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Republic of Cyprus
Visiting / Working / Settling in Cyprus

Civil Marriages in Cyprus


1. CELEBRATION OF CIVIL MARRIAGES

The contracting of civil marriage in Cyprus has been valid since 1923. As the procedure is simple many couples from all over the world come to celebrate their marriage in Cyprus and combine this event with holidays.

Persons desiring to have their marriage celebrated in Cyprus under the provisions of the Marriage Law 104(I) of 2003, may only apply, after their arrival in Cyprus, personally, to the Marriage Officer of the Municipality of their choice, in order to go through certain formalities which are necessary prior to their marriage.


2. PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

(a) As a first step, the interested persons who should be in possession of legal identification (passports and birth certificates) have to fill in, sign and submit to the Marriage Officer a joint application called “Notice of Marriage” indicating their will to marry each other and containing their particulars on the basis of their passport.

(b) At the same time, each of the two parties must make a declaration on oath or affirmation before the Marriage Officer that they know of no impediment or other lawful hindrance to their marriage.

(c) The interested persons should also furnish an official certificate indicating that they are not married. If however the Marriage Officer has any doubt about the accuracy or genuineness of the certificate furnished by the interested persons, or if the interested persons are unable to produce such an official document they will be called upon to make a sworn declaration before the Registrar of a District Court that they are single and have never been married before. However divorcees have to present the “Decree Absolute” of their dissolved marriage and widows/ers have to present the “Certificate of Death” of their late partner. Also they both have to make a declaration on oath (affidavit) that they have never been married again since then.

All documents must be original, not older than three months and translated by an authorized translator (of The Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency) from Swedish into English or Greek.

(d) When these formalities have been completed, the marriage must be celebrated within 15 clear days at the earliest, or within 3 months at the latest, from the date the notice is given. If, for any reason, the marriage is not celebrated within 3 months, the notice given and all consequential proceedings are considered to be void. In fact, interested persons, in order to have a civil marriage by notice should stay in Cyprus for about 20 days. For prescribe fees, please consult the municipality where the ceremony will take place.

(e) In case of urgency, however, or if they so wish, the interested persons may apply to the Marriage Officer to fix an earlier date, by paying advanced fees. In this case the marriage can be celebrated within 2-3 working days.

The formalities prescribed in the above –mentioned paragraphs 2(a)(b) and (C) are also applied in this case. For prescribe fees, please consult the municipality where the ceremony will take place.


3. PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE

If either party to the intended marriage, not being a widower or a widow, is under eighteen years of age, the written consent of the father, or if he is dead or incapable of consenting, of the mother or, if both are dead or incapable of consenting, of the lawful guardian of such party, must be produced to the Marriage Officer on their application.


4. PENALTY FOR A FALSE STATEMENT

If should be pointed out that any person who willfully makes or inserts any false statement in any declaration, certificate or other document required by Law to be made or issued is liable to imprisonment.


5. RELIGIOUS CEREMONY

A civil marriage may be celebrated either by the Marriage Officer, or by a Registered Minister of Religion at his church. In this case all the same procedure should also be followed at the municipality, but the religious ceremony can be held at a church. All necessary arrangements with the Registered Minister and the church should be carried out by the interested persons.


6. CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE

The couple is supplied with a certificate of marriage by the Marriage Officer, but if they want to secure one or more certified copies of the certificate they can apply to the Marriage Officer or to the Ministry of Interior.


7. COPY TO BE FORWARED TO THE EMBASSY etc.

It should also be pointed out that, according to the Law, if either of the parties to the intended marriage is a subject of a foreign country having an Embassy or a Consulate in Cyprus, the Marriage Officer shall forward to the Embassy or the Consulate of such country in Cyprus a certified copy of the certificate of marriage.


THE INTERESTED PERSONS ΑRE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE MUNICIPALITY OF THEIR CHOICE.


BASIC DOCUMENTS

Valid passport

Birth certificate from the Tax Agency (with parents stated, information on place of birth and marital status). The birth certificate must be stamped by the local tax office and signed by an administrative officer. OBS! Inform the tax office that it is about marriage by Cypriot authorities.

Final dissolution of marriage - proof that the marriage is dissolved, and that the divorce is final.

Death certificate if either party is a widower / widow

Impediments to marriage certificate from the Tax Office

All documents must be original, no older than three months and translated by an authorized translator (of The Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency) from Swedish into English or Greek.


OBS!

Please contact your chosen municipality through the Union of Cyprus Municipalities (www.ucm.org.cy) and send all documents by fax, so that everything is in order before you travel to Cyprus.


For direct contact to send applications to:

Union of Cyprus Municipalities
P.O. Box 22033
1516 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22 44 51 70
Fax: +357 22 67 72 30
Hemsida: www.ucm.org.cy
E-mail endeky@cytanet.com.cy

Ministry of Interior
Registration Service
1457 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22 804 473
Fax:+357 22 804 598

Scandinavian Church in Cyprus
Svenska Kyrkan – Swedish Church

Office:
Pascalis Centre 18-19
Nissi Road 9
P.O. Box 30421
5343 Ayia Napa
CYPRUS
Tel: +357 23 72 27 98
Fax:+357 83 72 27 75

E-post: scandchurch@cytanet.com.cy

Church:
Closter Court (near New Orthodox Church, Ayia Napa)
Tel: +357 23 722798




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© 2011 - 2023 Republic of Cyprus,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Stockholm