Say 'I Do' in Greece: Your Easy Guide to Civil Wedding Paperwork
- Nadia Volaki
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 20
Dreaming of a romantic civil wedding in the beautiful Greek islands or historic Athens? You're not alone! But before you can exchange vows, you'll need to navigate the paperwork. Don't worry, it's simpler than you might think!
At Nymfee, we're here to make your wedding planning stress-free, and that includes guiding you through the legal requirements. Let's break down the essential paperwork you'll need.
What Paperwork Do You Need for a Civil Wedding in Greece?
Getting married in Greece as a foreigner involves a few key documents. Here's a checklist to get you started:
Valid Passports: Both partners must have valid passports, with an expiry date of 6 months after the wedding day.
Birth Certificates: Original or certified copies of your birth certificates, with an apostille stamp.
Certificate of No Impediment/Certificate of Freedom to Marry: This document confirms that you are legally free to marry. It must be issued by the appropriate authority in your home country. This is one of the most important documents, and the hardest to get in some countries (UK, we are looking at you!)!
Application for Marriage License: This application is submitted to the local town hall where you plan to get married. Pro tip: be careful what address/reference you use on it, and make sure to double check this with your wedding planner, especially if you are having an out of town hall wedding.
Official Translations: When all documents are gathered, if issued in a language other than Greek, they must be officially translated by a certified translator. (This is usually where the wedding planner steps in!)
Divorce or Death Certificates (if applicable): If either partner has been previously married, you'll need to provide the relevant divorce or death certificates.
Important Notes:
Requirement of your presence: even if your wedding planner is running your civil wedding paperwork for you, you will be required to be in Greece:
1-2 business days before the wedding, to sign your wedding license
and 1 business day after the wedding, to register it at the local registry and obtain your official wedding certificate.
Unfortunately, your Greek wedding planner cannot take up these parts for you, but will advise you according to the Town Hall's personalized timeline, so make sure to be around!
Civil Wedding Date: each town hall in Greece sets for themselves two dedicated business days of their choice, and office hours only, to hold civil ceremonies. Although there are exceptions to this rule, (hi, Santorini!), first make sure your wedding date is available!
Apostille: Depending on your country of origin, some documents may require an apostille stamp, which legalizes them for use in Greece. Make sure to check this with your chosen town hall.
Timing: It's crucial to start gathering your paperwork well in advance, as some documents may take time to obtain and translate (the UK is a great example of this!). However, documents should not be issued/accredited more than 6 months before the wedding day (except for passports).
Local Variations: Specific requirements can vary slightly depending on the municipality where you're getting married. Make sure to speak to their civil weddings office, or have your Greek wedding planner Nymfee to provide you with the most up-to-date information for your chosen location.
Local Wedding Planner in Greece: This is where we come in. A Greek wedding planner will make sure you have all the correct documentation, and that all is in order.
Pro tip: we prefer to get the notary's written approval that all is in order, before we start translating documents in English. This way, we avoid paying for translations twice, in case a document needs to be re-issued.
How Nymfee Can Help:
We understand that dealing with the paperwork of civil weddings in Greece can be daunting, especially when planning a destination wedding from abroad. That's why Nymfee is here to:
Make your Town Hall appointments.
Provide you with a personalized checklist of required documents from your country.
Get written approvals from the town hall that the paperwork is OK to translate, before you pay for translations.
Assist with finding certified translators and apostille services, wherever required.
Be present to assist and translate at your town hall appointments.
Ready - Set - Wed, the civil way?
Getting legally married in Greece should be a joyous and stress-free experience. With the right preparation and the support of a local wedding planner like Nymfee, you can navigate the civil wedding paperwork in Greece with ease and focus on celebrating your love in one of the world's most beautiful destinations.
Ready to start planning your dream wedding in Greece? Contact Nymfee today for a personalized consultation and let us take care of the details!
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