Civil marriage in Cyprus for Israeli, Lebanese and mixed-faith couples

In Israel, marriage within the country is performed by the religious authorities of each community, and there is no civil marriage. In Lebanon, marriage is a matter for the religious communities too. A civil marriage made abroad is a different matter: Israel registers it, and Lebanon has long recognised civil marriages made outside the country. Cyprus is the nearest place to make one, about an hour by air from Tel Aviv or Beirut, with English widely spoken and municipalities that marry couples from abroad every working day.

The civil marriage law asks two things that matter here: that you are a man and a woman, and that each of you is free to marry. It does not ask your religion, and neither of you needs to live in Cyprus. Each partner brings a passport and proof of single status issued within the last three months; a divorced partner brings the final divorce papers, translated and apostilled. You need two witnesses over eighteen with copies of their passports.

For Israelis, the Paphos municipality's guide for 2026 asks for the blue marital status certificate from the Population Authority, with a notarised English translation carrying an apostille. Make sure every name is spelled exactly as in the passport: a missing letter between the Hebrew and the English is the most common reason for a delay.

The full process, the notice and the fees are in our guide to a civil wedding in Cyprus.

The marriage certificate is issued straight after the ceremony, in English if you ask. Have it apostilled at the Ministry of Justice in Nicosia or Limassol before you fly home.

• Israel: the marriage is registered with the Population and Immigration Authority as a change of personal status, from the Cyprus certificate with its apostille. The Israeli embassy in Nicosia also takes the notice by appointment, at no charge, with the original certificate and its apostille, a verified translation and the passports.
• Lebanon: register the marriage through the Lebanese embassy or the civil registry at home, and ask them first which documents they want translated and stamped.
• Other nationalities: ask your own embassy before you book the date.

Many couples do the legal part quietly in Cyprus, with two witnesses or their closest family, and hold the wedding they want at home: a chuppah led by a friend, a blessing, a party with everyone. Others bring the whole celebration to the island. Either way, the ceremony at home has no legal force: the marriage is the one made in Cyprus, so say on the invitation which event is which.

For family who will not travel on Shabbat, a weekday ceremony suits both them and the town hall, which marries mostly on weekdays. If some guests keep kosher or halal, ask early what the caterer can certify.

Cyprus does not marry same-sex couples, but since 2015 its civil union law lets two people register a civil union whatever their gender. It is made before a District Officer rather than the municipality, couples who do not live in Cyprus can choose any district, and the Ministry of Interior's fee is €90, four certificates included, with two witnesses. Whether a civil union is recognised at home depends on your country, so ask before you book.

A Greek Orthodox church in Cyprus marries a couple when both are baptised Christians and one is Orthodox, so a Jewish or Muslim partner marries civilly. Mixed Christian couples, a Maronite and an Orthodox partner for example, can marry in church with both baptism certificates.