The documents you need to marry in Italy

The rule behind it

Article 116 of the Italian Civil Code says a foreign citizen who wants to marry in Italy must give the registrar a declaration from the competent authority of their own country that, under its laws, nothing stands in the way of the marriage. In Italian this is the nulla osta. Some countries issue a document with that name. The UK, Ireland and the US each meet the rule in their own way, set out below.

The rest happens in Italy and follows the same pattern for everyone: translations into Italian where needed, a declaration before the registrar shortly before the wedding, an interpreter where either of you does not understand Italian, and two witnesses. Each comune sets its own timetable and document list, so we confirm yours with the comune. How it works in Italy

British citizens

What you bring: a certificate of no impediment for each of you, and a bilingual sworn declaration in English and Italian, signed before a solicitor or a notary public. Both are apostilled by the Foreign Office Legalisation Office. The certificate and its apostille are then translated into Italian; the declaration is already bilingual.

The Italian rule: the Italian Ministry of the Interior's circular no. 6 of 15 February 2013 sets out this route for British citizens: the certificate of no impediment and the bilingual declaration together, apostilled, with the certificate translated.

Where the certificate comes from: if you live in England or Wales, you give notice at your local register office, notice is displayed for 28 clear days, and then the certificate is issued. Italy accepts the certificate only if it was issued within the six months before the wedding. There is also a route through the British Embassy in Rome, and if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland the procedure, and how long the certificate lasts, can differ, so talk to us first.

Translations: the circular asks for the certificate to be duly translated and does not say how. Comuni accept different forms of certified translation, from a qualified translator's certification to a translation sworn before an Italian court, so ask the comune which it wants.

Official sources: Ministry of the Interior circular 6/2013 (Italian, PDF), GOV.UK on marriage abroad, the bilingual declaration form and the Legalisation Office. The British route, step by step

Irish citizens

What you bring: a certificate of freedom to marry for each of you, from the Department of Foreign Affairs. You apply online, have the statutory declarations the application produces witnessed, and post them with your documents: usually a long-form birth certificate and a copy of your passport. In Ireland a solicitor, a notary or a commissioner for oaths can witness them; if you live abroad, an Irish diplomatic or consular officer or a notary public can.

Timing and fee: apply at least four months before the wedding, with declarations dated no more than six months before it. The Department says to expect the certificate within eight weeks if you apply in time. For applications made in Ireland the fee is €60 each plus €6 postage and handling.

Official source: the Department of Foreign Affairs on marriage abroad. The Irish route, step by step

American citizens

What you bring: the US has no national register of marriages, so no single US office can certify you are free to marry. Italy accepts sworn statements instead, usually two.

The atto notorio, a sworn statement made with witnesses who know you, usually at the Italian consulate that serves where you live, though it can also be made before a competent authority in Italy. Each consulate sets its own rules on how many witnesses and how long the document stays valid, so check yours. Some comuni do not ask for it.

The sworn declaration (dichiarazione giurata), signed by appointment before a US consular officer in Italy before the wedding, then legalised at a prefettura, the Italian government's provincial office, with a €16 revenue stamp. We plan it for the days before the wedding, leaving time for the prefettura and the comune.

Supporting documents: where the comune asks for them, long-form birth certificates, and any divorce or death certificates, apostilled in the state that issued them and translated into Italian.

Official source: the US Embassy in Italy on getting married in Italy. The American route, step by step

Two nationalities

Each of you follows your own country's route, side by side. A British and Irish couple, for example, brings a certificate of no impediment and sworn declaration for one partner and a certificate of freedom to marry for the other. For any other nationality, tell us and we will find out what your country issues.

What changes it

If one of you is an Italian citizen, or either of you lives in Italy, a public notice of the wedding is needed first and the timings change. A previous marriage means bringing the divorce or death certificate, and can add steps.

Same-sex couples

Italian law provides civil unions for same-sex couples, a legal institution separate from marriage, with its own procedure at the comune. The UK recognises an Italian civil union as a civil partnership. Ireland does not recognise civil unions made abroad after 16 May 2016, so Irish couples should talk to us before planning one.

Where the wedding can take place

Article 106 of the Civil Code says a marriage is celebrated publicly at the comune before the registrar, and article 3 of Presidential Decree 396 of 2000 on the civil register lets a comune designate other places for weddings. That can be a palazzo, a cloister or a private villa.

Recognised at home

A marriage validly made under Italian law is generally recognised in the UK, Ireland and the US, and there is nothing to register when you get back. Your Italian marriage certificate is the proof; some authorities ask for a translation or an apostille on it when you use it. American couples with a question about recognition in their own state can ask their state's Attorney General.

Can we marry in Italy? Find out in two minutes

This page explains the official requirements in plain English. It is not legal advice, and comuni and consulates update their own lists, so check yours before you book.