documents are obtained.
Flowers: Fresh flowers cannot be flown in from abroad due to customs regulations. Silk or artificial flowers are permitted.
Foreign Pesters, Priests, Vicars, JP's: Only officials registered in the Cyprus can perform the ceremony.
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