British National Getting Married in Greece: CNI, British Embassy Athens, Civil Partnership Rules and UK Divorce Document Support

British Nationals Getting Married in Greece

If you are a British national planning to get married in Greece, you must follow the Greek marriage process.

Your marriage will usually be recognised in the UK if:

• you follow the correct process under Greek law; and
• the marriage would be allowed under UK law.

The Greek local authority, registrar, venue or person conducting your ceremony can confirm which documents you need.

British nationals may need a Certificate of No Impediment, also known as a CNI, for marriage in Greece.

A CNI is a legal document. It confirms that no legal barrier to your marriage has been shown to exist.

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Civil Partnership in Greece

If you are forming a civil partnership in Greece, you do not need a CNI.

Your civil partnership will usually be recognised in the UK if:

• you follow the correct process under Greek law; and
• the civil partnership would be allowed under UK law.

You should still check the Greek civil partnership requirements before making plans.

The Greek authority can confirm:

• which documents you need;
• whether UK documents need an apostille;
• whether documents need Greek translation;
• whether previous marriage or civil partnership documents are required;
• whether any name change documents are needed.

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Certificate of No Impediment for Greece

British nationals can apply for a CNI through a British embassy or consulate in Greece.

The process involves an online application and an appointment.

You must:

• apply online;
• pay the CNI fee;
• book an appointment at a British embassy or consulate in Greece;
• attend the appointment to give notice;
• bring the originals of the documents you uploaded;
• provide proof that you have been in Greece for the required period, if you do not live there;
• wait for the 7-day notice period;
• collect your CNI from the British Embassy Athens or arrange collection by prepaid courier.

The UK Government guidance states that the CNI fee is £100. This includes:

• £50 for receiving notice; and
• £50 for issuing the CNI.

Once issued, the CNI will usually be accepted for 6 months.

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Giving Notice in Greece

At your appointment, you make a declaration that you intend to get married. This is known as giving notice.

During the appointment, you can check the information in your notice and make corrections before signing.

Your notice will then be displayed for 7 days.

If no one raises a legal objection, your CNI will be issued after the notice period.

You should select an appointment at least 7 days after you apply online. This gives consular staff time to check your documents.

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The 3 Whole Days Rule

If you do not live in Greece, you must be in Greece for 3 whole days before your notice can be displayed.

The count starts the day after you arrive.

For example, if you arrive in Greece on Thursday, the earliest day you can give notice is Monday.

You need evidence showing:

• when you arrived in Greece; and
• where you are staying in Greece.

To prove when you arrived, you may use:

• a hotel or accommodation booking showing you checked in at least 3 days earlier;
• a passport stamp;
• a ticket;
• a boarding pass.

To prove where you are staying, you may use:

• a hotel or accommodation booking showing the address; or
• a signed statement from the property owner or tenant if you are staying with friends or family.

The signed statement should include:

• the dates you are staying at the property;
• the address;
• your full name;
• the owner’s or tenant’s full name.

If your evidence is digital, print it and bring it to your appointment.

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Documents Needed for the CNI Application

To apply online for a Greece CNI, you usually need:

• your UK passport;
• proof of address if you live in Greece;
• your partner’s passport or national identity card;
• your partner’s proof of address;
• proof that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended;
• your partner’s proof that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended;
• a credit or debit card for payment.

If any document is not in English or Greek, you may need a certified translation.

You should bring the original document and translation to your appointment.

Prepare everything before you start. The online application may time out if you are inactive for 20 minutes.

The online application usually takes about 35 minutes.

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Proof of Address if You Live in Greece

If you live in Greece, you need to provide proof of your address.

The name on your proof of address must match the name on your passport.

You may use:

• a residence permit, residence certificate or residence card;
• a bank or mortgage statement;
• a letter from your bank;
• a utility bill;
• a council tax bill or local equivalent;
• a tenancy agreement;
• a housing association rent card or equivalent;
• a government tax demand;
• a self-assessment statement.

Your proof of address must usually be dated within the last 3 months, unless it is a residence permit.

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Marriage Registration in Greece

If you marry in Greece, your marriage will be registered in Greece.

It will not be added to UK marriage records.

You cannot register the marriage later at:

• a UK register office;
• a British Embassy;
• a British Consulate.

You should keep your Greek marriage certificate as evidence of your marriage.

If you want to use the certificate outside Greece, you may need:

• a translation;
• an apostille;
• or further legalisation, depending on the destination country.

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Other Documents for Marriage in Greece

A CNI may not be the only document you need.

The Greek authority may also ask for:

• your UK passport;
• your partner’s passport or national identity card;
• birth certificates;
• proof of address;
• proof of nationality;
• proof of marital status;
• proof that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended;
• apostilled documents;
• certified Greek translations.

You should check the exact list before you book travel or confirm a ceremony date.

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If You Were Previously Married or in a Civil Partnership

If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must prove that the previous relationship has ended.

