The sunny weather and beautiful landscapes have turned Cyprus into one of Europe’s favorite wedding destinations. Not only locals but also foreign citizens can come and get married here. There are two sides when it comes it organizing a wedding in Cyprus: the first one refers to the legal part and the second to the ceremony.
Below, we invite you to find out how you can have the perfect Cypriot wedding. We are a law firm in Cyprus, and we can assist with the legal registration of your marriage here.
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Steps to complete for a Cyprus-based wedding
No matter if you are a Cypriot or foreign couple, planning a wedding in Cyprus is not complicated, however, you need to complete a few steps. These are:
- choose the date and venue for the event;
- contact the city hall in the Cypriot city you are planning to have the wedding and booking a date;
- contact the priest in the parish you want to officialize the religious ceremony (if you want one).
For foreign citizens seeking to organize a Cypriot wedding, it is also important to plan these steps a few weeks ahead in order to make sure they have sufficient time for all the formalities.
We remind you that if you are a non-EU/EEA couple you need to apply for a visa for Cyprus to hold the wedding here. It can take from 5 to 15 days to obtain a tourist visa, which is why we advise you get in contact with our lawyers in Cyprus for support.
Documents to prepare for a wedding in Cyprus
If you live or plan on coming to Cyprus for the wedding, you need to prepare a set of documents, among which:
- identification documents (passports in the case of foreign citizens);
- birth certificates of the future spouses;
- divorce certificate if one or both persons have been married before;
- death certificate of the late spouse in case any of the parties getting married is a widower;
- non-impediment certificates for foreign citizens organizing a Cyprus wedding.
Such certificates can be obtained from the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a local court for those who live here, or from the Cypriot embassy/consulate in their home countries. Such certificates cannot be more than 3 months older when submitted with the city hall where the wedding will take place.
What to consider about a Cyprus wedding as a foreigner
Having a wedding in Cyprus as a foreign citizen implies obtaining a 3-day special license for residency. The civil ceremony will take place at the city hall and is officialized by the mayor or another representative. Against a fee, the ceremony can also be organized in any other venue established by the couple. It is also required to have at least two witnesses to the wedding. Religious marriages are completed after the civil ones take place.
In Cyprus, wedding ceremonies can be conducted in English for foreign couples.
If you are planning a wedding here, you can rely on our Cypriot lawyers for support in preparing the necessary documents, so that you can come and enjoy the ceremony and party alongside your guests.
We offer support in various areas of the Family Law, including on marriage in Cyprus. Should you need support as a Cypriot or foreign national, do not hesitate to contact us. Our lawyers are at your disposal with complete support with respect to the civil procedure. We can also advise on how to register a marriage certificate obtained abroad.
How much does it cost to organize a Cypriot wedding?
Organizing a wedding in Cyprus is not more expensive compared to other exotic destinations. The insular state is a great vacation destination with plenty of venues already in place for such ceremonies.
Here are the main aspects to consider about a wedding in Cyprus:
- dinner and drink packages can range between 40 and 65 euros;
- hiring a photographer can cost between 1,000 and 2,000 euros;
- bridal bouquets and decorations can from 60 to 100 euros, respectively 800 to more than 2,000 euros;
- accommodation can also cost around 3,000 euros for all the guests for a few nights.
For more information on the legal requirements for a Cyprus-based wedding, please contact our local law firm.