Planning a wedding in Greece as a UK citizen? Learn which documents you may need, including passports, birth certificates, proof of freedom to marry, Greek translations and legalisation.

Greece is a popular wedding destination for UK couples, especially for ceremonies on islands such as Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and Zakynthos. But before you book flights or send documents overseas, it is important to understand what paperwork may be required.

The exact requirements can vary depending on the municipality, the type of ceremony and your personal circumstances. GOV.UK advises British nationals getting married abroad to check the rules in the country where the marriage will take place and confirm the process with the person conducting the ceremony or the wedding venue.

Common documents UK citizens may need

UK citizens getting married in Greece may be asked for:

• Valid UK passport
• Full UK birth certificate
• Certificate of no impediment, often called a CNI
• Statutory declaration or affirmation of marital status
• Proof of address
• Divorce decree absolute or final order, if previously divorced
• Death certificate of a former spouse, if widowed
• Deed poll or change of name document, if your name has changed
• Certified Greek translations
• Legalised UK documents

The final list should always be checked with the Greek municipality, wedding planner or ceremony official before you prepare your paperwork.

Proof that you are free to marry

One of the most important documents is proof that you are legally free to marry. GOV.UK says British nationals getting married abroad may need documents from the UK government, such as a certificate of no impediment or an affirmation.

A certificate of no impediment is usually obtained through your local register office in the UK. It confirms that no legal objection to your proposed marriage has been found.

Some Greek authorities may also ask for a statutory declaration or affirmation confirming your marital status. This can depend on the municipality and the exact document checklist they provide.

Do UK documents need to be translated into Greek?

Foreign documents used for official purposes in Greece are commonly required in Greek. The Greek public services portal states that documents of foreign nationals from countries that are part of the Hague Convention are accepted with an apostille stamp and translated into Greek by a Greek translator.

This may apply to documents such as birth certificates, certificates of no impediment, divorce documents, death certificates and change of name documents.

Before arranging translation, check whether the Greek authority requires the translation to be completed in Greece, by an approved translator, or in a specific format.

Do UK documents need to be legalised?

UK public documents may need to be legalised before they are accepted in Greece. Legalisation confirms that the signature, stamp or seal on a UK public document is genuine.

This can apply to birth certificates, certificates of no impediment, divorce documents, statutory declarations and name change documents. The order can matter, so always check whether the document should be legalised before translation.

Civil weddings in Greece

For a civil wedding in Greece, documents are usually submitted to the local municipality. The municipality may review your paperwork before issuing permission for the ceremony.

Different areas may have different submission deadlines, so couples should check requirements early, especially if they are planning a wedding on a Greek island during the busy summer season.

Ask the municipality or wedding planner:

• Which documents are required for each partner
• Whether originals or certified copies are accepted
• Whether documents must be recently issued
• Whether Greek translations are required
• Whether legalisation is required
• How far in advance documents must be submitted

Religious weddings in Greece

Religious weddings may involve extra paperwork from the relevant religious authority. Depending on the ceremony, you may need baptism certificates, confirmation records, letters of freedom or other religious documents.

If the religious ceremony is legally recognised, civil paperwork may still be required. Always check both the religious and municipal requirements before arranging translations or legalisation.

If you have been married before

If you are divorced, you may need your decree absolute or final order. If you are widowed, you may need the death certificate of your former spouse.

These documents may also need to be translated and legalised before they are accepted. If your current name is different from the name on your divorce or previous marriage documents, you may need extra evidence to show the link.

Name differences can cause delays

Greek authorities may need names to match clearly across all documents. Delays can happen if your passport, birth certificate, divorce papers or change of name documents show different names or spellings.

You may need supporting evidence if:

• You use a married name
• Your birth certificate shows a previous surname
• You changed your name by deed poll
• Your divorce document shows a former name
• Your documents use different spellings or initials

Check names carefully before submitting documents.

Checklist before getting married in Greece

Before you send or translate your documents, check:

• Which municipality will register the marriage
• Whether your ceremony is civil, religious or symbolic
• Whether a certificate of no impediment is required
• Whether a statutory declaration or affirmation is needed
• Whether documents need Greek translation
• Whether documents need legalisation
• Whether originals or certified copies are accepted
• Whether documents must be issued recently
• Whether names match across all paperwork
• When the documents must be submitted

Final thoughts

Getting married in Greece can be a beautiful choice for UK couples, but the paperwork should be organised early. The most common requirements include identity documents, proof that you are free to marry, supporting certificates, Greek translations and legalisation.

Because requirements can vary between municipalities and islands, the safest approach is to confirm the exact document checklist before arranging translations or legalisation. This can help prevent delays and make the process easier before your wedding day.

Tags

Countries

• Share on:
• WhatsApp
• Deel
• X
• Pin it
• Messenger
• Email

---