Legal papers!

Legal papers for all type of weddings in Greece!

The documents required for a legal Civil Wedding in Greece can vary slightly depending upon the country you will take them from and individual circumstances. If you use our services, we will provide you with up to date information, costs and full assistance with the paperwork. We can even do most of the paperwork for you, for a small fee, to save you queuing at the embassy!
Some islands in Greece require you to be on the island for a certain number of days before your wedding. We can advise you which ones these are and which are more flexible.In general, you will need to send the following documentation over to Greece. It should be sent a minimum of 2 months before your wedding.

Catholic Wedding

 

• BAPTISM CERTIFICATE
  This document should be requested and dated close to your wedding date.
• CONFIRMATION CERTIFICATE This document is the assurance that you are free from any canonical impediment for marriage.
  a) These certificates must be obtained from the parish priest who baptized you, and must be dated within 3 months of your marriage.
  b) If the date of your confirmation is not written in the parish you were baptized, you should ask for it from the parish in which you were confirmed.
  c) Take these certificates to your present parish priest who should make the prenuptial inquiries and catechetical instruction.
• FREEDOM TO MARRY CERTIFICATE
• WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR BISHOP TO HAVE YOUR MARRIAGE PERFORMED OUT OF YOUR PARISH AND HERE IN SANTORINI
  This is according to Canon 1115″ of the Codex Juris Canonici. Please discuss with your pastor.
• CERTIFICATE STATING YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE “PRE-CANA” INSTRUCTION CLASS, RETREAT OR MEETINGS
• DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY (from Civil and Church Authorities)If either party has been divorced, please provide a certified copy of the Decree Absolute.

Please note that all documents must be sent to the Archbishop’s office in Syros Island for review 3 months before your wedding in Santorini.
You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day after your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Certificate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

Greek Orthodox Wedding

 

• PASSPORT COPIES OF BOTH PARTIES
• FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF BRIDE AND GROOM
  Both parties are obliged to provide a full birth certificate. Shorter versions will not be accepted.
• CERTIFICATE OF NO PREVIOUS MARRIAGE, OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF AREA OF RESIDENCE
• CERTIFICATE OF NON-IMPEDIMENT TO MARRIAGE FROM THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE APPLICANT IS REGISTERED
  This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to married.
  The document can be issued in your local Registrar’s office and it must not be issued more than 3 months before your wedding.
• IF ONE OF THE 2 PERSONS WHO INTEND TO GET MARRIED IS OF ANOTHER RELIGIOUS DOGMA
  (Not Christian Orthodox, but still Christian), a Public Notary’s act is required, where it is stated that the children will be baptized Christian Orthodox.
• DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY (from Civil and Church Authorities)If either party has been divorced, please provide a certified copy of the Decree Absolute.
• OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NAME IF ANY
• ADOPTION CERTIFICATES IF ANY
  APOSTILLE STAMP
  This stamp refers the legalization and validity of your documents for international use.(1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents).The Apostille Stamp is necessary for birth certificates and Certificates of Non-Impediment to marry issued by the Municipality where the person is registered.
• All documents must be translated and certified in the Greek Embassy / Consulate in your country.

Please note that all documents must be sent by fax or email for review 4 weeks before your wedding in Santorini. We have to confirm that your paperwork is in order. After that, you just need to bring the originals with you.
You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day after your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Certificate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

Civil wedding in Greece

 

– PASSPORT COPIES OF BOTH PARTIES
– FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF BRIDE AND GROOM
Both parties are obliged to provide a full birth certificate with the names of the parents on them. Shorter versions will not be accepted.
– CERTIFICATE OF NON-IMPEDIMENT TO MARRY FOR BOTH BRIDE AND GROOM
This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to married. The document can be issued in your local Registrar’s office and it must not be issued more than 3 months before your wedding.
– AFFIDAVITS STATING THE BRIDE & GROOM ARE FREE TO MARRY
This is a paper where you declare you are free to marry and that there is no impediment preventing you entering into a valid marriage in Santorini, Greece. The document should be certified in the Notary’s office.
– DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY
If either party has been divorced, please provide a certified copy of the Decree Absolute.
– OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NAME IF ANY
– ADOPTION CERTIFICATES IF ANY
– APOSTILLE STAMP
This stamp refers the legalization and validity of your documents for international use. (1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents). The Apostille Stamp is necessary for birth certificates, Certificates of no Impediment to marry and Free to Marry affidavits.
– For more information how to obtain Apostille stamps in the US, please visit: hp://www.apostilleinfo.com/usa.htm
– All documents must be translated and certified in the Greek Embassy / Consulate in your country. You can send your documents by fax or email our agency for translation service.
– Please note that all documents must be sent by fax or email for review 4 weeks before your wedding in Santorini. We have to confirm that your paperwork is in order. After that, you just need to bring the originals with you.
– You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day after your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Certificate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

