What do I need to arrange if I want to marry in Cyprus?
If you are a Dutch national planning to marry in Cyprus, you will need to provide certain documents. And you may need to meet extra requirements.
Can I get married in Cyprus?
Ask the civil registrar in the municipality where you want to get married if you are allowed to marry there as a Dutch national.
Same-sex couples cannot get married in Cyprus. Same-sex couples can however enter into a registered partnership in Cyprus.
You cannot get married at the Dutch embassy.
Requirements for getting married for Dutch nationals
If you are a Dutch national and you want to marry, you must meet the following requirements:
- You and your partner must be 18 or older. If you are under 18 and you marry abroad, the Dutch authorities will not recognise your marriage until you and your partner are both 18.
- You and your partner must not already be married to or have a registered partnership with someone else.
- If you are under guardianship, you will need the permission of your guardian or of the limited jurisdiction judge (‘kantonrechter’).
- The following family members are not allowed to marry each other or enter into a registered partnership with each other: parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and brothers and sisters.
What documents do I need to marry in Cyprus?
To get married in Cyprus you will need the following documents:
A certificate of legal capacity to marry shows that you and your partner are legally allowed to marry. To get this certificate, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
A declaration of marital status shows that you are unmarried. You can request this declaration at the Dutch embassy or the consulate-general of the country where you are getting married. To get this document, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
More information about applying for a declaration of marital status
You can get an official copy of your birth certificate from the municipality where you were born. The certificate must state the name of your parents.
If you are divorced, you will need an official copy of your divorce certificate.
If you are a widow or widower, you will need an official copy of your deceased spouse’s death certificate.
Is my marriage valid in the Netherlands?
There are 2 kinds of marriage in Cyprus:
- civil marriages. Civil marriages performed in Cyprus are recognised in the Netherlands.
- religious marriages. Religious marriages performed in Cyprus are not recognised in the Netherlands.
If you opt for a religious marriage in Cyprus, you must also enter into a civil marriage in order for your marriage to be recognised in the Netherlands.
Do I have to register my marriage in the Netherlands?
You may need to register your marriage in the Netherlands. This depends on where you live.
If you live in the Netherlands, you must register your marriage with your municipality. You will need your marriage certificate to do this. If your marriage certificate is in English, it does not need to be translated. But you must have it legalised with an apostille in Cyprus.
More information about having documents from Cyprus legalised
If you live outside the Netherlands, you can have your marriage certificate converted into a Dutch certificate by the municipality of The Hague. This is not mandatory, but it can be useful if you ever need an extract in the future.
More information about registering a foreign marriage certificate in the Netherlands
Additional information
To get married in Cyprus you must first make an appointment with the marriage officer in the municipality where you want to marry. Submit your notice of marriage to the marriage officer. You and your partner must both be at the appointment. You must both submit a declaration confirming there is no impediment for the marriage to be registered. And that you have obtained all necessary consents.
In certain cases, you and your partner may have to appear before a Cypriot District Court and make a sworn declaration confirming that neither of you are married already.