Civil status registrations: marriage, birth, death

Civil status registrations: marriage, divorce, birth, death

Applications for the registration of civil status events are only accepted in person and by appointment. Appointments are only given after an email with the necessary documentation has been received. Please use WeTransfer, Dropbox or an equivalent service in case of large attachments. Each registration act requires a separate appointment.

I.    Marriage

Procedure & Supporting Documents

To schedule an appointment, please send an email to the registry section of the Consulate General ( ) noting on the subject line “Registration of marriage”. You will need to attach the following:

1.   Application for the registration of a marriage (download from section “Application Forms”)
2.   Unabridged Marriage Certificate from S.A. Home Affairs + Apostille from DIRCO (see relevant section) + Translation into Greek by a sworn Translator (see list at relevant section).
3.    Current Greek and SA passports of both partners
4.    A copy of Greek ID (both sides) or passport or of the municipal registration (“Merida”) of the Greek spouse(s). Greek citizens may access their family records via the portal https://www.gov.gr/ using their personal TAXIS net credentials.
5.    If one of the spouses is not Greek: Unabridged Birth Certificate from S.A. Home Affairs + Apostille from DIRCO - Department of International Relations and Cooperation (see FAQ on Apostille in the relevant section) + Translation into Greek by a sworn Translator (see list in the relevant section).
6.    In case of Greek Orthodox Marriage: In addition to the above, please provide the Marriage Certificate from the Greek Orthodox Church (to be written in Greek)
7.    Also, please provide a contact number where we can reach you.

On the day of the appointment, you will need to present the originals of the abovementioned documents.

Fees

Declaration: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
Copy: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
See section “Consular Fees” for itemised fees.

Please note that some documents may require signature authentication, which is priced at 10€ for Greek/EU citizens and 30€ for third country nationals equivalent in Rand.

II.    Divorce

Procedure & Supporting Documents

The registration of a divorce is the only change in the civil status of an individual that necessitates a decision of a Greek court of law, as the Consulate General does not have the right to register the divorce based on the decision of the South African tribunal. It is therefore necessary to contact a lawyer in Greece and seek the recognition of the South African court decision in Greece. Once this is published, you should immediately contact the Consulate General to register your divorce in you civil registry (“merida”). Please note that there is a penalty for late registration of a divorce (30€ after 30 days and 60€ after 90 days).

To schedule an appointment, please send an email to the registry section of the Consulate General ( ) noting on the subject line “Registration of divorce”. You will need to attach the following:

1.    A decision of a Greek Court of Law, recognizing the divorce decision of the South African Court as applicable in Greece. The process to recognize a foreign court divorce decision in Greece requires filing a court petition by an attorney, acting on behalf of one or both spouses, or even of one of their descendants.
2.    A copy of Greek ID (both sides) or Greek passport or of the municipal registration (“Merida”) of the Greek spouse(s). Greek citizens may access their family records via the portal https://www.gov.gr/ using their personal TAXISnet credentials.
3.    Also, please provide a contact number where we can reach you.

On the day of the appointment, you will need to present the originals of the abovementioned documents.

Fees

Declaration: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
Copy: 10€ equivalent in Rand.

Penalty
- No penalty if the declaration is made in the 30 days following the decision of the Greek court.
- 30€ if the declaration is made between 30 and 90 days following the decision of the Greek court
- 60€ if the declaration is made more than 90 days following the decision of the Greek court

See section “Consular Fees” for itemised fees.

III.    Child of married parents

Please note that the registration of the parents’ marriage is a prerequisite for the registration of their child. If you would like to register the birth of a child, but you have not registered your marriage, please request an appointment to do this first. The two procedures cannot be completed at the same time.

To schedule an appointment, please send an email to the registry section of the Consulate General ( , noting on the subject line “Registration of birth”. You will need to attach the following:
1.    Application to register a birth (download from section “Application Forms”)
2.    Unabridged Birth Certificate from S.A. Home Affairs + Apostille from DIRCO + Translation into Greek by a sworn Translator
3.    a copy of your Greek ID or passport or of your municipal registration (“Merida”). Greek citizens may access their family records via the portal https://www.gov.gr/ using their personal TAXISnet credentials.
4.    Also, please provide a contact number where we can reach you.

