Getting Married

Before arriving in Italy it’s strongly recommended that you obtain an ‘Atto Notorio’ (sworn declaration) from the Italian Embassy or Consulate in Australia in the state where you desire.

Make sure you travel with your Australian passport.

If you were married before, bring evidence of the termination of the previous marriage.
Please note that a divorced woman who wants to marry again within 300 days of the date of her divorce must contact the local Italian authorities and seek special permission form an Italian magistrate. Otherwise, she must allow the required period of 300 days to elapse.

If you are widowed, you must bring the death certificate of your previous spouse.

Certificates can be obtained from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Once in Italy, in addition to the Atto Notorio, an Australian citizen intending to get married in Italy will need to make a Statutory Declaration (Nulla Osta).
This Statutory Declaration must be signed whether you are single, divorced or widower and you must do so in the presence of an Australian Consular officer at the Australian Embassy in Rome or at the Australian Consulate-General in Milan.

A Nulla Osta literally states that ‘there are no impediments’, or that one is free to marry.

• The Nulla Osta (Statutory Declaration) is valid for 6 months.
• The Nulla Osta must then be legalised by the “Ufficio Legalizzazioni of the Prefettura”.
• The details of the Prefettura in Rome are: Viale Ostiense, 131L, Rome.

Before you go to the Prefettura, you will need to purchase a revenue stamp (marca da bollo) at a tobacconist (tabaccaio) to take with you.
If you ar unable to obtain an "Atto di notorieta` per uso matrimonio" (also known as Atto Notorio) from an Italian Consulate in Australia you may obtain one from the Tribunale Civile in Italy.

Foreign citizens who wish to obtain an Atto Notorio stating that they are free to marry, must show a ‘Permesso di Soggiorno’ or an entry visa or a ticket which shows recent entry into Italy or into the European Union.

The person requesting the Atto Notorio must attend in person together with two adult witnesses. If either spouse or one of the witnesses does not speak Italian it is necessary to provide an interpreter, in addition to the two witnesses. Neither spouse can act as witness or interpreter.

Payment is made in the form of stamp duty which you should purchase in advance.

 
The first step is to bring the Atto Notorio and Nulla Osta to the Ufficio Matrimoni, or Marriage Office, in the Italian city where you plan to marry.

If you do not speak Italian, someone who speaks Italian and can provide a simple translation should accompany you. At this time, you will be given:

• an appointment to make a Promessa di Matrimonio, or Declaration of Intent to Marry.
• and another for the actual marriage ceremony.

These appointments may fall on the same day.

You will need to pay a fee for the rental of the marriage hall, which can vary considerably depending on where you are getting married.
For these appointments, you must arrive with two witnesses, and for those who do not speak Italian, an interpreter.

If one or more of the parties is Italian or is an Australian with Italian residency, then Banns (pubblicazione di matrimonio) must be posted at least two weeks before the date of the marriage.

The Promessa di Matrimonio is followed by the Civil Ceremony.

At the ceremony, apply for a marriage certificate (certificato di matrimonio), which you will receive immediately after the ceremony. Ask to have an “Apostille” affixed to the Italian Marriage certificate by the Italian authorities at the Prefettura, so that it may be used for all legal purpuse in Australia.

You should keep in mind that during the peak marriage season (May to September),it may be difficult to get an appointment to apply for the Apostille.

The Nulla Osta must be brought directly to the priest who will officially register the marriage.

He must go to the City Hall within five days. The Roman Catholic Church also requires baptism and confirmation certificates.

Marriages at the Vatican will be registered with the Vatican civil authorities and marriage certificates are issued by the civil registry of the Vatican City (Ufficio di Stato Civile, Anagrafe e Notariato, Governatorato, Citta del Vaticano).
Because the Vatican is a separate State and not part of Italy, the Nulla Osta from the Embassy is required but does not need to be legalized by the Italian Prefettura.

Ceremonies performed at non-Roman Catholic churches require a civil ceremony as well.