Documentation and legal requirements - Crete
The information below is intended as a guide, as documentation and legal requirements change regularly. Please check with your Wedding Coordinator and with the relevant embassy before arranging your documentation.
Legal requirements
Minimum residency period prior to wedding: 10 days (excluding day of arrival, weekends and bank holidays) is recommended although this is flexible. Weddings at the Art Gallery only take place on Fridays.
Witnesses required: 2. The witnesses can be arranged by the Wedding Planner if you are travelling alone.
Minimum Age: 18 (If under 18, see below).
Marriage Certificate issued in local language? Yes. The certificate is issued pre-departure and can be translated on your return.
Other requirements: You are required to place an ad in the local newspaper which your Wedding Planner will arrange. You are also required to pay a tax of approximately 18 euros each once in resort.
Documentation requirements
The following documents must be obtained in the UK and sent to Sovereign no later than 12 weeks before departure. We need two photocopies of the following documents. All original documents must be taken to resort – photocopies of documents are not accepted in resort.
Full 10-year British passports? Yes.
Birth certificates? Yes – full original.
If never previously married:
Single status statutory declaration? No.
Certificate of No Impediment? Yes. A Certificate of No Impediment must be obtained from your local Registry Office in the UK for both the Bride and Groom (a joint one will not be accepted). This must be issued within 3 months of your return date.
If divorced: Decree absolute.
If widowed: Spouse’s death certificate and previous marriage certificate.
If adopted: Adoption certificate and short birth certificate.
If name changed: Proof of deed poll or statutory declaration. This is also required for divorcees or widows who have reverted back to their maiden name.
If under 18: Parental consent in the form of an affidavit or statutory declaration, stamped and signed by a solicitor.
Certification / Legalisation / Translation of all documents?
All documents must be officially certified (legalised) by the Legalisation Department at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London. Please contact them before you send your documents to check up-to-date prices and if there are any delays with the documents. When sending your documents to the Foreign Office, please make sure you mention the country you will be travelling to and leave a daytime number should they need to contact you.
All documents must be translated into Greek before travel, for which costs will be incurred.
Please note: The Mayor in resort may retain some of your English legal documents.
