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Hiring us means that you can count on full assistance with paperwork from day one, meaning you don’t have to worry about getting the correct, up- to- date information or costs.

Obtaining all necessary documentation for your marriage in Greece is one of the most important steps in your wedding planning process.

Just because legal requirements differ depending on where you are from, we are here to advise you on what kind of papers you actually need in order to get married in Santorini.  This is a point of utmost importance about which you definitely need to consult us.

• Please contact us for queries information.
  
  

General Legal Requirements for Civil Weddings in Greece

The following is a list of the documents that you will need in order to have a civil wedding in Greece.

• Bride’s and Groom’s Passport (10 years valid Passport. Copies of name and photo are necessary until you arrive with the original copies)
• Full Birth Certificate
• Certificate of No Impediment (It may take up to 1 month to obtain and must not be issued more that 3 months before the wedding)
• Divorce Decree Absolute (original or notarized copy)
• Death Certificate (for Widowed)
• Adoption Certificate (if any)
• Any documents on change of name or surname

All of the above documents have to be translated in Greek at the Greek Embassy or Consulate and sent to our office four weeks before the wedding day. If the documents are not translated they have to be sent eight (8) weeks before the ceremony and there will be an extra cost for the official translation. Full Birth Certificate and Certificate of No Impediment must have Apostille Stamp

APOSTILLE STAMP: Apostille is a special seal which is applied by legal authorities in order to certify that a document is a true and valid copy of the original. Apostille is being applied in countries signatories of the Hague Convention, which was created in 1961, and which serves to shorten and replace the exhausting and time-consuming process of obtaining certification.

You can check HERE if your country has signed Hague convention, which means that all your documents must have Apostille stamp.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Paperwork does vary from nationality to nationality. Please contact us to clarify your legal requirements.

Legal papers for Orthodox weddings in Greece

• PASSPORT COPY OF BRIDE AND GROOM.
• 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 THE AREA OF RESIDENCE.
• CERTIFICATE OF NO IMPEDIMENT TO MARRIAGE FROM THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE PERSON IS REGISTERED.
• This document confirms that you have not been married and that you are free to be married. This document can be issued at your local Registrar’s office and it must not be issued more than three months prior to your wedding in Greece. (Please see an example below of the document).
• IF ONE OF THE TWO PEOPLE, WHO INTEND TO GET MARRIED, IS OF ANOTHER 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).
  In the case that one or both sides have been divorced, you are obligated to obtain those Certificates.
• OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ABOUT CHANGING THE NAME IF ANY.
• APOSTILLE STAMPS
  This stamp refers to the legalization and validity of your documents for international use. (1961 Hague Convention Abolished the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents).
• It is necessary to provide the Apostille Stamp for Birth Certificates and Certificates of no Impediment to marry, issued by the Municipality where the person is registered.
• All documents must be translated and certified at the Greek Embassy/ Consulate in your country where translation services are available.
• At least four weeks before your departure from your country, confirm that all the papers are in order.
• After this, you will need to bring the originals with you. You will have to stay in Greece, at least 1 (one) working 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.

Please contact us to clarify your legal requirements.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…. 

TRANSLATIONS OF THE DOCUMENTS

Greek Translations are accepted only if they have been done by the Greek Embassy or Consulate of your area or via our agency.

WITNESSES AT CEREMONY

Two witnesses are required for all types of weddings. If the groom and bride travel on their own, our Wedding Coordinators will be glad to act as witnesses.

LANGUAGE OF THE CEREMONY

Civil ceremony is conducted in Greek or English, Catholic Church Ceremony is conducted in Greek or French and Orthodox Church Ceremony is conducted in Greek. We are happy to provide interpretation services if required at an extra cost.

DAY/TIME OF THE CEREMONY

Discuss with our Wedding Coordinator about your preferences and the different options.

CIVIL MARRIAGE VALIDITY

To validate the marriage, the couple must declare the wedding at the registry office of Thira Community within 4 days of the wedding day.

OFFICIAL WEDDING CERTIFICATE

The official certificate is issued within 30 working days after the wedding and forwarded to the married couple’s home address by the Wedding coordinator.

NO NEED TO PANIC! LET’S RECAP! No headaches with the paperwork!

Remember:
You can count on our full support with all the legal work! We’ll be in touch with you constantly either on the phone or by e-mails giving you precise directions.

Gather all the necessary documentation and send it to us by courier, mail or if time is running out, by fax or email. Your documents should be in our hands at least 3 weeks prior to your wedding date. If you send documents by fax or email, do not forget to bring the originals with you.