Wedding certificate apostille for residency

[Yogi]

Hi

We are looking to gain residency in Cyprus and are told that we need to have our wedding certificate stamped and Apostille. We were married in Mauritius and have tried to get in touch with the authorities there, without success, to find out the procedure. I could go there (it is a lovely place), but would like to avoid the cost, so was wondering if anyone had any experience or advice that could help us.

Thanks in advance

[LouiseCastricum]

There must be an Embassy or Consulate that can help you. I'm not sure where you are. UK ? Cyprus?

[Yogi]

I live in Tala, can't add location to my profile yet

[Yogi]

Thanks Louise - it never crossed my mind that they would have an embassy in Cyprus, it is in Limassol. And I was so looking forward to a trip to Mauritius !!

Thanks for your help

[LouiseCastricum]

Hope they can help !

[PhotoLady]

My (British) colleague and her British husband were married in Las Vegas and had to send her request back to USA to get her apostille done.

She'd already been living in Cyprus for many years and her wedding certificate had been used on 3 occasions - but as usual, the laws in Cyprus changed and the last time, the wedding certificate would not suffice, hence having to get it sent away...

Let's hope the embassy in Limassol can help!

[Jim B]

''First check that Mauritius is a signatory to the convention. Not all countries are. Usually you can only get a document Apostill'ed in the country of issue. My wife had to return to her home country three times to get additional documents Aposttill'ed as Immigration kept requesting more information.
Jim

[ApusApus]

Try contacting the Prime Minister's office in Mauritius, details are here http://www.hagueapostille.co.uk/apostille-mauritius


Shane

[Keith]

I know I sound think and probably am But this is the first time I have heard of this, does this mean we HAVE to get this done to gain residency or will just the wedding certificate do.
Sounds like we need to sort this before we come over or not be able to gain residency when we arrive.

So much to do and think about before and after we get there it is mind boggling
A good job this forum is up and running.

Keith

[ApusApus]

I know I sound think and probably am But this is the first time I have heard of this, does this mean we HAVE to get this done to gain residency or will just the wedding certificate do.
Sounds like we need to sort this before we come over or not be able to gain residency when we arrive.

So much to do and think about before and after we get there it is mind boggling
A good job this forum is up and running.

Keith

It depends on how you are trying to gain residency, which I assume you mean "yellow slip"! At least one of you will have to meet the criteria for residency & then the other can rely on spousal relationship to gain their "yellow slip". You may need to have your Marriage Certificate "Apostilled" in the UK to support this but it is easy to do, just find the relevant authority & follow their instructions!


Shane

[Polemi Dave]

The yellow slip MEU1a is not residency. It is only registration that an EU national has arrived in Cyprus and proved he/she has the financial ability not to be a burden on the Cyprus state. Residency (for EU nationals) can only be acquired after 5 years continuous residence in Cyprus and proving that with documentation. This certificate is also yellow but is called the MEU3a. There is no need to hold or apply for the Meu3a, but with Brexit looming maybe a good idea?

[Keith]

Can I take it then as long as it's just for the MEU1a then we can get this with just our normal wedding certificate NOT stamped, then when we apply for the MEU3a in a few years time it will need to be stamped?
Sorry about this, I just need clarification.

Thanks, Keith

[Mighty Sprite]

When we got our yellow slip last summer we had our wedding certificate with apostille because we still had it from getting residency in another country years ago. Cyprus immigration didn't even look at it!!

[Yogi]

I have been told by Gwenny that we need the wedding certificate apostille for registering with immigration. As she has helped many people, I can assume that she knows what she is saying. I have tried to contact the Prime Minister's office in Mauritius, without success so far, but will keep on trying. We are only moving from the UK, so not involved with any other country for residence.

[Polemi Dave]

Can I take it then as long as it's just for the MEU1a then we can get this with just our normal wedding certificate NOT stamped, then when we apply for the MEU3a in a few years time it will need to be stamped?
Sorry about this, I just need clarification.

Thanks, Keith

Keith I know a couple who recently married on one of the smaller Caribbean island. Immigration accepted the marriage certificate without question.

You need not worry about the MEU3a in 5 years time because UK will be out of the EU and new applicants will have some other documentation for permanent residence from 3rd party countries as UK will be by then.

[Jim B]

As I said earlier you can only get a document Apostill'ed in the country of issue. We had to get our Cypriot Wedding Certificate Apostill'ed at the Justice Ministry in Nicosia.

Jim

[ApusApus]

Keith, you will need an apostille for your marriage certificate & as Jim has said you can only obtain it through the country that issued the marriage certificate! We got married in Cyprus in 2014 & Immigration would not issue the licence until we had some of our documents apostille'd!

As Dave has said, do not worry about an MEU3a as the requirement may change when Brexit finally gets sorted!


Shane

[Lofos-Jan]

Keith I also know many that have received their yellow slip with a standard (non apostilled) wedding certificate although these are mostly Uk marriages. You can do one of 2 things:

1. Call into immigration and ask them beforehand.
2. Go to your appointment anyway and if they don't accept it, you can just reappoint for another date and get it sorted then.

Jeanne

[RattyPatty]

If you are in the UK try contacting the Mauritian High Commission in London. (No embassy as it is a commonwealth country).

[Keith]

Thanks all, feel much happier now.

Keith