External Links: Athens Usa embassy

 

– PASSPORT COPIES OF BOTH PARTIES
– FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF BRIDE AND GROOM
Both parties are obliged to provide a full birth certificate. Shorter versions will not be accepted.
– CERTIFICATE OF NON-IMPEDIMENT TO MARRY FOR BOTH BRIDE AND GROOM
This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to married. The document can be issued in your local Registrar’s office and it must not be issued more than 3 months before your wedding.
–DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY
If either party has been divorced, please provide a certified copy of the Decree Absolute.
– OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NAME IF ANY
– ADOPTION CERTIFICATES IF ANY
– APOSTILLE STAMP
This stamp refers the legalization and validity of your documents for international use. (1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents). The Apostille Stamp is necessary for Birth certificates, Certificates of no Impediment to marry, official documents about changing your name and Adoption certificates.
– For more information how to obtain Apostille stamps in the UK, please visit: hp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/legal-services/Legalisation/
– All documents must be translated and certified in the Greek Embassy / Consulate in your country. You can send your documents by fax or email our agency for translation service.
– Please note that all documents must be sent by fax or email for review 4 weeks before your wedding in Santorini. We have to confirm that your paperwork is in order. After that, you just need to bring the originals with you.
– You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day after your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Certificate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

External Links: British Embassy Athens

 

– PASSPORT COPIES OF BOTH PARTIES
– FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF BRIDE AND GROOM
Both parties are obliged to provide a full birth certificate. Shorter versions will not be accepted.
– CERTIFICATE OF NON-IMPEDIMENT TO MARRY FOR BOTH BRIDE AND GROOM
This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to married. The document can be issued in your local Registrar’s office and it must not be issued more than 3 months before your wedding.
– AFFIDAVITS STATING THE BRIDE & GROOM ARE FREE TO MARRY
This is a paper where you declare you are free to marry and that there is no impediment preventing you entering into a valid marriage in Santorini, Greece. The document should be certified in the Notary’s office.
– DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY
If either party has been divorced, please provide a certified copy of the Decree Absolute.
– OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NAME IF ANY
– ADOPTION CERTIFICATES IF ANY
– All documents must be translated and certified in the Greek Embassy / Consulate in your country.
– Please note that all documents must be sent by fax or email for review 4 weeks before your wedding in Santorini. We have to confirm that your paperwork is in order. After that, you just need to bring the originals with you.
– You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day after your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Certificate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

External Links: Embassy of Canada – Athens

 

– PASSPORT COPIES OF BOTH PARTIES
– FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF BRIDE AND GROOM
Both parties are obliged to provide a full birth certificate. Shorter versions will not be accepted.
– CERTIFICATE OF NON-IMPEDIMENT FOR BOTH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & TRADE
This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to married. The document must not be issued more than 3 months before your wedding.
– For more information how to obtain CNI, please visit: hp://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/marriage.html
– NO RECORDS RESULT FROM THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES FOR BOTH Not older than 3 months from the date of your wedding.
– DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY
If either party has been divorced, please provide a certified copy of the Decree Absolute.
– OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NAME IF ANY
– ADOPTION CERTIFICATES IF ANY
– APOSTILLE STAMP
This stamp refers the legalization and validity of your documents for international use. (1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents). The Apostille Stamp is necessary for Birth certificates, Certificates of no Impediment to marry, Official documents about changing your name and Adoption certificates.
– For more information how to obtain Apostille stamps in Australia, please visit: hp://www.apostilleinfo.com/australia.htm
– All documents must be translated and certified in the Greek Embassy / Consulate in your country. You can send your documents by fax or email our agency for translation service.
– Please note that all documents must be sent by fax or email for review 4 weeks before your wedding in Santorini. We have to confirm that your paperwork is in order. After that, you just need to bring the originals with you.
– You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day after your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Certificate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

