Wedding Abroad RulesNot legal advice. Marriage rules change and local offices interpret them differently. Confirm every requirement with the civil registry or embassy before you book or pay. Disclaimer
Legal for visitors?Yes
Wait / residency15 days, or 3 with special licence
Government feeNot confirmed
Same-sexCivil union / partnership
6 of 10 facts read on an official page; 3 not confirmed. Badges show the source level of each fact.
Where couples get confused
Cyprus is Europe's 'quick' option - 3 days with a special licence - and the cheapest EU route many Brits use.
The rules
- Legal ceremony for visitorsOfficial ✓
- yesCivil marriage at the municipal Office of Marriages; apply in person.
- Residency or waiting timeOfficial ✓
- No residency; typically 15-day waiting period, or a special licence from the Interior Minister for marriage in 3 days.
- Required documentsOfficial ✓
- Passport; proof of termination of previous marriages; proof of single status (US Embassy affidavit usually accepted if not marrying an EU national; otherwise state CNI with apostille, max 90 days old); apostilled birth certificate.
- Apostille / translationOfficial ✓
- Yes - birth certificate apostilled (obtained in US)
- Blood or medical testNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
- WitnessesNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
- Who officiatesOfficial ✓
- Municipal marriage officer
- Same-sex couplesOfficial ✓
- Civil partnerships recognised; same-sex marriage not available (FCDO).
- Recognized in the US, Canada, UKSnippet / semi-official
- US: generally valid if valid where performed; confirm with your state Attorney General (State Dept). Canada: usually valid if legal where performed, no need to register (travel.gc.ca). UK: no general statement found on gov.uk - unverified.
- Government feeNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassyOur unconfirmed note: municipal
⚠ Pitfalls and scams to watch
Marrying an EU national or planning to live in Cyprus? Embassy affidavit may not be enough - state CNI needed.
Planning a destination wedding? Get free help from a travel agent with a wedding in Cyprus: venues, group room blocks and guest travel.
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Sources
Quotes copied from official pages on 2026-10-21. Items marked as a snippet were seen in search results because the page blocked our checker.
- waitinghttps://cy.usembassy.gov/marriage/
While there are no specific residency requirements for foreign nationals wishing to marry in Cyprus, there is typically a fifteen-day waiting period. It is possible to avoid this delay by applying to the Minister of the Interior for a special marriage license allowing the marriage to take place in three days.
All sources consulted
- https://cy.usembassy.gov/marriage/
- https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cyprus
- https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html
- https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/documents/marriage-overseas
Last checked 2026-10-21. Spot something out of date? Email [email protected].
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