For couples from abroad
Getting Married in Santorini From the USA
Both document routes explained — from home with apostilles, or through the US Embassy in Athens — by the planners who file the papers.
The short answer
US citizens can legally marry in Santorini by one of two routes: an apostilled marriage licence from home valid for a wedding outside the state (plus a single-status affidavit), or an affidavit of marital status issued in person at the US Embassy in Athens. Packages start at €950; we handle the licence and the Town Hall.
The paperwork
The Documents You Will Need
For United States citizens
- Option 1 — documents taken only from the USA: a marriage licence with apostille (one licence covers both of you) that is valid for a wedding outside the state, translated into Greek; plus an affidavit of single status (no translation and no apostille required). We will email you this form for completion — it must be stamped by the registrar's office.
- Option 2 — in person at the US Embassy in Athens: you obtain an affidavit of marital status covering both the bride and groom, instead of the marriage licence and single status letters in Option 1. The embassy requires an appointment to issue it.
- The US Embassy is at 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens, Greece. Main switchboard: +30 210 721 2951.
The remaining documents are taken from the USA if you were born there, or otherwise from your country of origin.
Full details, including apostilles and translations, are on the legal documents page. The single-status letter must be issued no more than 3 months before the wedding date.
Two Routes, Both Well-Trodden
American couples have a choice most nationalities don't: gather the documents entirely from home, or use the US Embassy in Athens. The embassy sits at 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue in Athens and issues the affidavit of marital status by appointment — some couples fold the visit into an Athens stopover on the way to the island.
Whichever route you take, we handle everything on the Santorini side: the application with the marriage officer, the Town Hall reservation, witnesses if you need them, and the final signatures. The remaining documents come from the state where you were born, or from your country of origin.
Before you book
Questions We Hear Most
Do we need to visit the US Embassy in Athens?
Only if you choose that route. Option 1 gathers everything from the USA — an apostilled marriage licence valid for a wedding outside the state, plus an affidavit of single status. Option 2 replaces those with an affidavit of marital status issued in person at the US Embassy in Athens, by appointment.
Is a Santorini marriage legally recognised in the USA?
Yes. Civil marriages conducted in Santorini are internationally recognised as legally binding, and after the wedding the marriage officer sends a certified copy of the marriage certificate to your home country's embassy.
How far ahead should we start the paperwork?
Order your legal documents 4–3 months before the wedding — the paperwork must be issued within 3 months of the date, and we need everything by email, apostilles included, two months before.
Can we skip the paperwork entirely?
Yes — marry legally at home first, then hold a symbolic ceremony here that looks and feels identical, with no documents at all. Many American couples choose exactly this.
Free download
Take the Guide With You
The paperwork, the timeline and the real prices in one PDF — the same facts as these pages, formatted for printing and sharing. No email address required.
Keep looking
Related Searches
Start here
We Are Here for Your Best Day in Santorini
Send us your preferred ceremony dates and anything you already have in mind. We check availability with the venues and the registrar, then come back with real options and real prices — no obligation.