Civil Wedding in Larnaca, Cyprus: 2026 GuideMarried in Larnaca: the civil wedding guide

Some of the most beautiful weddings start in a municipal office in Larnaca. A short, simple civil ceremony, then a long lunch by the sea, and sometimes a big celebration back home weeks later. Here's what photographing them has taught us.

Why Cyprus

For many couples, Cyprus is the closest place to marry in a civil ceremony. Lebanon, for example, doesn't perform civil marriages at home but does register ones made abroad, so Cyprus, a short flight away, has become the natural choice. It's also simply a beautiful place to get married: sea, old stone and warm light for most of the year.

How the ceremony works

The ceremony takes place with a Marriage Officer of the municipality, the two of you and two witnesses. It's short, usually well under half an hour, and can be held in English. Everyone signs, and you leave with your marriage certificate.

A short, simple civil ceremony, then a long lunch by the sea.

The documents

Requirements depend on your nationality and can change, so always confirm the current list with the municipality or a local wedding planner. As a general guide, foreign couples are asked for:

• Valid passports (with several months of validity left).
• A recent certificate of marital status from your home country, showing you're free to marry. It's usually only accepted for a limited time after it's issued.
• Divorce or death certificates, if either of you was married before.
• An apostille on foreign documents, and an official translation (into English or Greek) where needed.
• Two witnesses over 18, with passports or ID cards.

Timing: notice or special procedure

There are two routes. With the standard notice procedure, you apply and then marry after about two weeks, and within three months of applying. If you're short on time, a special procedure allows the ceremony on the day you apply or within a few days, for a higher fee. Check the current notice period and fees when you book, as sources differ by a day or so.

After the wedding

If you'll register your marriage in another country, ask for an apostille on your Cyprus marriage certificate before you leave the island. It saves a lot of back and forth later.

Making it beautiful

A civil ceremony is short, which is exactly why it's worth planning the rest of the day with care. The advice: book the ceremony for late afternoon, keep an hour afterwards for portraits by the sea or in the old town, and end with dinner as the sun goes down. The collections cover civil weddings in Cyprus, and The Intimate Celebration is made for exactly this kind of day.

Jad Flayhan

Editorial destination wedding photographer, based in Madrid & Beirut. More about Jad