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Foreign residents and non-residents
of Italy may get legally married
in Italy. Both civil and religious
marriages are recognised as
legal.
Most Consulates and Embassies
provide plenty of information
for their citizens wishing
to marry in Italy.
People travelling to Italy
specifically for the wedding
should speak to their local
Italian consulate which will
be able to help with the necessary
paperwork.
The foreign Consulate or Embassy
in Italy can advise their
nationals living there.
Some links to information
on marriage in Italy:
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The
couple wishing to marry should declare
their intention to marry (promessa
di matrimonio) at the Marriage
Office (Ufficiale di Stato
Civile) of the commune of
residence. At that point they must
present their documents (see below).
A date may then be set for the ceremony.
If at least one of the parties is
Italian or has Italian residency then
banns must be posted for at least
eight consecutive days (including
two consecutive Sundays) and the wedding
cannot be celebrated before the fourth
day following the completion of the
banns. If the wedding is not celebrated
within 180 days the posting of banns
becomes invalid and would need to
be repeated. Banns are public announcements
of a person's intention to marry.
They are displayed in the Town Hall.
If neither of the couple has Italian
residency then banns may be waived
and the ceremony could proceed on
the fourth day after making the declaration. |
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- Full valid passport or residence
card
- Stay permit or proof of
recent entry to Italy
- Nulla Osta
or declaration of no impediment.
This document, issued by the national's
Consulate in Italy, confirms there
is no obstacle to their marriage
in Italy.
All foreigners getting married in
Italy require this document.
This document is valid for six months
- Certificato di stato
libero for Italians, declaring
that they are free to marry
- Atto Notorio,
an affidavit declaring single status
and freedom to marry, witnessed
by two people.
This is available at an Italian
Consulate outside Italy or in Italy
at the Pretura Civile
in the city where the marriage will
take place, or through a notary.
This document expires three months
after issue
- Birth certificate,
long version showing parents' names.
Birth certificates of US citizens
should be certified with an Apostile
- Divorce decree or annulment
or death certificate (a woman must
wait 300 days following divorce,
annulment or widowhood before being
allowed to remarry)
- Certified translations of
all documents not in Italian
- Written consent from a parent
or guardian for those under 18
The above documents should be taken
to the Uffico Legalizzazioni at the
local prefecture (Prefettura) to be
legalised,
along with a tax stamp (marca da bollo)
bought from a tobacconist.
Note: Gathering
some of the documents may take time
and appointments may need to be made
with the Consulate for the Nulla Osta,
and with the Pretura Civile or notary
for the Atto Notoria.
Pre-nuptial agreements should be made
with a notary before the event, and
submitted to the Marriage Office. |
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A civil
ceremony is performed by an official
of the Marriage Office (the Mayor or
a delegate) at the Town Hall.
Two witnesses must be present and friends
and family may attend.
If neither party speaks Italian the
authorities may insist that an interpreter
be present.
During the celebration, the official
will read from the Codice Civile.
The couple will be told the rights
and duties between spouses.
It will end with them being declared
joined in marriage.
If the couple wish to have joint
financial responsibility (Beni Communi)
or retain separate financial responsibilities
(Beni Separati) this should be declared
during the Civil Ceremony.
The latter is similar to a pre-nuptial
agreement where each partner renounces
any claims on the other's assets in
the case of divorce or is not liable
to any claims against their partner
such as in the case of bankruptcy
claims, company liquidation etc.
The Marriage Certificate (Atto di
Matrimonio) is drawn up and names
and details entered into the Marriage
Register (Registro di Matrimonio).
A civil ceremony may be followed
by a separate ceremony or religious
blessing.
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A Roman
Catholic marriage does not
require a civil ceremony as the Catholic
priest has the authority to register
the marriage with the civil registrar.
All preparations should be made through
the church.
Documents required will include those
above (aside from divorce documents)
as well as baptism and confirmation
certificates.
Both parties must be confirmed and baptised
and attend a church pre-marital course.
Religious ceremonies for all other
churches and faiths must be preceded
by a civil ceremony and the marriage
certificate should be made available.
Arrangements for the service can be
made directly with the local clergyman,
Rabbi or Mullah.
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