Greek Marriage Certificate Translation for UK Visa

Since Brexit, Greek nationals have been among the most frequent EU applicants for UK spouse and settlement visas. It does not matter which route you use, Appendix FM, the EU Settlement Scheme or another. If your marriage certificate is in Greek, UKVI needs a certified English translation.

Types of Greek Marriage Documents

Romanising Greek Names for UKVI

Writing Greek names in English letters causes more problems than anything else. The Greek alphabet has 24 letters, and several have no exact English match. Different systems give different spellings. That can make your name look different on your Greek marriage certificate and your passport.

Your certified translator follows the official ELOT 743 standard. The Greek government uses the same one for passports. If the name on your marriage certificate does not match the one in your passport, the translator will flag it and use the spelling from your passport.

Greek Name Order and Conventions

Greek puts names in the same order as English: given name first, surname last. So it causes fewer problems than Hungarian or Japanese. Even so, a few Greek naming habits matter:

• Surname change on marriage: Greek women used to take their husband's surname. Since 1983 they have had the legal right to keep their birth surname. Your certificate shows both spouses' full names as they were at registration.
• Patronymic forms: Greek surnames often came from the father's first name. On older certificates, this patronymic can differ from the legal surname.
• Double-barrelled names: Some Greeks use both their father's and their grandfather's surname. The certificate shows the legally registered name.

EUSS and Post-Brexit Applications

Greek nationals who lived in the UK before 31 December 2020 may apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) for pre-settled or settled status. EUSS rules differ slightly:

• EUSS accepts marriage certificates without an apostille. But if the certificate is in Greek, it still needs a certified translation
• If you apply after the 30 June 2021 deadline, you must show good reasons for being late
• If you are the non-EEA spouse of a Greek national, both your documents and theirs may need translation

Obtaining Your Greek Marriage Certificate

You can get a copy of your Greek marriage certificate from:

• The local Ληξιαρχείο where the marriage was registered. Go in person, or apply by post with a power of attorney
• The Greek Embassy or Consulate in London, which can sometimes help with document requests
• The online gov.gr portal — Greece has put many civil documents online. You can download an authenticated digital copy and use it straight away

Costs and Turnaround

Frequently Asked Questions

My Greek marriage certificate name differs from my UK passport. What should I do?

This happens often, because different spelling standards were used at different times. Your translator will show both the name from the certificate and the passport spelling, with a short note explaining it. Add a brief cover letter to your visa application explaining the difference as well.

Does my Greek marriage certificate need an apostille for a UK visa?

UKVI does not usually ask for an apostille on foreign civil documents sent with a visa application. A certified translation from a qualified translator is enough. But if you are using the certificate for something else, such as buying property or an inheritance case, the body receiving it may want an apostille from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Can I use a Greek marriage certificate from the Orthodox Church?

Yes, as long as the religious marriage was also registered with the civil registry. That is the norm in Greece. UKVI takes the church certificate as extra evidence, but the civil Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Γάμου is the main document. If you had only a religious ceremony and never registered it, UKVI may not recognise the marriage — get legal advice in that case.