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By Forever Farrah Published 2026-09-17.
How foreign couples marry legally in Greece, from the marriage licence and documents to civil versus Orthodox ceremonies and registering within 40 days.
Foreign couples can marry legally in Greece in either a civil ceremony, led by a mayor, or a religious ceremony, and either one counts as a legal marriage on its own. You apply for a marriage licence with documents such as an apostilled, translated birth certificate and a statement that you're free to marry, bring two witnesses, then register the marriage at the local registry office within 40 days. An Orthodox church wedding has its own religious requirements. Documents vary by nationality, so check with your embassy.
The US Embassy in Greece explains that foreigners may marry in a civil ceremony, a religious ceremony or both, and that either is a legal marriage, so you don't need both.
| Civil | Greek Orthodox | |
|---|---|---|
| Legally binding | Yes | Yes |
| Who officiates | Mayor or community president | Orthodox priest |
| Where | Town hall or another place the official agrees to | Orthodox church |
| Religious requirements | None | Set by the Church |
| Registration | Registry office within 40 days | Registry office within 40 days |
Civil. According to the embassy, once you have your marriage licence you apply together to the mayor or community president where you want to marry, who sets the date.
Greek Orthodox. A church wedding is a sacrament with its own rules. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America sets out its requirements for the US, including that where one partner is not Orthodox, they must be a Christian baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity, and that the sponsor (koumbaros or koumbara) must be Orthodox. Rules in Greece are set by the Church of Greece and the local bishop, so talk to the priest early. For what happens during the service, see Greek wedding traditions.
Other faiths. If you want a ceremony in another religion, ask the officiant and the town hall whether it's legally recognised in Greece. If not, add a civil ceremony.
Symbolic. If you don't want Greek paperwork at all, marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Greece.
This list follows the US Embassy's guidance. Other nationalities should check with their own embassy in Athens.
The embassy says the licence is generally issued about eight days after the application, and it's valid for six months. The civil ceremony may then be performed anywhere in Greece. If you plan a church wedding as well as a civil one, the embassy notes that you need two sets of documents: one for the town hall and one for the priest.
You'll need two witnesses with passports or Greek ID, and one of them can act as an interpreter, according to the embassy.
Afterwards comes a step that's easy to forget: the marriage has to be *registered at the registry office (lixiarcheio)* of the city where it took place, generally within 40 days. The US Embassy doesn't register marriages itself. Once it's registered you can request the Greek marriage certificate, which may need an apostille and a translation for use at home.
Leave time on both ends. At home, getting apostilles and certified copies can take weeks. In Greece, the licence application, the wait for it, and then the ceremony mean arriving at least a week or two before the wedding if you want to marry legally there. Island town halls and summer dates get busy, so book early. See how far in advance to plan a destination wedding for the bigger timeline.
Couples choose the islands for sea views and whitewashed chapels, Athens for easy flights, and the mainland for mountain villages and quieter prices. Island logistics (ferries, limited rooms, strong summer winds) affect guests more than the couple, so share travel plans early. Our destination wedding packing list and destination wedding weekend guide help with the rest.
A Greek wedding weekend often has several parts. Track who is coming to each, what they'll eat and where they sit in one place. Forever Farrah does the guest list, per-event RSVPs, meal choices and the seating chart, and you can see how guest management works.
Yes. According to the US Embassy in Greece, a religious ceremony and a civil ceremony are both legal marriages, so you don't need both. The marriage still has to be registered at the local registry office.
Often, yes, if the other partner is a baptised Christian, according to Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America guidelines. The Church doesn't perform the sacrament where one partner isn't Christian. Ask the priest in Greece early, because local rules apply.
The US Embassy says licences are generally issued about eight days after you apply, and they're valid for six months. Allow extra time for documents from home.
Yes. The marriage must be recorded at the registry office of the city where it took place, generally within 40 days, before you can get the certificate.
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