The UK Government guidance lists documents such as:

• a Decree Absolute or Final Order;
• a death certificate for your husband, wife or civil partner;
• an annulment certificate.

For England and Wales divorce cases, you will usually need a Decree Absolute or Final Order.

A Decree Absolute is the older final divorce order. It usually applies to divorces completed before 6 April 2022.

A Final Order is the current final divorce order. It usually applies to divorce cases issued on or after 6 April 2022.

Both documents prove that the previous marriage has legally ended.

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If You Do Not Have the UK Divorce Document

Many British nationals no longer hold the original Decree Absolute or Final Order.

Some only have:

• an old scan;
• a downloaded PDF;
• a court email attachment;
• a blurred photo;
• an electronic divorce order;
• an unclear copy from an old file.

The UK Government guidance says you can order a UK Decree Absolute or Final Order from a divorce, dissolution or annulment record.

This matters because your Greece CNI application may require proof that a previous marriage or civil partnership has ended.

Ginkgo Advisory can help with this UK document stage.

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Digital Divorce Documents Need Further Evidence

The Greece guidance includes an important point.

If you only have a digital document showing that the marriage or civil partnership has ended, you can upload it when you apply online. However, you need to bring further evidence to your appointment.

For example, you may need an email, letter or other court document confirming that the court issued the divorce document.

This matters for modern UK divorce records.

Many Final Orders now exist as court PDFs or electronic documents. A loose printout may not show the full source trail.

A stronger route may include:

• reviewing the UK court document;
• checking whether it is a court PDF, HMCTS copy or paper order;
• obtaining supporting court evidence where available;
• preparing solicitor certification;
• arranging a UK FCDO apostille where needed;
• arranging Greek translation if required.

This gives the document a clearer chain before you use it for Greece marriage paperwork.

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Do You Need an Apostille for Greece?

You should check this with the Greek authority or the person conducting your ceremony.

The guidance states that some documents may need to be legalised with an apostille or translated by a qualified translator.

For a UK divorce document, the common route may be:

UK divorce document → solicitor certification → UK FCDO apostille → Greek translation if required → use in Greece

This route can help where the document is:

• a court PDF;
• an electronic Final Order;
• an unclear scan;
• a certified copy;
• or a document that needs a clearer source trail.

Ginkgo Advisory handles the UK side. You should confirm any Greek translation or local acceptance rules with the Greek authority.

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If the Divorce Took Place Outside the UK

If your divorce or dissolution took place outside the UK, you may need extra evidence.

You may need to show that you or your ex-partner were a national of that country or resident there when the divorce took place.

If you have a paper document, bring the original document to your appointment. You may also be able to use a copy certified in the country where it was issued.

If you only have a digital document, you may need further evidence from the issuing court or authority.

Check this before you apply. Missing evidence can delay the CNI process.

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Your Former Spouse or Civil Partner Has Died

If your former husband, wife or civil partner has died, you may need their death certificate.

If the death certificate does not show your relationship to the deceased, you may also need your marriage or civil partnership certificate.

Bring the documents to your appointment if they form part of your evidence.

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If You Want to Marry Your Civil Partner

You cannot get a CNI while you are still in a civil partnership.

If you want to marry your civil partner, you must either:

• convert the civil partnership into a marriage; or
• end the civil partnership before getting married.

If you registered a same-sex civil partnership in the UK, you may be able to convert it into a marriage.

Check the law of that country if the civil partnership was registered elsewhere.

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银杏顾问如何协助

Ginkgo Advisory is a London-based legal service provider.

We assist with the UK document side of marriage and civil partnership preparation for Greece. This is especially useful if a British national has been divorced in England or Wales.

我们可协助的事项包括：

• UK Decree Absolute retrieval;
• UK Final Order retrieval;
• UK divorce document review;
• supporting court evidence review where available;
• solicitor certification;
• UK FCDO apostille;
• 2 working days UK apostille service, where suitable;
• document preparation for Greece marriage or civil partnership use.

We do not replace the British Embassy Athens, a British consulate in Greece or the Greek local authority.

You should always check the Greek marriage or civil partnership requirements directly.

Our role is focused. We help ensure that the UK divorce document is obtained, reviewed, certified and apostilled correctly before you use it overseas.

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British National Getting Married in Greece: UK Divorce Document Support

If you are a British national getting married in Greece and you were previously divorced in England or Wales, your Decree Absolute or Final Order may form part of your CNI paperwork.

If you are forming a civil partnership in Greece, you may not need a CNI. However, you may still need properly prepared UK evidence if you were previously married or in a civil partnership.

Ginkgo Advisory can help you obtain the UK divorce document, prepare solicitor certification and arrange a UK FCDO apostille in suitable cases.

Contact Ginkgo Advisory for UK Decree Absolute / Final Order certification and apostille support for marriage or civil partnership in Greece.