Wedding Legalities In Cyprus

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Wedding Legalities In Cyprus

October 16, 2019

All You Need To Know On Wedding Legalities In Cyprus

Civil Ceremony

The couple should be in a position to present the following legal documents:

10 Year British passports
Original birth certificates (full version)
Dated, stamped and signed documents from the competent authority of their countries, for their present marital status (single, divorced, widow or widower)
Please note that the marital status documents are valid for 3 months from the issue date unless they indicate otherwise.
In case of foreigners who have lived in Cyprus for more than a year, a certificate from the Ministry of Interior is needed. Its date of issue must not be more than two months.
Original Decree Absolute in case of divorce
Death certificate of their late partner in case of widowhood
Name change documents - deed poll if any
Copies of passports of two adult witnesses (above eighteen years old)

If either party of the intended marriage is under 18 years of age, the written consent of the father or if he is dead or incapable of consenting, of the mother or the lawful guardian of such party, must be produced to the Marriage Officer.

All documents must be translated into English.

It must be stressed that the names we use for the wedding certificate are taken from the passports.

Some of the authorities responsible for supplying marital status certificates according to nationality:

UK citizens: - Statutory Declarations (also known as Affidavits) for marital status, dated, stamped and signed by a registered solicitor (drafted/printed preferably on a headed paper or accompanied by the business card of the solicitor), based on the Statutory Declarations Act. 1835 - Must be obtained within 3 months to the date of application for the wedding.

If you have been married, adopted or had a name change ALL names must be on the Affidavits.

Scotland: Can obtain a FREEDOM TO MARRY FORM from the courts

Irish Citizens: Department of Foreign Affairs

Russian Citizens: As well as any of the above where applicable, you will need to bring a certificate from the Registry Office of Russia (translated into English from a Government Office) confirming that you are free to marry. The certificate must be stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia and by the Embassy of Cyprus in Russia (Apostile). Please note that all documents must be translated into English.

Chinese Citizens: As well as any of the above where applicable, you will need to bring a certificate from the Ministry of the Interior (Registry Office) of your country (translated into English by a Government Office) confirming that you are free to marry. Please note that all documents must be translated into English.

Lebanese Citizens: As well as any of the above where applicable, you will need to bring a certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (translated into English by a Government Office) confirming that you are free to marry. Please note that all documents must be translated into English.

Please note: that (where applicable) the fees for your marriage license and the marriage officer/registrar are payable by cash direct to the Town Hall when you arrive in resort.

Please Note: Where applicable a fee of €282 (for Marriage Licence) is payable direct to the town hall in CASH once in resort plus €350 if ceremony is taking place in an outside venue other than the town hall itself. This fee is based on Paphos Town Hall, other town hall fees may vary.

Anglican Ceremony

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ANGLICAN WEDDINGS IN CYPRUS:

Completed Church Marriage application form
Birth Certificates (bride & groom) original and a photo copy
Passports (bride & groom) original and a photo copy
Baptism Certificate(s) – at least one party must be a baptized Christian
Evidence of freedom to marry – a declaration of freedom to marry (affidavit) stamped by a solicitor, court or Embassy, no more than 3 months old.
Originals of final divorce papers (if divorced)
Originals of death certificate (if widowed)
Parental permission if under 18 years old
2 x witnesses – photo copy of passports (over the age of 18 years)
Form B Licence which you will receive when you arrive in resort

Please Note: Where applicable a fee of €282 (for Form B - Marriage Licence) is payable direct to the town hall in CASH once in resort plus approximately €680 direct to the church, a 50% deposit (€340) is required to secure your church booking, with the balance payable once in resort. We will send the church administrator your e-mail address once you have booked so they can contact you direct re deposit.

Catholic Ceremony

If you wish to get married in Cyprus you must first see the Parish Priest in your home parish, at least 6 months prior to any marriage. He will say if a marriage is possible, we will then contact the church in Cyprus to PENCIL in a date for the wedding here.

The Priest will fill in a Pre nuptial enquiry form and will collect all the papers he needs from you.

The Diocese of Jerusalem, in common with most diocese, requires that you do a pre marriage course and that the Priest includes a letter or certificate that you have done such a course in the marriage papers.
Once completed the Priest sends these documents to his diocesan bishop asking for the wedding to be celebrated outside his diocese here at St. Paul’s, Paphos, Cyprus.

If the bishop agrees the forms are sent to our Vicar General here in Cyprus (Fr. Garret Edmunds, Holy Cross Church, Paphos Gate, PO Box 21964, 1010 Nicosia, Cyprus.) who then gives us permission to go ahead with the marriage. Only then can the church confirm your booking.

The papers need to be at the home diocese at least 3 months prior to the wedding, so should arrive here in Cyprus some 2 months before the wedding.

Wedding services here follow the Roman Catholic Rite of Marriage outside of the Mass. (Please note if using UK version the wording here is different and is that of the Roman Ritual). (If Nuptial Mass requested a special arrangement needs to be made).

Readings must come only from the lectionary, the section ‘Sacrament of Marriage’.

Music - In Ayia Kyriaki only organ music may be used. In other venues we have to use CD’s but these must be of Church music only.

Please Note: Where applicable a fee of €282 (Marriage Licence) is payable direct to the town hall in CASH once in resort plus approximately €650 direct to the church in CASH.

A civil ceremony MUST take place in Cyprus before your Catholic wedding.

Without presenting your civil marriage certificate to the church, a Catholic wedding is unable to take place.