A civil wedding in Cyprus: the papers, the notice and the fees

Under the civil marriage law, a man and a woman of any nationality can marry at any municipality in Cyprus, and neither of you needs to live there. The ceremony is performed by the mayor, a deputy, a member of the council, or a marriage officer authorised by the Minister of the Interior. The law asks nothing about religion. Same-sex couples cannot marry, but can register a civil union before a District Officer.

• A valid passport.
• Proof that you are free to marry, issued within the last three months.
• A copy of your birth certificate, which Paphos asks for.
• If you were married before: the final divorce decree, or the death certificate of your late spouse.
• If your name has changed: the document that changed it.

Documents in a language other than Greek or English need an official translation into one of them, and documents from countries in the Hague Convention need an apostille. Under a 2025 Ministry of Interior notice, couples visiting from abroad do not need a Cypriot certificate of no impediment.

From the UK

A single statutory declaration for each partner, sworn before a solicitor or notary in the UK within three months of the wedding and apostilled, with any decree absolute or death certificate, also apostilled.

From Israel

The blue marital status certificate from the Population Authority, with a notarised English translation carrying an apostille. More on this in our piece on couples from Israel and Lebanon.

From anywhere else

Ask your embassy and the municipality you choose, before you book anything else. The list depends on the country that issues your papers.

By law the wedding takes place at least 15 days and at most three months after you give notice, with the standard licence. For a higher fee, a special licence lets you marry within days: the Deputy Ministry of Tourism says two to three working days. Each town hall has its own routine:

• Paphos: book by email, then come in person at least one working day before the wedding, on a weekday morning.
• Larnaca: a fast-track wedding a day or two after you apply, if you booked at least two weeks ahead.

Both of you must be there on the day. Arrive two or three working days early, and check the public holidays, when the town halls close.

Paphos figures are from its 2026 venues guide and include the licence; beaches outside the town's own area may cost more. Certified copies of the certificate are extra, €14 each in Limassol. Fees change: check the municipality's page in the year you marry.

The law lets the couple choose the place, and the municipalities marry well beyond their own walls. Paphos marries couples at its gallery, its museum, on beaches, in hotels and on boats. Ayia Napa marries at its town hall, on beaches such as Agia Thekla and Kambouri, and at the chapel of Agioi Anargyroi near Cape Greco. Limassol's town hall takes up to fifty guests, and it marries at the historical archive and on the seafront as well.

Two witnesses over eighteen, with copies of their valid passports, present at the ceremony. Friends or family from home are fine.

The marriage certificate is issued straight after the ceremony, and in English if you ask. Before you fly home, have it apostilled at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order in Nicosia or Limassol, on a weekday until half past two.

• UK: the marriage is recognised if it was legal in Cyprus. It is not registered in the UK, and no UK certificate is issued.
• Israel: register it as a change of personal status, with the apostilled certificate.
• Elsewhere: your embassy will say what it needs.

Many couples marry at the town hall on a weekday with two witnesses and celebrate on Saturday, or have the marriage officer come to the venue in front of everyone. A symbolic ceremony on its own has no legal force, so make sure the legal part happens somewhere. If there are two events, say so on the invitation, with the time and place of each and who it is for.