How to get legally married in Italy

Where you can marry

An Italian civil wedding is conducted by the registrar at the comune, or at a place the comune has authorised for ceremonies, called a casa comunale. That can be the comune's own offices, a castle, a cloister or a palazzo the comune owns, or a private villa or hotel the comune has formally authorised.

Your paperwork, by nationality

Each of you proves you are free to marry with documents from your own country. This is the part that differs. The documents by nationality, with the official sources

In Italy, the same for everyone

Italian translations. Your documents are translated into Italian. Some comuni accept a translation by a qualified translator; others want it sworn before a court in Italy. We find out which and do it, and the translations are in our fee.

The declaration before the registrar. You both appear in person, with us interpreting, usually a day or two before the wedding, though some registrars ask for longer. The registrar draws up a formal record, the verbale, which you sign, and we sign as your interpreter. A couple who do not live in Italy, and where neither is Italian, need no public notice of the wedding posted in Italy.

The ceremony. Conducted in Italian by the registrar, with us interpreting and your two witnesses. Your Italian marriage certificate follows once the marriage is registered.

The interpreter and the witnesses

Where either of you does not understand Italian, the law requires an interpreter at the declaration and at the ceremony. The interpreter is named in the marriage record and swears an oath, so it has to be someone independent: neither of you can do it, however fluent. We interpret for you, and guide you through each step.

Two witnesses are required. They do not need to be Italian; comuni usually ask only for two adults with valid ID. If it is just the two of you, we can arrange them; witnesses are not part of our fee, so any cost for their time is agreed with you first.

Recognised at home

A marriage validly made under Italian law is recognised in the UK, in Ireland and in the US, and there is nothing to register when you get back. After the wedding we obtain your Italian marriage certificate and translate it into English, which is what you show at home, for a new passport for example. An apostille on it is rarely asked for in the UK or Ireland; if an authority wants one, the prefettura issues it, and we can arrange that for you, quoted separately.

Same-sex couples

Italian law provides civil unions for same-sex couples, which the UK recognises as a civil partnership. The comune's checks can take up to 30 days after the first appointment, so allow more time. Ireland does not recognise civil unions made abroad after 16 May 2016, so Irish couples should talk to us first.

When it changes

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 divorce can add steps too. Tell us early and we will plan around it.

How long it takes

Allow three months or so for British couples, and four to six months for Irish and American couples. Italian offices slow down in August, and popular venues book a long way ahead. If your date is sooner, get in touch and we will tell you what is possible.

Can we marry in Italy? Find out in two minutes

Checked October 2026.