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conbon78
Joined: 05 Jun 2008
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 Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject: Marrying a Korean - somewhere else |
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| Ok...this could be a tough question, but I'm hoping someone has married a Korean and done a destination wedding???? We are getting married in Greece in May, but have no idea how to get the marriage license. I think we have to get one here and then have it translated into Greek, but I'm not sure. If you go on the US Embassy website, it only gives options for getting married in Korea or in America, but that's it. Any advice? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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That's because you're checking the website for the US Embassy to the Republic of Korea, not the US Embassy to Greece. The Embassy in Athens has this to say about getting married in Greece:
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Citizen Services
General Information Concerning Marriage Ceremonies in Greece
As of July 18, 1982, both civil and religious marriage ceremonies may be performed in Greece according to Greek law number 1250. This law also legalized all civil marriages performed abroad between a Greek citizen and an alien prior to this date. Previously, the Greek State recognized only religious ceremonies.
Foreign nationals in Greece may be married either in a civil ceremony by a mayor, in a religious ceremony by a priest, or both. Although there is no residency requirement for foreign nationals wishing to marry in Greece, the bureaucratic procedure may take several weeks to complete before a marriage certificate may be obtained.
Marriage licenses can be obtained from one�s current place of residence, prior to coming to Greece, and are generally accepted by the Greek authorities. This only applies, however, if neither the bride nor the groom is resident in Greece.
Valid American Marriage Licenses are accepted in Greece provided that they do not contain restrictive statements; for example, �THIS LICENSE IS VALID FOR COUNTY X� or �MARRIAGE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, ETC �. These restrictive statements may prohibit Greek municipality officials from honoring an otherwise valid American marriage license. If these statements cannot be removed, the license should be amended by the issuing authority to include GREECE as one of the places in which the marriage can take place. It is also recommended that the marriage license be endorsed with the APOSTILE stamp in accordance with the 1961 HAGUE Convention. The APOSTILE stamp is a special authentication for documents to be used outside the United States and can be obtained form your local State Secretary. In order to avoid any further delay in proceeding with the marriage upon arrival in Greece, a couple may obtain a formal translation of the license into the Greek language from the nearest Greek Consulate in the U.S. rather than at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens.
If one of the parties to be married in Greece is not an American, the American should ascertain that complete information (full name, birth data, names of parents, etc.) about his/her bride/groom is contained in his/her marriage license to avoid difficulties in its being accepted in Greece.
NOTE: Foreigners should be in possession of a resident permit if they reside permanently in Greece, or if the length of their stay in the country exceeds the residence permit-free period. (American citizens can stay up to three months without having to obtain a residence). At the time of entry into the country, a stamp must be placed in the passport showing the date and place of entry. If the first port of entry is another Schengen state, the entry stamp should be placed in the passport upon entry into that country. Persons who lack port of entry stamps will not be able to perform or register their marriage.
The following documents are required to obtain a Greek marriage license for marriage ceremonies performed in Greece which involve foreigners:
1. A passport or other travel document
2. A certified copy of your birth certificate, along with an official translation. Official translations can be obtained at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Translation Department, KEPPA, Arionos 10, Athens, tel. 210 328-5713, 210-328-5717. The translation may take up to a week to prepare. (See also note on page 5).
3. If applicable, documentary evidence (death certificate or final/irrevocable divorce decree) of the termination of a previous marriage (the most recent, if more than one), along with an official translation.
Note: All civil documents (birth, death, divorce, etc.,) must be endorsed with an Apostille Stamp that can be obtained from the Secretary of State of the issuing state.
4. Confirmation by an American Consular Officer that there is no impediment to the marriage (i.e., neither party is under 18 years of age, there is no existing un-dissolved marriage, etc.). This confirmation is issued in the form of an Affidavit of Marriage signed under oath by the American citizen bride or groom before a Consular Officer in Athens or Thessaloniki. (For minors under 18 years of age, a court decision approving the marriage is required).
The affidavit must be completed in English and Greek. In Athens, the Embassy�s Notarial Unit is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Greek and American holidays exempted. In Thesaloniki, the Consulate General performs notarial services on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m., Greek and American holidays excepted. The fee for the affidavit is $30.00 dollars or the equivalent in � (Euros).
