Procurement of documents in Cyprus

Schmidt and Schmidt provides services for the reclamation of civil status documents, as well as obtaining duplicates, lost or damaged documents in Cyprus with their subsequent legalization and translation.

It often happens that civil status documents are lost or damaged, or it is necessary to obtain current copies of documents. In this case, it is necessary to reclaim duplicates of documents. Often, those who have left Cyprus face difficulties in this procedure. Our service allows you to reclaim documents in Cyprus remotely, and we can carry out courier delivery of the document to anywhere in the world.

Validity of civil status documents in Cyprus

Civil status documents issued in Cyprus generally have a validity period of no more than 6 months, after which they must be replaced with new ones containing up-to-date data.

When to obtain documents in Cyprus

A duplicate birth certificate, marriage certificate, name change certificate, divorce certificate, criminal record certificate or death certificate may be required to register a marriage abroad, a newborn child, citizenship, inheritance, data verification for pension applications, opening bank accounts, employment and other bureaucratic issues.

What documents can be requested in Cyprus:

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Certificate of change of surname
• Divorce certificate
• Death certificate
• Certificates of good conduct
• Educational documents
• Other civil status documents

Birth certificate

A birth certificate is an official document provided by the Registrar or acting Registrar of the relevant Civil or Consular Register. It verifies details of an individual's birth, including the date, sex, and, if applicable, the time of birth and family relationships.

In Cyprus, the birth certificate can be obtained either by the person named on the certificate, by parents and legal guardians or by authorized representatives.

There are two versions of the certificate, the short-form certificate and the long-term certificate. While the short-term certificate contains the basic personal information such as name, date of birth and place of birth the long-term certificate additionally states detailed information such as parental information.

The certificate can be requested in person at the district administration office or the Citizen Service Centers (CSCs) by providing the necessary documentation and paying the applicable fees. An online request is also possible by submitting an application via the Ariadni Government Gateway by selecting “birth certificate service”. If neither options are convenient for you a request by mail is also possible. For this simply gather all required documents and send them to the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

Required documents

• Valid ID
• Details of the birth
• Parent’s details (if applicable)
• Proof of relationship (for parents or guardians)

Marriage certificate

The marriage certificate is the legal record of marriage, used to verify marital status. It is usually required for procedures such as changing the last name, applying for spousal benefits, immigration applications and for inheritance matters. It can be obtained at the Civil Registry Office in the city or town where the marriage took place.

Requesting a marriage certificate in Cyprus can be done in person, online, or by mail. Marriage certificates are issued by the Civil Registry and Migration Department under the Ministry of Interior.

Two types of marriage certificates can be obtained. The short-term certificate which contains basic information such as the names of the spouses and date of the marriage. This version is usually required for administrative purposes. The long-term certificate includes more detailed information, such as the names of the witnesses and additional details about the marriage. This is typically used for more formal legal matters.

You can request a marriage certificate in Cyprus by visiting a District Administration Office, Citizen Service Center (CSC), or the Municipality Office where the marriage was registered. Alternatively, you can apply online through the Ariadni Government Gateway (www.gov.cy/en) or by mail to the Civil Registry.

Required documents

• Valid ID
• Details of the marriage (names of both spouses, date and place of marriage)
• Authorization letter (if applying on behalf of the spouses)
• Proof of relationship (for relatives)
• Marriage certificate number (if known)

Divorce certificate

A divorce certificate serves the purpose to verify the legal dissolution of a marriage. It is required for procedures such as remarrying, updating marital status on legal records, immigration applications, and legal matters involving custody, support, or property division.

There are two types of divorce certificates in Cyprus, the standard divorce certificate which contains the details of the divorce (names of the divorced spouses, date of divorce, and place of divorce). It is typically used for purposes like remarrying or proving the dissolution of marriage. Then there is the court judgment which is an official court decision document that may accompany the divorce certificate, detailing the legal aspects of the divorce, including financial settlements or custody decisions. This is often needed for legal and administrative purposes.

You can request a divorce certificate in Cyprus in person by visiting the District Family Court that issued the divorce, online via the Ariadni Government Gateway (www.gov.cy/en), or by mail to the Family Court or Civil Registry and Migration Department.

Required Documents

• Valid ID
• Divorce details (names of both parties, date, and court reference number)
• Court judgment (if necessary)
• Authorization letter (if applying on behalf of one of the parties)

Criminal record certificate

A criminal record certificate, also known as a police certificate, is a document used to verify an individual's criminal record or confirm the absence of one. It is required for employment in sensitive fields, visa or immigration applications, volunteering and adoption proceedings.

You can request a Criminal Record Certificate in Cyprus in person by visiting the Criminal Record Office at the Police Headquarters in Nicosia or any Citizen Service Center (CSC). You can also apply online through the Ariadni Government Gateway or by mail by sending the required documents and payment to the Criminal Record Office.

For International Use

If you need a PCC for use abroad, it must be obtained from the General Prosecutor's Office or its regional branches. This version is issued on official letterhead and often requires an apostille for international validation.

The certificate can be requested by the person named on it, a legal representative with written authorization, or an employer/organization with the applicant’s consent if required by law.

Required documents

• Completed application form
• Valid ID
• Payment receipt for the applicable fee
• Authorization letter (if applying on behalf of someone else)

Educational Documents

Foreign educational documents only carry the same legal value as Cyprus documents if they are exempt from legalization or have undergone the necessary legalization process. Documents from countries with bilateral agreements with Cyprus are fully exempt from legalization. Documents from countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 undergo a simplified procedure called apostille. If neither countries are part of the convention or have bilateral agreements they undergo consular legalization

Apostille of duplicate documents in Cyprus

Cyprus joined the Hague Convention on the Simplified Legalization of Documents on the 11th March 1973.
Thus, documents issued in Cyprus are subject to legalization under a simplified procedure - apostille, after notarized translation into any language, such documents acquire full legal force in the territory of the wished destination.
You can order an apostille for copies and duplicates of documents from Cyprus from us.

When is an apostille needed

An apostille is a special stamp that confirms the authenticity of an official document. It can be used to certify documentation issued by government agencies, local government bodies, and structures that the state has granted special powers.

In our video we tell you what an apostille is, why it is needed, how and where it can be done, and also about the history of document apostilling.