Getting Married in Italy as a Foreigner: The Legal Guide
Planning a destination wedding in Italy? Before you choose the venue, understand the legal steps. Here’s everything you need to know.
| 6–12 months before Gather all documents | 3–6 months before Apostilles & translations | 2–4 days before Declaration of Marriage | After the wedding Register in home country |
Who Can Get Married in Italy?
Foreign nationals can legally marry in Italy regardless of residency. Both civil and religious ceremonies are recognised, provided they meet Italian legal standards. You must be at least 18 years old, currently unmarried, and capable of giving legal consent.
Required Documents
Prepare these well in advance, ideally 3 to 6 months before your wedding date.
Valid passports — both partners must present valid identification.
Birth certificates — originals required, translated into Italian and apostilled.
Certificate of No Impediment (Nulla Osta) — issued by your country’s embassy or consulate in Italy, confirming there are no legal obstacles to the marriage.
Divorce or death certificates — required if either partner was previously married.
Atto Notorio — a sworn declaration that there are no legal barriers to the marriage, required in some cases.
Missing or incorrectly prepared documents are the most common cause of delays. Start the process early and confirm requirements with your embassy.
Civil vs Religious Ceremony
A civil ceremony, conducted by a mayor or civil registrar at the local town hall (Comune), is legally binding on its own. Catholic weddings are also legally recognised when all paperwork is completed. For non-Catholic religious ceremonies, a separate civil ceremony may be required to make the marriage legally valid.
The Declaration of Intent
Before the ceremony, both partners must attend a formal declaration at the local Comune, the Dichiarazione di Matrimonio. This typically takes place 2 to 4 days before the wedding and requires a certified interpreter if you do not speak Italian.
Translations and Apostilles
Most foreign documents must be translated into Italian by a certified translator and legalised with an apostille stamp. Missing this step is one of the most common, and most avoidable, causes of delays. Start this process early.
After the Wedding
You will receive an Italian marriage certificate. To have your marriage recognised in your home country, request a multilingual certificate and register the marriage with your local authorities upon returning home.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting the paperwork too late, overlooking embassy-specific requirements, assuming all ceremonies are automatically legally binding, and skipping translations or apostilles are the four mistakes that cause the most disruption. All of them are preventable with early planning and the right local support.
Ready to plan your Italian wedding with confidence?
Get in touch with our expert team for personalised legal guidance, we’ll handle the complexity so you can focus on the celebration.
