Civil marriage procedure for foreign nationals and residence permit for a foreign spouse of a greek citizen
Greece has recently become a popular destination for third country citizens who wish to have their civil marriage in Greece. The procedure to be followed and the documents to be collected are the following :
I) Civil marriage license
The procedure for a civil marriage must be completed in accordance with the following requirements. The competent authority for the issuance of a civil marriage license is the Municipality of the area where the marriage is to be performed. The following supporting documents are required for the issuance of the license:
An application of the parties involved
A copy of valid passport or birth certificates of the parties involved
A certificate from the relevant Consular or other competent authority proving that the parties involved are not incapable of performing the marriage.
Birth certificate from the country of origin of the foreign citizens
Certificate of residency in Greece
A photocopy of the following documents (visa/residence permit/passport) proving the legal entry and stay of the foreign citizen in Greece
The issuance of a special visa is not required for the entrance of a third country citizen in Greece in order for them to get married. However, they must legally reside in Greece, a condition which is also met when they have entered the country bearing a type C (tourist) entry visa (in cases where this is required), provided that at the time of the application’s submission and the marriage’s performance the period for which the visa has been granted has not expired.
Notification of the marriage in a local daily newspaper of the municipality of residence
Divorce decree (in case of dissolution of a previous marriage)
Payment of a deposit of 18,00 euros
Documents issued by competent public authorities of third countries must be duly authenticated (Apostille / consular validation) and translated into Greek with the relevant validation.
In case the civil marriage is performed between a Greek citizen and a foreign citizen, it is noted that the citizen of the third country establishes the right of legal residence in Greece and is entitled to issue a relevant residence permit. According to the provisions of the Immigration Code (Greek Law 5038/2023) a special residence permit is issued to the third country citizen which is also the spouse of a Greek citizen for an initial period of five years. It is specifically stated that the spouse or the partner with whom the Greek citizen has entered into a marriage or civil partnership-if it was performed in Greece or before a Greek consular authority- who wishes to acquire a Residence Permit, must submit an electronic application to the competent authority within three (3) months from the date of entry into the country or within three (3) months from the date of the marriage or civil partnership concluded in Greece, if he/she proves in writing his/her family relationship with the Greek citizen. In case of failure to submit the application within a period of one (1) year from the date of entry or the date of the marriage or civil partnership or the birth of a child, a fine of fifty (50) euros is imposed to them. After the expiry of the initial residence card, it shall either be conditionally converted into a ten-year residence permit or renewed for five years at a time. The following documents are required for the initial issue of the residence permit:
A copy of a valid passport or travel document recognized by our country
An entry visa – type C, where required
A notarial deed of marriage pointing out the declaration of marriage to the competent authority or a notarial deed of civil partnership concluded in Greece or before a Greek consular authority
Police identity card of the Greek citizen
Certificate of Family Status
* The information is accurate to the best of our knowledge as at the time of writing. We have no obligation to update it. We accept no responsibility against any third party who is not a client of the firm and has not signed the terms of our engagement.