5. A copy of the newspaper in which the wedding notice was published. Wedding notices should be published in one of the local newspapers in the Greek language (the names should be phonetically written in Greek and not in Latin Characters) before the application for a marriage license is submitted. In small towns where newspapers are not published, notices are posted by the mayor or president of the community at the City Hall or Community Office.
FOR EXAMPLE: John R. Doe, born in Fair City, Indiana, USA, the son of James and Mary (nee Rice) Doe, and Sally Smith, daughter of Peter and Susan (nee Brown) Smith, born in Small Town, Tennessee, USA, will marry each other in the city of Athens.
Following the ceremony, the marriage must be registered at the Vital Statistics office (Lixiarcheio). See below.
CIVIL MARRIAGES
The above-mentioned documents must be taken in person to the City Hall (Demarchio) or the President of the Community (Proedros Kinotetos) where the applicant resides to apply for a marriage license. If both the bride and the groom are foreign nationals, each must submit a set of documents. The marriage license is issued seven days after the submission of the application and is good for six months. The civil ceremony may be performed anywhere in Greece.
Upon issuance of the marriage license, the concerned persons must jointly submit another application to the Mayor or President of the Community where they will marry. The official then sets the date for the wedding ceremony. Two witnesses, provided by the marrying couple, must attend the wedding ceremony, one of whom will act as an interpreter. Witnesses should have their passports or Greek identification cards with them.
RELIGIOUS MARRIAGES
The documents listed on page 1 and 2 must be taken to the priest who will perform the ceremony. He then will apply for and obtain the marriage license from the appropriate official. A waiting period is mandatory after the priest receives the documents. It should be noted that Greek law does not provide for the religious marriage of a Christian to a non-Christian.
Each denomination has specific requirements for celebrating a marriage as follows:
Protestant Church
1. Church requirements:
a. Both parties must show evidence of the Christian faith and baptism.
b. The couple must meet with the Pastor for a series of pre-marital counseling sessions, or must have a letter from their Pastor declaring that the counseling has been received.
c. The couple is responsible for making arrangements to have flowers in the church and/or the services of an organist.
2. One of the persons involved must be a Protestant, and neither can be of the Greek Orthodox faith.
3. Two witnesses must be available to attend the wedding ceremony.
More detailed information may be obtained by writing to the parish Priest of St. Andrew�s American Protestant church, 66 Sina Street, 106 72 Athens, Greece.
Roman Catholic Church
1. Church requirements:
a. Each party must present the following certificates: baptism (from the church in which it was performed), confirmation, and freedom to marry.
b. Banns need not be posted in the case of non-residents of Greece.
2. Special dispensation is required in the case of mixed marriages. The non-Catholic party to the marriage must obtain certificates of birth, baptism, and freedom to marry from his or her church. Divorce is not recognized.
More detailed information may be obtained by writing to the Parish Priest, Saint Dionisios Aeropagitus Roman Catholic Cathedral, Omirou 9, 105 64 Athens, Greece or by calling 210 362 3603.
Jewish Faith
1. Clerical Requirements:
a. A certificate of freedom to marry issued by the senior Rabbinate of the area of residence must be presented.
b. A Jewish marriage ceremony may be performed only if both bride and groom are of the Jewish faith.
More detailed information may be obtained by writing to the Rabbi, Jewish Community, Melidoni 5, 105 53 Athens, Greece or by calling 210 325 2875, 210 325 2823 or 210 325 2773.
BOTH A CIVIL AND A RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE
Two sets of the aforementioned documents must be collected if a person desires both a civil and a religious ceremony. One set should be taken to the town hall and the entire process previously explained will be followed. The other set, likewise, should be taken to the priest and the requirements for the religious ceremony fulfilled.
REGISTRATION OF A MARRIAGE
Marriages of American citizens in Greece are not registered at the Embassy, but instead at the Vital Statistics Office (Lixiarhio) of the city where performed. This applies to all marriages, whether civil or religious, and must be done within 40 days following the ceremony. After 40 days marriages can only be registered with the payment of revenue stamps. Marriages can be registered by either spouse, or by a third party who is in possession of a power or attorney signed before a Notary Public giving him/her authority to take all steps necessary to effect registration of the marriage. Marriages that are not registered have no legal validity.
LEGAL CONCERNS
1. Either marriage, civil or religious, is a fully recognized legal marriage. It is not necessary to perform both ceremonies.
