Officiating Greek Weddings: Who Can Legally Do It?

Getting married in Greece involves a lot of paperwork, but it's a popular choice for destination weddings. Civil and religious marriage ceremonies are legally recognised in Greece, and foreigners can choose to marry in either a civil or religious ceremony, or both. The entire process of getting legally married in Greece can take several weeks, so it's a good idea to engage the services of a local wedding planner. Requirements can vary slightly in each region or island, so couples are advised to obtain specific advice from the locality in which they plan to marry. If you want to officiate a wedding in Greece, you'll need to meet certain requirements, including providing specific documentation and publishing a wedding notice in a local Greek language newspaper.

Marriage license requirements

The entire process of getting legally married in Greece can take several weeks, so it's recommended that couples start the application process as early as possible. Requirements can vary slightly in each region or island, so couples are advised to obtain specific advice from the locality in which they plan to marry.

Couples must publish a wedding notice in one of the local Greek-language newspapers at least eight days prior to applying for a marriage license. In small towns where local newspapers are not published, a notice must be posted at the Town Hall or Community Office instead. One notice must be published or posted for the bride, and one for the groom. The names on the notice should be phonetically written in Greek and not in Latin characters.

The following documents are required for both the bride and the groom. For those who plan to marry in both a civil and a religious ceremony, two sets of these documents will be required, one for the Town Hall and one for the church.

• A valid passport.
• A certified copy of the applicant’s birth certificate with an Apostille stamp affixed, along with an official translation into Greek. The translation must be made and certified by either a lawyer, the Greek Consulate in your home country, the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Translation in Greece, or by a certified translator (some wedding coordinators can provide this service).
• If either applicant has been married before, you’ll need evidence of the termination of all previous marriages via a death certificate or divorce decree with an Apostille stamp affixed, along with an official translation into Greek.
• Proof of Freedom to Marry – This varies depending upon your nationality, and may be called an “Affidavit of Marriage”, “Certificate of No Impediment”, “Certificate of Marital Status” or “Notary Public Statement”. In some instances, this can be applied for once you arrive in Greece, however minimum residence or waiting periods may apply, so you should contact your country’s Embassy in Greece well in advance to determine the requirements. The document must be completed in both English and Greek and notarised by the relevant Embassy. Alternatively, if it is obtained from your home country, it must be accompanied by an official translation into Greek. An Apostille stamp may also be required, and your Embassy can advise you of this.
• A copy of the local newspaper in which the wedding notice was published.

US citizens may be able to avoid the need for a Greek Marriage License if they have a valid Marriage License issued from their home state in the US, provided that it does not explicitly state that the license is only valid within a particular state or states within the US. Alternatively, it may be possible to have the license amended to include Greece as one of the localities where the marriage may take place.

Documents needed

The documents required to officiate a wedding in Greece vary depending on the couple's nationality, place of residence, and type of ceremony. Here is a detailed list of the documents typically needed:

• Passport: A valid passport is required for both the bride and groom. If either party is a resident of Greece, they must also possess a valid "Residence Permit". US citizens, for example, can stay in Greece for up to three months without a residence permit.
• Birth Certificate: An original or certified copy of the applicant's birth certificate is necessary. This document must be translated into Greek and certified by an official body such as the Greek Consulate in the applicant's home country, the Foreign Ministry's Department of Translation in Greece, or a certified translator.
• Proof of Termination of Previous Marriages (if applicable): If either the bride or groom has been married before, they must provide evidence of the termination of their previous marriages. This can be in the form of a Death Certificate or a Divorce Decree with an Apostille stamp and an official translation into Greek.
• Proof of Freedom to Marry: This document may be referred to as an "Affidavit of Marriage", "Certificate of No Impediment", "Certificate of Marital Status", or "Notary Public Statement", depending on the country of origin. It certifies that the applicant is legally able to enter into a marriage contract. This document must be completed in both English and Greek and notarised by the relevant Embassy.
• Wedding Notice: A wedding notice must be issued in one of the local Greek language newspapers at least eight days prior to applying for a marriage license. If the wedding is taking place in a small town without local newspapers, a notice must be posted at the Town Hall or Community Office instead. There should be separate notices for the bride and groom, and their names must be written phonetically in Greek characters.
• Marriage License: The couple must apply for a marriage license by submitting the required documents to the local City/Town Hall. The license is typically issued within seven to eight days and is valid for six months throughout Greece.
• Application to the Mayor or President of the Community: After receiving the marriage license, the couple must jointly apply to the Mayor or President of the Community where they wish to marry. This official will then confirm the date of the wedding ceremony.
• Witnesses and Interpreter: The couple must arrange for two witnesses to attend the wedding ceremony. One of the witnesses may act as an interpreter if needed. Witnesses should carry their passports or Greek identity documents.
• Additional Religious Documents: If the couple is having a religious ceremony, they must provide additional documents to the clergy member performing the ceremony. This may include a baptism certificate and a marriage certificate.
• Registration of Marriage: After the wedding, the couple has 40 days to register the marriage at the local Registrar's Office/Office of Vital Statistics (Lixiarhio). This can be done by either the bride or groom, or by a third person with a notarised "Power of Attorney". The marriage certificate is issued within three days of registration. It is important to note that marriages that are not registered within this timeframe are not legally valid.