Procedure & Supporting Documents

On the day of the appointment, only the parent who is a Greek citizen is required to come in person to the Consulate General to register the child (if both parents are Greek, any of the two can declare the birth) with the original of the above-mentioned documents and a Greek ID card or Greek/foreign valid passport of the parent making the declaration.
Registration of birth is considered complete when the details are entered into the family records of the Greek citizen; thereupon the child acquires Greek citizenship.

Fees
Declaration: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
Copy: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
See section “Consular Fees” for itemised fees.

Please note that some documents may require signature authentication, which is priced at 10€ for Greek/EU citizens and 30€ for third country nationals equivalent in Rand.

IV.    Child born out of wedlock - If the mother is Greek

To schedule an appointment, please send an email to the registry section of the Consulate General ( , noting on the subject line “Registration of birth”. You wil lneed to attach the following:

1.    Application to register a birth (download from section “Application Forms”)
2.    Unabridged Birth Certificate from S.A. Home Affairs + Apostille from DIRCO + Translation into Greek by a sworn Translator
3.    a copy of your Greek ID or passport or of your municipal registration (“Merida”). Greek citizens may access their family records via the portal https://www.gov.gr/ using their personal TAXISnet credentials.
4.    Also, please provide a contact number where we can reach you.

Procedure & Supporting Documents

On the day of the appointment, only the mother is required to come in person to the Consulate General to register the child with the original of the above-mentioned documents and her Greek ID card or Greek/foreign valid passport.

Registration of birth is considered complete when the details are entered into the family records of the Greek citizen; thereupon the child acquires Greek citizenship.

Fees
Declaration: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
Copy: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
See section “Consular Fees” for itemised fees.

Please note that some documents may require signature authentication, which is priced at 10€ for Greek/EU citizens and 30€ for third country nationals equivalent in Rand.

V.    Child born out of wedlock - If only the father is Greek

In this case, a more complicated procedure called “Nationality Determination” is required.  

To schedule an appointment, please send an email to the registry section of the Consulate General ( , noting on the subject line “Nationality Determination”. Youwillneedtoattach the following:
1.    Application to register a birth (download from section “Application Forms”)
2.   Unabridged Birth Certificate from S.A. Home Affairs + Apostille from DIRCO + Translation into Greek by a sworn Translator
3.    Vault Certificate + Apostille from DIRCO + Translation into Greek by a sworn Translator
4.    a copy of your Greek ID or passport or of your municipal registration (“Merida”). Greek citizens may access their family records via the portal https://www.gov.gr/ using their personal TAXISnet credentials.
5.    Also, please provide a contact number where we can reach you.

Procedure & Supporting Documents

On the day of the appointment, only the father is required to come in person to the Consulate General to register the child with the original of the above-mentioned documents and his Greek ID card or Greek/foreign valid passport.
Registration of birth is considered complete when the details are entered into the family records of the Greek citizen; thereupon the child acquires Greek citizenship.

Fees
Declaration: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
Copy: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
See section “Consular Fees” for itemised fees.

Please note that some documents may require signature authentication, which is priced at 10€ for Greek/EU citizens and 30€ for third country nationals equivalent in Rand.

VI.    Registration of Death

Procedure & Supporting Documents

To schedule an appointment, please send an email to the registry section of the Consulate General ( , noting on the subject line “Registration of death”. You will need to attach the following:
1.    Application to register a death (download from section “Application Forms”).
2.   Original death certificate issued by the South African Authorities + Apostille from DIRCO + translation in Greek.
3.    Greek ID card and/or Greek passport of the deceased.
4.    Valid passport or ID card of the informant.
5.    Certificate of Municipal registration in Greece where the deceased was registered (issued within the last 6 months).
6.    Also, provide a contact number where we can reach you.

Fees

Declaration: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
Copy: 10€ equivalent in Rand.
See section “Consular Fees” for itemised fees.

Please note that some documents may require signature authentication, which is priced at 10€ for Greek/EU citizens and 30€ for third country nationals equivalent in Rand.