Marriage Requirements in Cyprus: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting legally married in Cyprus as a foreign national is genuinely straightforward — but it does require specific documents prepared in advance. This guide walks you through exactly what you need, step by step.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Both parties must be single, widowed, or legally divorced. Cyprus does not currently recognise same-sex civil marriage in terms of legal registration, but symbolic ceremonies for all couples are warmly welcomed. Both parties must be at least 18 years of age.

Step 2: Gather Your Core Documents

The standard documents required for a Cyprus civil wedding are:

• Valid passport — original, not a copy
• Birth certificate — original with apostille (if your country has signed the Hague Convention)
• Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) — or equivalent proof of single status from your home country. This must be apostilled.
• Divorce certificate — if either party was previously married, original with apostille
• Death certificate — if either party is widowed, original with apostille

Step 3: Obtain Apostilles

An apostille is an international certification that authenticates the origin of a document. Most countries issue apostilles through their foreign office or a designated authority. The process typically takes 1–4 weeks, so plan ahead. We provide a personalised guide specific to your nationality.

Step 4: Arrange Translations

Any documents not in Greek or English must be officially translated. We coordinate certified translations on your behalf.

Step 5: Give Notice at the Cyprus Civil Registry

Once in Cyprus, you must give formal notice of your intention to marry at the local civil registry office (in Paphos, this is the Municipality). This requires your documents to be submitted and verified. There is then a mandatory waiting period — currently 3 business days — before the ceremony can take place.

Step 6: Your Ceremony

The civil ceremony is conducted by a licensed civil registrar at a location of your choosing — a beach, a villa, a hotel, or the registry office itself. The ceremony is brief (typically 15–30 minutes) but can be personalised with readings and vows that reflect your relationship.

How We Help

Our paperwork assistance service manages every step of this process. We provide your personalised document checklist, guide you through the apostille process for your specific nationality, translate documents, liaise with the civil registry, and ensure everything is in order before you arrive. Our goal is that you step off the plane with nothing to worry about.

Questions about your specific situation? Our paperwork assistance service handles every document, translation, and submission for you. Or get in touch directly — we respond to every enquiry within 24 hours.