# Translating a Greek family status certificate for the UK or US

> What the Πιστοποιητικό Οικογενειακής Κατάστασης shows, why UK and US offices ask for it, and what to check in its English translation.

Published: 2026-10-29. Updated: 2026-10-29. Source: https://lexiveris.com/articles/greek-family-status-certificate/

The **Πιστοποιητικό Οικογενειακής Κατάστασης** (family status certificate) is one of the most useful Greek civil documents. If you are applying for a family visa, settlement, citizenship or a marriage abroad, you may be asked for it, or it may be the clearest way to show your family relationships.

## What the certificate shows

The family status certificate is issued from the municipal register (δημοτολόγιο) of the municipality where your family is registered. It lists the members of the family registered together, typically:

- the head of the family and their spouse
- children, with dates and places of birth
- each person's father's and mother's names
- the municipality and registration number (αριθμός δημοτολογίου)

In many cases you can request it online through gov.gr, and documents issued this way carry a verification code or QR code.

## Why UK and US offices ask for it

Offices may ask for it, or accept it, to show:

- that you are married to, or the parent of, the person you are applying with
- your marital status
- your parents' names, which some applications require

Whether it is required, and whether a birth or marriage certificate is needed as well, depends on the application. Check the guidance for your case.

## What to check in the English translation

### Names follow the passport

Greek uses different grammatical forms of names. The most common issue is the **genitive surname** used by many women:

| Greek | Correct (as in passport) | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Μαρία Παπαδοπούλου | Maria Papadopoulou | Maria Papadopoulos |
| Ελένη Γεωργίου | Eleni Georgiou | Helen Georgiou |

The translation should use exactly the spelling in each person's passport. Where someone has no passport, the translator should use the official ELOT 743 transliteration standard and say so.

### Father's and mother's names

Greek records show the father's name (πατρώνυμο) and mother's name (μητρώνυμο) for each person. These should be translated as separate labelled fields, not merged into a middle name.

### Dates

Dates should be written with the month in words, such as 4 March 1990, so they can't be misread in the UK or US.

### Stamps, signatures and verification codes

The translation should include:

- the issuing municipality and department
- any stamps or seals, described in brackets, for example *[Stamp: Municipality of Zakynthos]*
- the digital signature or verification text on certificates issued through gov.gr

## Keep it current

Some offices expect civil documents to be recent. If your certificate is several years old, consider requesting a new one before you have it translated, so you don't pay to translate an outdated version.

## Get it translated

We translate Greek family status certificates, birth and marriage records and other civil documents from Greece and Cyprus into English, formatted to Home Office and USCIS guidance. [Price your document online](/#order).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the family status certificate the same as a birth certificate?

No. A birth certificate (ληξιαρχική πράξη γέννησης) records one birth. The family status certificate shows the members of a family registered together.

### Can I get the certificate online?

In many cases, yes, through gov.gr. Certificates issued this way carry a verification code.

### Do you translate certificates from Cyprus?

Yes. We translate Greek-language documents from Greece and Cyprus.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Romanization of Greek (ELOT 743 and Greek passports)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Greek)
- [Related guide: How Greek, Albanian and French names are written in English](/articles/greek-albanian-french-names-in-english-translation/)