Documentation required for citizens of United States of America

Are you booking your wedding with a travel agent outside Santorini? Be careful! This year, we had many frustrated clients at the last minute because they were booking their wedding in a package holiday along with their flights and accommodation but they couldn’t secure the time of the wedding! They were told that they could do that only when they would arrive in Santorini and this can be stressful.

I recommend booking flights and even your accommodations with them and choose a local wedding planner that can guarantee your date and time and that you can ask hundreds of questions about the most special day of your life and will get a correct answer!

I am a wedding planner living and working in Santorini for the last 26 years. Your day can be perfect! Trust the professionals!

Please follow the below strict rules for a perfect and hassle-free wedding:

-You are solely responsible to read and follow the instructions and timelines as given below. Failure to follow all the below Greek government’s legal requirements will result to not be able to have a legal wedding but you can always switch to a Symbolic wedding.

-Please remember… these requirements are from the Greek government and not by me, therefore they might change so you have to contact me 3 months before the wedding to ask me if there is any change.

There are two (2) completely different ways to obtain your legal documentation in order to get married in Greece. Below you will find both of them and the documents required.

First Way

– Copy of your US passports for both the bride and the groom. If you have your own witnesses, a copy of their passport is also required.

– You have to be 21 years and older to get married.

– Birth certificates (long-form that mentions both your parent’s names) for both the bride and the groom with apostle stamp for each certificate from your Department of State and Greek translation for each certificate by the Greek Embassy of your area OR via our agency. No other source is acceptable.

– Divorce or Death or  Adoption certificates if any.

-Change of name certificate if any.

– Affidavit of marital status from the US Embassy in Athens, Greece for both the bride and the groom that you have to obtain in person and it takes no more than 30 minutes. The affidavit of marital status is a confirmation signed under oath by the American citizen before a Consular officer confirming that there is no impediment to the marriage. The affidavit must be completed in English and Greek. To have that obtained you should make an appointment asap with the Embassy’s notary office at http://athens.usembassy.gov/other_services.htmlThe cost for each notarization is around $50.

​- To find information more on how to obtain these affidavits, You can contact the embassy here 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens 10160, Greece, Telephone: 011-30-210-721-2951 and email them here AthensAmEmb@state.gov

Second Way

– Copy of your US passports for both the bride and the groom. If you have your own witnesses, a copy of their passport is also required.

– You have to be 21 years and older to get married.

– Birth certificates (long-form that mentions both your parent’s names) for both the bride and the groom with apostle stamp for each certificate from your Department of State that the birth certificates were issued and Greek translation for each certificate by the Greek Embassy of your area OR via our agency. No other source is acceptable.

– Marriage license from your State. I know this is not valid for use in Greece but the Greek authorities still require this. And a piece of advice….when you will get to obtain this document from your local source, do not tell them what do you need it for, as this will complicate everything terribly for you. By getting one, it doesn’t mean you have to use it too. This document doesn’t require and apostle stamp.

– Divorce or Death certificates if any, for both the bride and the groom with apostle stamp for each certificate from your Department of State and Greek translation for each certificate by the Greek Embassy of your area OR via our agency. No other source is acceptable.

– A single Status letter or Affidavit of Marriage or Search of Marriage Record for both the bride and the groom, from your country clerk or vital statistics office of the State you are resident of. Please note that each of the 50 States has a different name for this document but you will find below a sample to print so you can use it with your local authorities. They also need with apostle stamp for each certificate from your Department of State and Greek translation for each certificate by the Greek Embassy of your area OR via our agency. No other source is acceptable.

– Adoption certificates if any, for both the bride and the groom with apostle stamp for each certificate from your Department of State and Greek translation for each certificate by the Greek Embassy of your area OR via our agency. No other source is acceptable.

– Notary public statements that states you are free to marry for both the bride and the groom with apostle stamp for each certificate from your Department of State and Greek translation for each certificate by the Greek Embassy of your area OR via our agency. No other source is acceptable.

Important notes:

1. Your single status documents cannot be dated older than 3 months from your wedding date.

2. I need all the documents 1 month before the wedding date, in my hands.

3. Do NOT post me the documents before I see them all via email and approve them for postal, as in case you will be missing something, we will waste valuable time.

4. You have to be in Santorini 2 (two) business days after your wedding to register for your wedding. If that is not possible, you must obtain a document that will give my agency the authority to register your wedding on your behalf and you have to contact me to send you via email a sample of that document.

5. You must follow the instructions listed on this website and my instructions only. Do not listen to any other sources no matter what these sources are, as I am here and they are out of the country and they are not updated daily by our local authorities. Each part of Greece has different legal requirements. The information inside my pages, are only for Santorini.

6. All documents that will submit us will be held forever by our Piece of Justice so, please request new certified copies to send us if you need the old ones you have.

7. Please remember… these requirements are from the Greek government and not by me, therefore they might change so you have to contact me 3 months before the wedding to ask me if there is any change.

8. Your documents need Greek translations that are accepted only if they have been done by the Greek Embassy of your area OR via our agency. Not all nationalities require translation to their legal documents, therefore these fees are not included in my packages in case you decide to have this service via my agency.

-The documents related to your capacity to get married, can not be dated older than 3 months from the day of your wedding date.

-If you are a cruise ship traveler, you need to provide us a power of attorney that has to be prepared by the Greek Embassy of your area. This document gives us the right to register the wedding with the registry of Santorini, on your behalf. Please email me to send you the exact sample on which you must use to prepare yours.

-You must follow the instructions listed on this website and my instructions only. Do not listen to any other sources no matter what these sources are, as I am here and they are out of the country and they are not updated daily by our local authorities. Each part of Greece has different legal requirements. The information inside my pages, are only for Santorini.

-PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS WILL REMAIN AT THE LOCAL REGISTRY OFFICE.

-If you have any questions or if you find any issues in the process of getting your wedding documents, please don’t hesitate to ask me at annasantorini@gmail.com as with my experience and your cooperation, we will find a solution.