2. According to U.S. Statutes, marriages performed abroad, which are valid under the laws of that country, are generally accepted as valid by any state in the U.S.
3. Marriages performed in Greece that are not registered with the Bureau of Vital Statistics after the ceremony have no legal validity.
4. According to the Greek Nationality Law as amended on May 8, 1984, marriage does not result in the acquisition or loss of Greek nationality.
NOTE REGARDING OFFICIAL TRANSLATIONS INTO THE GREEK LANGUAGE
Greek Consulates in the U.S. can sometimes perform official translations of documents. To save time, you may inquire whether the Greek Consulate that has consular jurisdiction over your area of residence in the U.S. offers translation services. If the Greek Consulate is unable to translate your documents, then the translation must be done at the Translation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens.
Upon payment of an extra fee to the Translation Department, you may obtain expeditious service, which takes only two days instead of the normal one-week processing period. The Translation Department accepts documents for translation from 09:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
List of Athens Dailies
ESTIA
9 Anthimou Gazi Str., 105 61 Athens
Tel: 210-323-0650/322-0481, Fax: 210-324-3071, E-mail: [email protected]
RIZOSPASTIS
134 Lefkis Str., 145 68 Kryoneri, Tel: 210-629-7000, Fax: 210-629-7999/816-1841
E-mail: [email protected] - www.rizospastis.gr
AVRIANI
31 Dimitros Str., 177 78 Athens
Tel: 210-348-9000, Fax: 210-348-9013/348-9015, E-mail: [email protected]
TO VIMA
80 Michalakopoulou & Papadiamantopoulou Str., 115 28 Athens
Tel: 211-365-7000 or 210-776-6000, Fax: 211-365-8004
E-mail : [email protected] - http://tovima.dolnet.gr or http://digital.tovima.gr
KATHIMERINI
Ethnarhou Makariou Avenue & 2 Dimitriou Falireos Str., 185 47 N. Faliro
Tel: 210-480-8000, Fax: 210-480-8055
E-mail: [email protected] - www.kathimerini.gr
AVGHI
12 Aghiou Constantinou Street, 104 31 Athens
Tel: 210-523-1831/4, Fax: 210-523-1822/523-1830,
E-mail: [email protected] - www.avgi.gr
APOGEVMATINI
12 Fidiou Street, 106 78 Athens
Tel: 210-381-8811/384-6283/643-0011, Fax: 210-380-9876/380-9507
E-mail: [email protected] - www.apogevmatini.gr
ELEFTHEROS TYPOS
6-8 Aghissilaou Street, 151 24 Maroussi
Tel: 211-2124000, Fax: 211-2123999, E-mail: [email protected]
ELEFTHEROTYPIA
10-16 Minoos Str., 117 43 Athens
Tel 210-929-6001, Fax: 210-902-8311/12/13, E-mail: [email protected] - www.enet.gr
TA NEA
80 Michalakopoulou & Papadiamantopoulou Streets, 115 28 Athens
Tel: 211-365-7000 or 210-776-6000, Fax: 211-365-8301
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] - http://www.tanea.gr or http://digital.tanea.gr
ATHENS NEWS (English language)
3 Christou Lada Street, 102 37 Athens, Tel: 210-333-3161, Fax: 210-323-1384
E-mail: [email protected] - www.athensnews.gr |
The Korean partner should check with the Korean Embassy in Athens.
You will not be getting a marriage license from Korea for the simple reason that they don't exist. You can check with your state to see if you can apply for a marriage license that'll satisfy Greek law as outlined above. Or you could contract the marriage here in Korea and then have the religious ceremony in Greece, subject, of course, to the requirements of the particular denomination involved. |
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conbon78
Joined: 05 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:29 pm Post subject: thanks! |
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| Thank you!! Very interesting! I read that part on the Athens website, but I didn't at all get that information from it! I'm so confused. So they don't issue marriage licenses in Korea - good to know. I'll start researching more. Thank you!!! |
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KumaraKitty
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:16 am Post subject: |
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Have you considered simply registering the marriage legally here in Korea and having the ceremony in Greece?
We registered our marriage in Korea and were married in Canada. We consider our wedding ceremony day as our anniversary but it was far easier to register here in Korea.
Cheers! |
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