| |
 Celebration
of Civil Marriages
This document, which has been prepared by the Union of Cyprus
Municipalities, does not constitute any legal or official document,
but a mere informative instrument aiming to assist the reader
to acquire basic knowledge of the procedure for the celebration
of civil marriages in Cyprus.
The contracting of civil marriage in Cyprus is valid
since 1923. As the procedure is simple many couples from all
over the world come to celebrate their marriage in Cyprus and
combine this event with holidays.
Persons desiring to have their marriage celebrated in Cyprus
under the provisions of the Marriage Law, Cap. 279, may only
apply, after their arrival in Cyprus, personally, to
the Marriage Officer of the Municipality of their choice,
in order to go through certain formalities which are necessary
prior to their marriage.
MARRIAGE BY NOTICE
a. As a first step, the interested couple (who
should be in possession of legal identification - passports
and birth certificates) must submit a "Notice of Marriage"
to the Marriage Officer. This Notice, which is completed by
the Marriage Officer and signed separately by each of the two
parties, is accompanied by a statement of particulars of the
persons concerned, on the basis of their passports.
b. At the same time, each of the two parties
must make a declaration on oath or affirmation before the Marriage
Officer that they know of no impediment or lawful hindrance
to their marriage.
c. The interested persons should also furnish
an original certificate indicating that they are not married
either from their Country (Ministry or Municipality ) or from
their Consulate or Embassy in Cyprus). If however the Marriage
Officer has any doubt about the accuracy or genuineness of
the certificate furnished by the interested persons, or if
the interested persons are unable to produce such an official
document (like British citizens) they will be called upon to
make a sworn declaration before the Registrar of a District
Court in Cyprus that they are single and have never been married
before. However divorcees have to present the "Decree
Absolute"
of their dissolved marriage and widows/ers have to present
the
"Certificate of death" of their late partner. Also
they both have to make a declaration on oath (affidavit) that
they have never been married again since then.
d. When these formalities have been completed,
the marriage must be celebrated within 15 clear days at the
earliest, or within 3 months at the latest, from the date the
notice is given. If, for any reason, the marriage is not celebrated
within 3 months, the notice given and all consequential proceedings
are considered to be void. In fact, interested persons, in order
to have a civil marriage by notice, should stay in Cyprus for
about 20 days.
MARRIAGE BY SPECIAL LICENCE
a. In cases of urgency, however, the couple
can apply to the Marriage Officer for the issue of a special
licence. For this purpose, the couple must complete jointly
and submit to the Marriage Officer an application giving particulars
of themselves, on the basis of their passports and birth certificates.
b. The formalities prescribed in the above-mentioned
paragraphs 2(b) and (c) are also applied in the case of the
marriage by special licence.
c. By means of the special licence the marriage can
be celebrated within 3-4 days, but in any case not later than
3 months from the date the special license is granted.
PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE
If either party to the intended marriage, not being a widower
or a widow, is under eighteen years of age, the written consent
of the father, or if he is dead or incapable of consenting,
of the mother or, if both are dead or incapable of consenting,
of the lawful guardian of such party, must be produced to the
Marriage Officer on their application.
PENALTY FOR A FALSE STATEMENT
It should be pointed out that any person who wilfully makes
or inserts any false statement in any declaration, certificate
or other document required by Law to be made or issued is liable
to imprisonment.
RELIGIOUS CEREMONY
A civil marriage may be celebrated either by the Marriage Officer
at his office, or by a Registered Minister of Religion at his
church. In this case all the same procedure should also be followed
at the municipality, but the religious ceremony can be held
at a church. All necessary arrangements with the Registered
Minister and the church should be carried out by the interested
persons.
FEE
The fee for marriages celebrated by the Marriage Officer are
as follows:
a. Marriage by notice CYŁ 75
b. Marriage by special licence CYŁ165
CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
The couple is supplied with a certificate of marriage by the
Marriage Officer, but if they want to secure one or more certified
copies of the certificate they can apply to the Registration
Service of the Ministry of Interior or to the Municipality
they got married. The fee is CYŁ8 for each certified copy.
NOTICE TO BE FORWARED TO THE CONSULATE
It should also be pointed out that, according to the Law, if
either of the parties to the intended marriage is a subject
of a foreign country having a Consul in Cyprus, the Marriage
Officer shall forward to the Consulate of such country in Cyprus
a certified copy of the notice of marriage.
In fact, the Marriage Officer forwards to the Embassy or the
Consulate of such country a copy of the certificate of Marriage.
|
