According to the Union of Cyprus Municipalities - the authority which regulates civil marriages in Cyprus - the procedures involved in a civil marriage are "simple" with proper documentation (24 April 2000). However, the municipality in question is required by law to forward a copy of the notice of marriage to the Consulate of all countries to which the parties of the marriage may be subject. The Marriage Officer sends a copy of the marriage certificate to the Embassy or Consulate of the country in question in Cyprus, if one exists, or to the foreign authority in cases where no diplomatic representative exists in Cyprus (UCM 24 April 2000).

According to a representative of the Cyprus Consulate General in Toronto, this legal requirement pre-dates 1995 and is observed in practice, including for the municipality of Larnaca.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Cyprus Consul General [Toronto]. 27 November 2001. Telephone interview with an officer.

Union of Cyprus Municipalities. 24 April 2000. Celebration of Civil Marriages. http://www.ucm.org.cy/eng/civil_marriage.htm [Accessed 27 November 2001]