How to get married in Italy as a UK citizen

Can I get married in Italy as a UK citizen? 

UK citizens can get married in Italy, and your marriage will be legally recognised in the UK, provided it complies with Italy’s marriage laws. Italy welcomes foreign couples to marry on its soil, whether you’re planning a civil ceremony, a religious service, or a symbolic celebration.

However, it’s essential to follow the correct legal procedures. This includes providing the Italian authorities with specific documents to prove your identity and eligibility to marry. These include a valid passport, a statutory declaration (also known as a "Nulla Osta"), and potentially other documents depending on your personal circumstances.

Additionally, you must marry following Italian marriage laws. For example, civil weddings must be performed at approved venues by an appointed officiant (typically the mayor or a civil registrar). In contrast, religious ceremonies require a civil wedding afterwards to be legally recognised in Italy. However, this requirement only applies if the wedding wasn't officiated by a Roman catholic priest. 

Legal requirements for a UK citizen getting married in Italy

To get legally married in Italy as a UK citizen, you'll need a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) and a Statutory Declaration. Both documents must be legalised and translated. You'll also need your passport and any other documents specific to the Italian Comune where you're getting married. Here are some other requirements

• Both partners must be at least 18 years old or have written consent from their parents.
• Both you and your partner must be single at the time of the marriage.
• You must provide specific documentation, including a "Nulla Osta" (certificate of no impediment) from a UK register office, birth certificates, and proof of any previous marriages being legally terminated.

You may need to meet other requirements or submit additional documents, depending on the municipality (comune) you choose for your marriage in Italy.

Civil unions in Italy

You can have a ceremony for a civil union, which is perfectly legal in Italy since the law changed in May 2016. Civil unions performed in Italy will be recognised in the U.K. 

Civil unions are normally performed by a registrar at an Italian town hall or comune.

What documents do I need to get married in Italy?

The documents you will need to get married in Italy include;

• a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
• a bilingual statutory declaration.
• Valid Passports
• Birth Certificates (if requested)
• Translation and Apostille certificate for documents

For Catholic weddings, you’ll also need:

• Baptism certificates
• Confirmation certificates
• Pre-marriage course certificate
• Written permission from your parish priest
• Approval from the local diocese in Italy

CNIs are issued to show that you are free to marry (e.g. you are not married to anyone else). You can obtain the CNI from the register office before leaving the UK; it should be legalised (apostilled) and translated. You must wait 28 days for the intention to marry to be posted at the registry office. You will then receive the certificate, provided there have been no objections. 

The statutory declaration is a legal document which affirms that the information in the CNI you hold is true. If you get your CNI in the U.K. before you go to your wedding (the preferred option), you should get a statutory declaration signed in front of a UK notary public.  

Both the CNI and the statutory declaration should be legalised before they are valid. You can get them legalised by sending the documents to the UK Legalisation office, which will confirm that the details are correct and provide an apostille. The UK government Apostille is a separate certificate with a stamp and signature that is valid in Italy and any country that recognises the Hague Convention. The apostille should also be translated into Italian by a sworn translator in Italy. 

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Steps to get married in Italy as a UK Citizen

Once you’ve decided to get married in Italy, the next step is making it official. Here are some steps to follow as a UK citizen:

Confirm eligibility

You should confirm if you are eligible to marry under Italian marriage laws. This includes meeting the legal age requirements and having no impediment to marry in Italy. An official conducting the wedding or the local authority in the municipality in Italy where you want to get married can provide detailed requirements.

Get a Certificate of No Impediment and a statutory declaration

If you meet all eligibility requirements, you can request a CNI (equivalent of Nulla Osta in Italy) from the register office in the UK. To get a CNI, you must book an appointment at a UK register office to give notice. Once issued, your CNI will be accepted by local authorities in Italy for 6 months. You also need to sign a bilingual statutory declaration in front of a UK notary public. If you aren’t in the UK, you can get a certificate of no impediment (CNI) online and either attend an appointment at the British Embassy in Rome or visit a notary in Italy and post certain documents to the British Embassy in Rome. 

Gather other documents 

In addition to the CNI, you will need to provide other documents, such as passports, birth certificates, divorce certificates, and any other specific documentation required. Ensure you provide valid, complete, and undamaged documents.

Translate and legalise documents

You must translate all documents into Italian to be accepted for marriage in Italy. Additionally, your CNI and bilingual statutory declaration must be legalised (apostilled) and translated.  Ensure a qualified translator translates all documents to avoid any delays. The legalisation must be done at the Legalisation Office in the UK. Visit the UK official website for instructions on how to get your documents legalised. 

Submit documents to the Italian authorities

Send your legalised and translated documents to the Italian Town Hall (Comune) where you plan to marry. Some Town Halls may require the declaration of intent to marry to be signed a few days before the ceremony.

Marriage banns

Marriage banns (pubblicazioni di matrimonio) are a mandatory legal process for couples planning to marry, if at least one spouse is an Italian resident or an Italian citizen registered with AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad). These banns serve as a public notice of the couple's intention to marry, ensuring legal recognition of their union under Italian law.  The publication of the banns must be done in the Italian comune where you or your partner resides in Italy. However, if you and your partner aren’t residents of Italy, you can skip the banns publication. 

Get married in Italy

Once you have all your documents settled, you can get married in Italy through your preferred type of ceremony. Plan the wedding and have the witness available on the D-day. You can either get married at a town hall or a designated location if you choose to have a civil ceremony. However, if you choose a religious ceremony, it must be officiated by a Roman catholic priest to be legal in Italy. If it isn’t, you must have a civil ceremony afterwards. 

Is marriage in Italy recognised in the UK?

A marriage that takes place in Italy is legally recognised in the UK, as long as it complies with Italian marriage laws. This means that your marriage must be legally conducted in accordance with Italian law, including all required documentation and official procedures.

There is no requirement to register your marriage in the UK; however, you can voluntarily submit your Italian marriage certificate to the UK General Register Office if you'd like an English version or an official UK record.

As long as everything is done properly in Italy, your marriage will carry full legal standing in the UK, whether for name changes, tax, or visa purposes.

Do I need a certified translation as a UK citizen marrying in Italy?

UK citizens getting married in Italy are required to provide certified translations of key documents. Since Italy’s legal system operates in Italian, any official documents issued in English, such as your Certificate of No Impediment (CNI), Statutory Declaration, and Birth certificates (if requested by the local authorities) must be professionally translated into Italian.

A certified translation is one that has been completed by a qualified translator and accompanied by a signed statement declaring it to be a true and accurate translation of the original. In many cases, Italian authorities require translations to be:

• Done by a sworn translator in Italy, or
• Legalised with an apostille if translated by a certified translator in the UK, and possibly stamped by the Italian consulate

Always check with the comune (town hall) where your wedding will take place, as requirements can vary slightly by region. 

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