Paperwork & Detailed Process for an Orthodox Wedding in Greece (2025 update)

Dreaming of a romantic Orthodox wedding in the sun-kissed landscapes of Greece? From the iconic blue-domed churches of Santorini to the historic chapels of Crete, Greece offers a breathtaking backdrop for your special day. However, before you say "I do," be prepared to navigate the necessary paperwork. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential documents and procedures for a smooth and stress-free Orthodox wedding in Greece.

Ready for the fun of an Orthodox wedding?

Orthodox Wedding Paperwork

To legally marry in a Greek Orthodox ceremony, both the bride and groom must provide specific documentation. Here's a detailed list:

• Valid Passports: Ensure your passports are valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Greece. This applies to both the groom and the bride.

• Birth Certificates: Official birth certificates with an apostille stamp. This applies for both the groom and the bride.

• Certificate of No Impediment/Certificate of Freedom to Marry: This document verifies that you are legally free to marry. It must be issued by your country's relevant authorities and apostilled. This applies to both the groom and the bride. Greek citizens can produce a "πιστοποιητικό οικογενειακής κατάστασης" from their gov.gr account, showing they are currently unmarried. This may not apply if a civil wedding is to be carried out before the religious wedding date. But also, see note 2 in the process below.*

• A tax fee "e-paravolo" of 18 euros (2025 update), paid online through your Greek taxisnet or your Greek wedding planner's account, on your behalf. Use the code 401 to automatically choose the correct type of payment. This is required by only the groom or the bride.

• Religious Documents:

  • Certificates of Baptism: Proof of Christian baptism for both parties. If you are having a mixed wedding (Orthodox and Catholic), this still applies. Pro tip: make sure the church and religion are mentioned in this. This applies to both the groom and the bride.

  • Certificate of Baptism for the koumparo/koumpara: by Orthodox rule, all koumbaro or koumbara need to be a Christian Orthodox with proof of Baptism.

  • Religious certificate of no impediment: The hardest to obtain, usually from your local priest. You may address either the church your family attended in the past, or the church of your baptism or neighborhood where you lived for the past 3 years. 2 witnesses are required, and for the bride, a fee may also apply if the wedding is not in her neighborhood. For some brides, I have been asked to get a stamp from the Holy Sacrament office in Athens, a procedure that can only be done in person. This applies to both the groom and the bride.

• Notice of Marriage: A formal notice of your intention to marry, published in a local Greek newspaper. This has become easier as the process is done online nowadays through sites like https://www.anaggeliagamou.gr/ Leave this as the last task, as your chosen church to get married will be mentioned here. The publishment takes about 24-48 hours.

• Divorce Certificates (if applicable): If either party is divorced, official divorce certificates with apostille stamps are required.

• Death Certificates (if applicable): If either party is widowed, official death certificates with apostille stamps are required.

  
  

The Process of Orthodox Weddings in Greece: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide

1. Make a church appointment: Start by speaking to your priest to initiate a relationship. Check if your wedding date and time are available, and double-check with them all the paperwork you need to gather. Agree on a timeline and whether you will need to get Holy Sacrament stamps, by when you need to sign the license etc.

2. *Civil Marriage (if required): In some cases, a civil marriage ceremony may be required before the religious ceremony, if the couple is not of two Greek citizens. I have found that to be the case in all weddings under Glyfada Mitropolis, including the Island Art & Taste Orthodox weddings at their lovely Gallery chapel (2026 information). Always consult with your church!

3. Gather Your Documents: Start collecting and authenticating your documents 6 months in advance, as the process may take time. Please note that documents with signature/accreditation older than 6 months before the wedding date may not be accepted (this does not apply to passports), so it makes no sense to start earlier than 6 months.

4. Obtain Apostille Stamps: Contact the relevant authorities in your country to obtain apostille stamps for all required documents. Pro-tip: to remember which documents need an apostille, it is always the ones issued by the government, except the passports. So, as a general rule, certificates of birth and no impediment are the ones needing an apostille stamp.

5. If in English, I prefer to send the documents to the priest before translations, so they can check for discrepancies or missing information. You have no idea how much money this little step has saved our clients, as we don't need to translate twice if a document needs to be re-issued.

6. Translate Documents: Hire a certified translator in Greece to translate all non-Greek documents.

7. Submit Documents to the Church: Present all necessary documents to your priest, so he can cross check all info. You will be asked to pay the church a fee at this point, the amount of which depends on the church. Expect an average of 250 euros.

8. The Wedding License: Once all paperwork is approved, there will usually be an appointment before the wedding day to review and sign your wedding license. Please make sure to be around at least 2 days before the wedding day, unless otherwise agreed with the priest.

9. Register the Marriage: After the ceremony, register your marriage at the local registry office to obtain your official marriage certificate within 40 days (after this period, you can still register it but there will be a late fee applied). Important: It needs to be the registry office of where the church belongs to, and not just any registry office. So make sure to be present for at least one more business day.

   
   

Paperwork Done? Love Celebrated!:

While the paperwork for an Orthodox wedding in Greece might seem daunting, it's the only way to realize your Grecian wedding dream (and we promise, it is worth it!). By following this guide and contacting your preferred church, or by just hiring a wedding planner in Greece, you can ensure a smooth and memorable wedding day. Don't be shy to contact Nymfee for any questions :)