Same-sex marriage in Greece

Early legal steps

Before full marriage rights, Greece established cohabitation agreements. These contracts first appeared in 2008 for opposite-sex couples. In 2015, the government extended these agreements to same-sex partners. This move granted some legal benefits but excluded adoption rights. The European Court of Human Rights had previously ruled that excluding same-sex couples from such agreements was discriminatory.

Path to legalization

Political support grew over several years. A committee formed in 2021 drafted an equality strategy. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his government's plan to legalize same-sex marriage in July 2023. The legislation reached the Hellenic Parliament in February 2024. It passed with significant support and was signed by the President. The law became active immediately upon publication in the Government Gazette.

Historical context

Efforts to recognize same-sex unions began earlier. In 2008, a mayor on Tilos performed marriages using a legal loophole. Courts later invalidated these unions. Various political parties debated the issue throughout the 2010s. The Syriza government promised reforms but did not pass marriage legislation before leaving office. Public opinion polls indicate majority support for legal recognition among Greek citizens.

How Same-sex marriage in Greece is kept

Couples apply for a civil marriage license at their local municipality. They must meet standard legal requirements for capacity and consent. The ceremony is conducted by a civil registrar. No religious rite is required or permitted for the state-recognized union. Couples exchange vows and sign the register. The marriage grants full legal equality with opposite-sex marriages regarding inheritance, taxation, and parental rights.

When and where

Available year-round. The law has been in force since February 16, 2024. Couples may choose any date for their registration.

Primarily in urban centers like Athens and Thessaloniki. Rural municipalities also perform these ceremonies. The practice is nationwide within Greek jurisdiction.

What Same-sex marriage in Greece means

The union represents full civic equality and social acceptance. It signifies the removal of legal distinctions based on sexual orientation. For many couples, it validates their relationship in the eyes of the state and family.

Who takes part

• The couple: Apply for the license and exchange vows
• Civil registrar: Officiates the legal ceremony
• Witnesses: Sign the marriage register alongside the couple

If you are a guest

Guests attend the civil ceremony as witnesses or observers. They may offer congratulations after the signing. There are no specific traditional gifts required by law.

Then and now

The law is new and still integrating into social norms. Some religious institutions refuse to perform blessings for same-sex couples. Legal challenges regarding religious freedom continue to emerge. Adoption rights remain a subject of ongoing political debate.

Questions people ask about Same-sex marriage in Greece

See also

PentozaliThe vigorous Cretan war dance of high jumps and improvisation that marks the wedding procession.Engagement partyA gathering to announce a new engagement and introduce the two families before the wedding.GroomsmanA male attendant who supports the groom and assists guests at a wedding.DowryA payment of wealth from the bride's family to the groom or his household at marriage.

Good reading and sources

• Same-sex marriages annulled as illegal in GreeceThe Guardian, Article
• Greece on the brink of legalising same-sex marriageBBC, Article
• Greece legalises same-sex marriageBBC, Article
• Same-sex marriages annulled as illegal in GreeceThe Guardian, Article
• Greece on the brink of legalising same-sex marriageBBC, Article
• Greece legalises same-sex marriageBBC, Article

• Same-sex marriage in Greece on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.