External Links: Australian Embassy – Athens

 

– PASSPORT COPIES OF BOTH PARTIES
– FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF BRIDE AND GROOM
Both parties are obliged to provide a full birth certificate. Shorter versions will not be accepted.
– CERTIFICATE OF NON IMPEDIMENT FOR BOTH
This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to married. The document can be issued in your local Registrar’s office and it must not be issued more than 3 months before your wedding.
– DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY
If either party has been divorced, please provide a certified copy of the Decree Absolute.
– OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NAME IF ANY
– ADOPTION CERTIFICATES IF ANY
– All documents must be translated and certified in the Greek Embassy / Consulate in your country.
– Please note that all documents must be sent by fax or email for review 4 weeks before your wedding in Santorini. We have to confirm that your paperwork is in order. After that, you just need to bring the originals with you.
– You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day after your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Certificate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

External Links: China Embassy – Athens

 

– PASSPORT COPIES OF BOTH PARTIES
– FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF BRIDE AND GROOM
Both pares are obliged to provide a full birth cerficate. No shorter versions will be accepted.
– CERTIFICATE OF NON IMPEDIMENT FOR BOTH
This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to married. The document can be issued in your local Registrar’s office and it must not be issued more than 3 months before your wedding.
– DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IF ANY
If either party has been divorced, please provide a cerfied copy of the Decree Absolute.
– OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NAME IF ANY
– ADOPTION CERTIFICATES IF ANY
– APOSTILLE STAMP
This stamp refers the legalizaon and validity of your documents for internaonal use. (1961 Hague Convenon Abolishing the Requirement of Legalizaon for Foreign Public Documents). The Apostille Stamp is necessary for Birth cerficates, Cerficates of no Impediment to marry, Official documents about changing your name and Adopon cerficates.
– All documents must be translated and cerfied at the Greek Embassy / Consulate in your country: Greek Consulate – Hong Kong Two Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Suite 2503, Hong Kong Tel: (00852) 27741682, Fax: 27059796 E-mail:[email protected]
– Please note that all documents must be sent by fax or email for review 4 weeks before your wedding in Santorini. We have to confirm that your paperwork is in order. Aer that, you just need to bring the originals with you.
– You have to stay in Santorini at least 1 day aer your wedding, in order to go to the Town Hall to sign your Marriage Cerficate. It will be sent to you by post from the Town Hall.

 

External Links: Hong Kong – Athens

 

A marriage cannot take place in Greece if:
an existing marriage has not been cancelled
the couple has a blood relation up to the fourth degree of kinship
have an affinity by marriage up to the third degree of kinship
the marriage is between a father and his illegitimate child or its descendents
the marriage is between a parent and his/her adopted child and its descendents, even in the event that the adoption is annulle
the marriage is between a guardian and his/her ward
less than ten months have passed since the solution or cancellation of the previous marriage.

Translation
All legal documents submied for the marriage which are not in Greek must be officially translated into Greek. The term official translation means a translation that has been made and certified by a lawyer, a certified translator or by the Greek Foreign Ministry’s Department of Translation (Μεταφραστική Υπηρεσία / Metafrastiki Ipirresia). For those outside of Greece, the Greek Consulate in their home country can offer official translations. A fee is payable for translation services.

Registration of the Marriage
All marriages in Greece, whether civil or religious, must be registered at the local Registrar’s office/office of Vital Statistics (Lixiarhio) within 40 days following the ceremony. Registration can be done by the bride or groom, or by any individual who is in possession of a power of aorney signed before a Notary Public giving them the authority to register the marriage. Once registered, a Marriage Certificate (lixiarchiki praxi gamou) will be issued within three days and can be picked up or sent via the mail.

Note: Marriages not registered have no legal validity. After 90 days, marriages can only be registered with the District Aorney’s authorisation and the payment of fines.