Greece allows foreigners to marry legally with a civil ceremony, provided documents are translated, apostilled and lodged with the local town hall in advance. Because of the paperwork and timing, many couples instead hold a symbolic ceremony on the island and complete the legal marriage at home.
Greece sits between Italy and Spain on the legal scale: a legally binding civil marriage is genuinely available to foreigners, but the documentation and town-hall timing make many couples opt for the symbolic route instead. Either way, a Greek-island wedding is very achievable; the choice is about paperwork appetite.
The civil route
A civil marriage takes place at, or is authorised by, the local town hall (dimos). You will need translated and apostilled documents lodged in advance, and the process is sensitive to timing, so it must be organised well ahead with a local planner or lawyer. On a small island in peak season, allow extra margin. A marriage announcement must usually be published in a local newspaper beforehand, non-EU partners need proof of lawful stay or a visa, and requirements vary by municipality, so confirm the detail with the town hall. After the ceremony, the marriage must be declared to the local civil registry office (lixiarcheio) within 40 days; only then is the marriage certificate issued.
| Civil (legal in Greece) | Symbolic (legal at home) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legally binding | Yes | No |
| Where | Town hall / authorised venue | Anywhere |
| Paperwork | Translations + apostille, lodged early; registered within 40 days | Minimal in Greece |
| Lead time | Plan well ahead | Driven by home country |
| Best for | A legal Greek wedding | Freedom & simplicity |
The documents you will need
Typically valid passports, birth certificates, a certificate of no impediment, and any divorce or death certificates, all officially translated into Greek and apostilled. The exact list varies slightly by municipality; the town hall that issues the marriage licence sets it.
Where it works beautifully
From Mykonos and Paros to Crete and green Corfu, the islands deliver extraordinary settings:
Marry across Greece
A Mykonos resort, a Paros boutique hotel with its own chapel, a group of beach villas on Crete and a beachfront villa on Corfu.
Cali Mykonos
Cali Mykonos is a resort on the quiet south-east coast of the island, at Kalafati. Suites and villas in stone and marble look over the sea, and weddings of 30 to 200 guests can take over the whole property.
- Up to 200 guests
Calme Boutique Hotel
Calme Boutique Hotel is an adults-only hotel above Golden Beach in Drios, on Paros. Fourteen rooms each have a private pool, and a stone chapel in the gardens hosts private symbolic weddings and vow renewals.
- 14 rooms
Thalasses Villas
Thalasses Villas is a group of 11 villas at Pigianos Kampos near Rethymno, about 50 metres from the beach: Villa Pueblo Ritual and ten more villas within 20 metres, sleeping 56 guests.
- Up to 250 guests
- 11 villas
Villa Sylva
Villa Sylva is a private beachfront villa on the Kanoni hill in Corfu, about ten minutes from Corfu Town.
- Up to 200 guests
- 9 en-suite rooms
- Apr to Nov
Quick answers
Can foreigners legally get married in Greece?
Yes. Greece permits legally binding civil marriages for foreigners, with documents translated, apostilled and lodged at the local town hall in advance. Many couples instead hold a symbolic ceremony and marry legally at home.
What documents do you need to marry in Greece?
Typically valid passports, birth certificates, a certificate of no impediment, and any divorce/death certificates — officially translated into Greek and apostilled. Requirements vary by municipality.
Is a symbolic ceremony in Greece legally valid?
No. A symbolic ceremony has no legal force; the binding marriage is completed at home. It offers full freedom over place and timing on the island.
How far ahead should you arrange a legal Greek wedding?
Well ahead — the civil process is timing-sensitive and documents must be lodged in advance, especially on small islands in peak season. After the ceremony the marriage must be declared to the local civil registry within 40 days.