Wedding in Italy: a guide for the foreigners
Italy has always been a land of romantic beauty, able to capture the hearts of people from all over the world. With its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture and historic towns, it is no surprise that many couples dream of getting married in this fascinating country. However, navigating the bureaucratic process to get married in Italy as a foreigner can be a bit complicated.
In this article, I will provide you with a complete guide to help you realize your dream of marriage in Italy.
Let’s discover all the secrets to getting married in Italy together!
Is marriage legally binding for foreigners in Italy?
Yes, it is possible for foreigners to have a legally binding marriage in Italy.
According to the Hague Convention of 12 June 1902, foreign nationals may marry in Italy provided that the laws of their country of origin do not oppose them. However, it is important to note that each nation retains a certain degree of autonomy with regard to the documentation required and the recognition of marriage certificates.
What documents are required?
To start the marriage process in Italy, you need the following documents:
- A valid passport for non-EU citizens.
- A recent identity document or an identity card for EU citizens.
- A birth certificate (with Apostille for non-EU citizens).
- Clearance Document or equivalent document.
All documents must be legalized with an Apostille stamp according to The Hauge Convention in order to be considered valid in Italy.
What is the bureaucratic procedure?
Before exchanging vows in Italy, you must present a ‘Nulla Osta’ to the civil status officer. This document is a declaration by the competent authority of your country of origin that there are no legal obstacles to your marriage. The Clearance Document must be translated and legalized in a suitable manner to be accepted in Italy.
For nationals of the countries signatory to the Monaco Convention of 5 September 1980 (excluding Belgium), a certificate of capacity to marry is an alternative to the nulla osta. In addition to the Nulla Osta or marriage certificate, you must present a birth certificate and a copy of a valid international ID.
What is the Clearance Document?
The Clearance Document is a certificate issued by the authorities of your home country. It certifies that you are free to marry in Italy and that there are no legal impediments to your marriage according to the laws of your country. The Clearance should include various personal details, such as your name, date and place of birth, citizenship and marital status.
If the Nulla Osta is not in Italian, it must be translated and legalized. The Prefecture’s Legalization Office will verify the validity of the ambassador or consul’s signature.
What are the legal requirements in detail?
Now, let’s go into the details of the legal requirements for marriage in Italy:
- Foreigners resident or domiciled in Italy: you will need to request the marriage publications at the municipality of residence/domicile or the municipality of residence/domicile of your future spouse.
These publications inform the public of your intention to marry and provide a platform for objecting if there are compelling reasons. - Foreigners not resident in Italy: in this case you will have to sign a declaration that certifies the absence of legal obstacles to marriage.
This statement is essential, as certain conditions may hinder marriage. - Interpreter: if you do not have a perfect knowledge of the Italian language, you will need to be assisted by an interpreter who is sworn in as a native Italian speaker.
Are there any requirements for specific nationalities?
- USA Citizens: An affidavit and a public record are required.
The declaration must be signed before the Consul of the United States in Italy and legalized at the Prefecture. - Australian citizens: a sworn declaration is required to be made before the Consul of Australia in Italy, certifying that there are no legal obstacles to marriage under Australian law.
The signature of the Consul must be legalized at the Prefecture. - British citizens: you can obtain a ‘Certificate of No Impediment’ in the UK or contact the UK Consulate in Italy to obtain an Authorization.
What can I do if the Clearance is not issued?
In some cases, the authorities of your home country may refuse to issue a Clearance for various reasons, such as religious or political objections.
In this case, you can seek a legal verification in Italy to confirm the absence of obstacles to marriage.
What is the alternative to Clearance Document?
For nationals of countries that do not provide Clearance Document such as the USA or Australia, you may need to obtain a Notarisation Document from the Italian Consulate in your home country before leaving for Italy.
This document certifies that, according to the laws applicable in your home country, there are no legal impediments to your marriage.
Involves an affidavit by two witnesses before an Italian Consul or a judicial officer in Italy.
What are the final steps?
After having collected all the necessary documents, you and your future spouse must go to the central civil status office of your respective municipalities of residence or the municipality in which your spouse resides.
Here, you will submit your documents for marriage publications.
After at least eight days of publication (with at least two Sundays), the Marriage Office will issue a certificate of successful publication.
You must then present this certificate to the Registry of the Municipality within 180 days to fix the date of your marriage in Italy.
Frequently asked questions about wedding in Italy
Here are some frequently asked questions about marriage in Italy for foreigners:
- How long do you need to stay in Italy before getting married? Generally, 5 days is enough, but it’s good to check the residency requirements according to your nationality.
- Can you get married in Italy if you are divorced? Yes, but you must provide evidence of the termination of previous marriages, including final divorce decrees or annulment decrees.
- What kind of ceremonies can be celebrated as a wedding in Italy? Foreigners can choose to marry with different types of ceremonies.
This can be through a civil marriage with a civil registrar, a concordatarian marriage in the presence of a Catholic priest, a non-Catholic marriage officiated by a minister of a non-Catholic religion recognized in Italy or a symbolic marriage. - Can a friend perform the ceremony of my civil marriage in Italy? Yes, in Italy it is possible to entrust a dear friend with the celebration of your civil marriage, but there will be a bureaucratic procedure.
What are the advantages of having a Wedding Planner for a wedding in Italy?
The advantages of being assisted by a Wedding Planner in the path for the celebration of your wedding in Italy are numerous but let’s see some in detail:
- Bureaucratic procedures: as you could see in the previous lines, the bureaucratic procedures necessary to organize a wedding in Italy are many.
However, having a Wedding Planner by your side like me will make the whole process much easier and worry free as far as document management is concerned.
I will be at your side at every stage, guiding you through all the necessary paperwork. - Interpreter: the presence of an Italian-language native interpreter plays a fundamental role.
As a native Italian wedding planner, I will be available to attend your ceremony as a sworn interpreter. - Celebration by a friend: If you wish to have a dear friend conduct your civil ceremony, you can leave the burden of managing the bureaucratic part necessary to make it possible.
I will take care of all the necessary documentation and formalities to ensure that the person you choose can legally perform your civil marriage. - Simplified Organization: in this blog article, we discussed the bureaucratic part related to marriage in Italy.
However, organising a wedding in another country involves many other challenges, such as finding suppliers, choosing the location, arranging travel for you and your guests.
Relying on an experienced wedding planner like me means getting rid of these complex responsibilities, which can cause stress and anxiety in the period before the big day. Instead, you can fully focus on the beauty of the event and live it with serenity. I will be the one to manage the suppliers and the locations, having access to advantageous rates thanks to my collaborations of trust in the chosen place.
In summary, marriage in Italy for foreigners is possible, but it requires a series of bureaucratic procedures that must be started at least eight months before the date of the wedding.
This process can become long and complicated, but as your wedding planner, I can take care of it completely, allowing you to enjoy your journey towards the big day without stress.
Now that you have all the information you need, don’t hesitate to choose this beautiful country for your wedding. If you would like assistance for the entire wedding process, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks to my presence as a destination wedding planner, I will take care of everything, allowing you to live your wedding without worries or stress, as if you were getting married in your own home.