The Essential Documents

The following documents are required for a legal worldwide
Civil Wedding in Greece.

1) Bride's and groom's passports. (No traslation necessary)
2) Marriage License and Registration Of Marriage from your City Hall with the authenticated translation in Greek. (Authentication and translation can be handled at your local Greek Embassy or Consulate.) In the event that the Marriage License is not easy to acquire, each of you can obtain a "Single Status" letter accompanied by the authenticated translation in Greek. The "Single Status" letter is a document issued from your country's consulate or embassy that ensures that there is not a problem for you to get married. (also known as "letter of Impediment")
3) Birth Certificates for each of you. Both to be authenticated and translated into Greek.
4) Divorce Certificate in the event there are any. For this, no translation necessary.

In the event that you do not have access to a Greek Embassy or Consulate,
you can send the documents via registered mail or courier and we will take care of the legal translation.

The following documents are required for a
Greek Orthodox Wedding

All documents require to be translated ONLY by Greek authorities, such as a Greek Consulate or Embassy (in your city or country) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens. An independent translator with notary stamp IS NOT accepted by the church. *All translators should be approved by the Greek Consulate or Embassy.

1) From the Greek Orthodox Church, a certificate to give consent and the freedom to marry (Otherwise known as the Letter of Celibacy). This document should be given in Greek and is signed & stamped from the priest of your parish thus there should be no need for translation. Validation of this document for the authenticity of the priests' signature MUST be obtained from the Bishop of the local church.
2) Baptismal Certificates for both of you. Signed & stamped by the parish priest. If not given in Greek, must be translated to Greek (Valid only if translated by a Greek Consulate/Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens). Validation of this document for the authenticity of the priests' signature MUST be obtained from the Bishop of the local church.
3) Divorce certificate/decree if any.. Certificate to be obtained from the judge AND from the Church if you had a previous Greek Orthodox wedding. The divorce decree requires translation to Greek. Translation in Greek is only required for the page(s) that carry the court decision and not for the whole divorce settlement. (Valid only if translated by a Greek Consulate/Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens).
4) You will both have to sign a paper in a notary office that your children will become Greek Orthodox. (Certificate of Faith). Document must be in Greek. (Valid only if translated by a Greek Consulate/Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens). This document can also be taken care of here in Santorini upon your arrival. Cost = 60 euro.
5) Single status letter/Letter of No Impediment (from your local registrar's office/town hall) for each of you or marriage license. The letters or marriage license requires translation to Greek (Valid only if translated by a Greek Consulate/Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens).
IMPORTANT NOTES I) The Greek Authorities require that ALL Documents requested above (except Divorce decree) must be issued NO more than 3 months prior to the wedding date. II) All Documents MUST be faxed to us at least 60 days prior to your arrival. Please fax to +30 22860 23902 all documents in English (or original language) & Greek attention to Mrs. Evangelia Mendrinou. At that time we will review the faxed papers with the priest in order to assess whether or not all documents are in order. III) Upon confirmation from the priest that all documents are in order, then you will need to courier/FedEx all original documents (in English & Greek) to us in Santorini: Attn: Evangelia Mendrinou, Hotel Aressana, Fira Town 84 700, Santorini, Greece, Phone Number: +30 22860 23900, Mobile Phone: +30 6977 338121. For your safety, please send all documents by courier or registered mail ONLY. IV) Please note that for ALL Greek Orthodox weddings, the couple must be on the island at least 2 working days prior to the wedding date (to meet with priest) and stay at least 1 working day after the wedding date (to go to Santorini Town Hall). No other stay requirements.

No other document is needed for Orthodox.

1) A Baptism Certificate. This document should be requested and dated close to your wedding date.
2) A Confirmation Certificate.
3) A Freedom to marry Certificate. This document is the assurance that you are free from any canonical impediment for marriage. a) These certificates must be obtained from the parish priest in whom you were baptized and must be dated within 3 months of your marriage. b) If the date of your confirmation is not written in the parish in which you were baptized, you should ask for it in the same parish in which you were confirmed. c) Take these certificates to your present parish priest who should make the prenuptial inquiries and catechetical instruction.
4) Written permission must be obtained from your Bishop to have your marriage performed out of your parish and here in Santorini. This is according to Canon 1115 of the Codex Juris Canonici. Please discuss with your pastor.
5) Certificate stating you have completed the "PRE-CANA" instruction class, retreat or meetings.
6) Single status letter/Letter of impediment (translated & authenticated)

The above documents need to be sent to Santorini at least 2 months prior to the day of your marriage
so that we are assured that all paperwork is in order.