Where to submit documents

The documents required to obtain a Greek marriage license for a wedding ceremony in Greece that involves foreigners must be taken in person to the City Hall (Demarcheio) or the President of the Community (Proedros Koinotetos) where the marriage will take place. If both the bride and groom are foreign nationals, each must submit a separate set of documents.

If you are planning a religious ceremony, the documents must be taken to the priest who will perform the ceremony. He will then apply for and obtain the marriage license from the appropriate official.

If you are planning a civil ceremony, the documents must be taken in person to the Town Hall (Demarchio) or to the President of the Community (Proedros Kinotitos) and this can be delivered by your wedding coordinator, if you have one.

Once the wedding ceremony has taken place, the couple has 40 days to register the marriage at the local Registrar's Office/Office of Vital Statistics (known as the Lixiarhio). This applies to both civil and religious ceremonies. A marriage can be registered by either the bride, the groom, or by a third person, provided that they are in possession of a notarized 'Power of Attorney' authorizing them to do so.

Registration of marriage

Registration of the Marriage

Marriages in Greece are not considered legal until they are registered. The registration must be completed at the Vital Statistics Office (Lixiarcheio) of the city where the marriage took place. This applies to all marriages, civil or religious, and must be done within 40 days following the ceremony. Late registrations require a fee determined by the locale. Marriages can be registered by either spouse, or by proxy with a power of attorney. After 90 days, marriages can only be registered with the District Attorney's authorisation and the payment of fines.

To register a marriage, the couple must submit the following documents to the Vital Statistics Office (Lixiarcheio):

• A certified copy of the marriage certificate issued by the Greek Consulate
• A valid identification document or passport
• A legally certified marriage certificate issued in the foreign country (if the marriage took place outside of Greece)
• An official translation of the marriage certificate (if not in Greek)
• A birth certificate of the Greek spouse or both spouses, issued within the last six months
• A Family Status Certificate of the Greek spouses, indicating Greek citizenship, issued within the last six months

If the marriage was a religious ceremony, the following additional documents are required:

• A certificate issued by the Church where the ceremony took place, officially translated if not in Greek. The certificate must be certified by the respective Church Authorities in Greece (e.g. for a Christian Orthodox marriage, the signature is certified by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece).
• An order from the Athens Prosecutor on registering the marriage

The marriage can be registered by either of the spouses or by a duly authorised third party. This authorisation must be certified by a lawyer or the Greek Consulate, or by any person who has a legitimate interest.

Civil vs religious ceremony

Greece is a dream destination for weddings, with its stunning scenery and rich cultural traditions. If you're planning a wedding in Greece, you have the option of choosing between a civil or religious ceremony, or even both. Here's a detailed guide to help you understand the differences between the two:

Civil Ceremony:

A civil ceremony in Greece is a legal marriage option that has gained popularity over the years. It is conducted by the mayor or someone authorized by the mayor, such as a wedding planner, and can take place at a town hall or other pre-approved venues like hotels, beaches, or even sailing yachts. The ceremony typically lasts about 15 minutes, and the mayor proclaims the couple as husband and wife before delivering the wedding certificate.

One advantage of a civil ceremony is the flexibility in choosing the wedding location, whereas religious ceremonies are usually restricted to churches. The required documents for a civil ceremony include valid passports, birth certificates with Apostille stamps and official translations, evidence of termination of previous marriages (if applicable), proof of freedom to marry, and a published wedding notice in a local Greek newspaper. These documents must be submitted to the Town Hall or President of the Community at least eight days before the desired wedding date.

Religious Ceremony:

Greece also offers religious ceremonies for couples who prefer a more traditional and symbolic wedding. The Greek Orthodox wedding, performed by an Orthodox priest, consists of two parts: the engagement and the stefana (Greek wedding crowns). The groom, bride, and koumparos (best man) are involved in the ceremony, during which the rings are exchanged and the couple is crowned.

Religious ceremonies often include additional symbolic traditions, such as the lighting of lambades (candles) to symbolize the light of God, and the exchange of koufeta (Jordan almonds) wrapped in bombonieres (sugar-coated almonds) as a thank-you gift for guests.

Similar to the civil ceremony, the required documents for a religious ceremony include valid passports, birth certificates, evidence of termination of previous marriages (if applicable), and proof of freedom to marry. Additionally, baptism certificates and confirmation of no existing undissolved marriages may be required. These documents must be submitted to the priest, who will then apply for the marriage license.

Both civil and religious ceremonies are legally recognized in Greece, and foreigners can choose either option or even opt for both. The entire process of obtaining a marriage license and planning the wedding can take several weeks, so it is recommended to start the process early and seek the assistance of a local wedding planner if needed.

Frequently asked questions