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 / residencyNone; licence ~8 days after applying
Government feeUS$50 affidavit + EUR 30
Same-sexLegal marriage
8 of 10 facts read on an official page; 1 not confirmed. Badges show the source level of each fact.
Where couples get confused
In Greece your marriage isn't legal until it's registered within 40 days - many couples fly home and forget.
The rules
- Legal ceremony for visitorsOfficial ✓
- yesCivil, religious, or both - either is legal; no residency needed.
- Residency or waiting timeOfficial ✓
- No residency; licence generally issued 8 days after application, valid 6 months; Schengen entry stamp required.
- Required documentsOfficial ✓
- Passport; apostilled birth certificate with official Greek translation; proof prior marriages ended (apostilled + translated); Affidavit of Marriage sworn at US Embassy Athens if the city hall requires it, then authenticated by Greek MFA (EUR 30 paravolo); for Greek partner, newspaper notice.
- Apostille / translationOfficial ✓
- Yes - apostille obtained in the US + official Greek translation
- Blood or medical testNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
- WitnessesOfficial ✓
- 2 (one can act as interpreter)
- Who officiatesOfficial ✓
- Mayor / community president (civil) or priest
- Same-sex couplesSnippet / semi-official
- Legal since Feb 2024 (Law 5089/2024, snippet of Greek Gazette/Parliament). FCDO page still says civil unions only - outdated.
- Recognized in the US, Canada, UKOfficial ✓
- 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 feeOfficial ✓
- US$50 per affidavit at US Embassy + EUR 30 MFA authentication; some city halls add a fee (unverified amounts)
⚠ Pitfalls and scams to watch
No Schengen entry stamp = cannot marry; marriage not legal until registered at the Lixiarcheio within 40 days; plan 2 days in Athens for the affidavit.
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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.
- residencyhttps://gr.usembassy.gov/getting-married-in-greece/
You need not reside in Greece to marry in Greece ... You must obtain a stamp in your passport showing the date and place of entry ... otherwise, you will not be permitted to marry in Greece.
- licencehttps://gr.usembassy.gov/getting-married-in-greece/
Authorities generally issue the marriage license eight days after the submission of the application.
- registerhttps://gr.usembassy.gov/getting-married-in-greece/
Marriages are not legal in Greece until registered ... All marriages, civil or religious, should be registered within 40 days following the ceremony.
All sources consulted
- https://gr.usembassy.gov/getting-married-in-greece/
- https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Nomothetiko-Ergo/Anazitisi-Nomothetikou-Ergou?law_id=ebe2964c-c991-4ac0-9c09-b109017cdcad
- https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece
- 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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