Getting Married in Italy: What Documents Do You Need?

There are different types of documents required to get married in Italy and several problems of having them translated overseas. Read below for comprehensive information about which documents you need, as well as the time and costs involved.

The Italian law on marriage is applicable throughout Italy. Local town halls however, may interpret the Italian marriage law in slightly different ways and put aside certain necessities or requirements.  
Please contact the town hall’s Office of the registrar where you plan on getting married in, so as to acquire a complete list of required documents and also to know how many days before the date of the wedding you need to present the documents.  
A comprehensive list of certified town halls in Italy is available on this website.

Here is a list of documents you may need: 

• A legal U.S. passport (active duty members of the United States Armed Forces can present their military identification card as an alternative).
• The original or certified copy birth certificate.
• Any document that can be presented as an evidence of the termination of any former marriage(s) if relevant; for instance, annulment decree, final divorce decree or death certificate of previous spouse.  As a female, if your previous marriage was dissolved within the last 300 days, it is a must you get a waiver from the office of the Italian District Attorney (Procura della Repubblica presso il tribunale) at the court in the town where the new wedding ceremony will be done.  The waiver is usually issued when medical evidence is presented to confirm you are not pregnant.
• You will also need an Affidavit or “Dichiarazione Giurata” sworn before an American consular officer that is commissioned in Italy, asserting that there is no legal barrier to your marriage according to the United States’ laws, in which you live.  You will have to make a prior appointment for a notary service with any of the United States Consulates General in Italy or with the United States Embassy in Rome to acquire the Affidavit (Dichiarazione Giurata).  
• An Atto Notorio signed by two witnesses, further confirming no legal impediment to your marriage
• A declaration of intent to marry that will go to the civil registrar

 
A Catholic wedding may also require some or all of the following documentation:

• Baptism certificates
• Confirmation certificates
• Letter of no impediment to marry
• Proof of attendance of a premarital course
• Local bishop’s permission to marry abroad

Important Note on the Validity of Foreign Documents in Italy: All documents originating outside of Italy (birth certificate, divorce decree, etc.) must be legalized for use in Italy and must be translated into Italian.
To legalize a U.S. document for use in Italy, you need to have it stamped with a so-called Apostille stamp by the secretary of state in the state where the document was issued, in accordance with The Hague Convention on the legalization of foreign public documents. 

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The process

Your first step should be to contact your home country’s consulate in Italy. They will advise you on the specific steps you need to take, including the preparation of the atto notorio.
You’ll submit your declaration of intent to marry to the local marriage office in the city’s town hall where your marriage will be performed. This declaration will go to the civil registrar. A translator should attend if you don't speak Italian. You’re officially invited to set the date of the wedding after this intent is declared.
You should plan the do this at least three weeks in advance of your wedding. Civil notifications must be posted for two consecutive weeks, including two Sundays, before a wedding can take place. If neither party is an Italian citizen or resident of Italy, you may contact the office to waive this requirement. You might be able to expedite your waiting period to as little as a day, depending on the local town hall regulations.
For Catholic weddings specifically, you may have to conform to the rules of your local parish, as well as the parish where you intend to marry. Plan to submit all of your religious documents to the local Italian marriage documents no later than seven weeks prior to your wedding date. They must be processed at your consulate and with the Bishop. Contact your local parish and the parish where you'll marry for specific advice.
At the wedding, you'll sign your legal marriage license. You will be given an official marriage certificate that's authorised by the mayor in the municipality where you marry. After the marriage, you should plan to visit the town hall again to present the marriage certificate. There you'll receive an Apostille stamp which verifies the document and contains a translated copy of the certificate into English.
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What fees are involved? You should expect to pay the following administrative fees for your Italian wedding:

• A revenue stamp for the Dichiarazione Giurata/Nulla Osta of €16
• A revenue stamp for the Atto Notorio of €16
• An application for the Atto Notorio of €10,62
• An application for the Nulla Osta of about €40
• A rush fee of €31,86 for the Atto Notorio, if applicable

You may also face some other local administrative fees, or charges specific to your parish. Inquire directly with the venue where you'll marry in advance.


What should I know about wedding ceremonies in Italy?

Civil ceremonies can occur in any location that's been approved by Italian authorities, indoors or outdoors. Many villas, castles, public gardens and town halls are approved for use. In smaller locations, a civil ceremony will be performed by the mayor or a town officer. An interpreter is required if neither person in your party speaks Italian, but they don't have to be an official translator. The amount of time required between declaring your intent to marry and your actual wedding date will vary by location.
The only church ceremonies that are legally performed without a civil component are Catholic weddings. One person in the couple must be Catholic. You should anticipate a longer planning period for a Catholic wedding, due to coordination between your local church, the Italian church, city officials and consulates. It’s a good idea to start planning six months before your anticipated wedding date.

Take a look at your home country’s consular or embassy website for more information:

• Australia:
  • Australian Embassy in Rome
  • Embassy of Italy in Australia
• Canada:
  • Embassy of Canada to Italy
  • Embassy of Italy in Canada
• United Kingdom:
  • British Embassy in Rome
  • Embassy of Italy in Great Britain
• Ireland:
  • Embassy of Ireland in Italy
  • Italian Embassy in Dublin
• United States:
  • The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy
• Italian Embassy in Washington

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