In Italy, the following persons can get married: Italian citizens, EU citizens and non-EU citizens that are over the age of 18, eligible to marry and unrelated in any way in terms of kin, adoption and affiliation in accordance with degrees established by the Civil Code.

Documents to Present

•  the future spouses' valid passports (if non-EU citizens) or identity cards (if EU citizens);
• authorisation or marriage eligibilty certificate for foreign national citizens;
• application to publicise the marriage from the parish or diocese where the marriage is to take place or from the marriage clerk who will perform the ceremony. 

If one of the two future spouses is an Italian citizen, he/she can make a statement whereby he/she declares eligibility for marriage and details of residency. 

The fundamental document required to celebrate the marriage of a foreign national in Italy is the “nulla osta” authorisation where it is stated that, in accordance with legislation in the country of origin, there exists no obstacles to marriage.

The marriage authorisation is issued by the relevant authority of the country of origin (Consolate or Embassy) and contains: name, surname, place and date of birth, paternity and maternity, citizenship, residency and eligibility for marriage. The nulla osta must always be legalised. When it is issued in Italy, it can be legalised in the Prefecture's office.

Special Cases: other documents to present

• Women who have been widows for a period of less than 300 days: if they wish to re-marry they must apply to the Civil Court for authorisation with certification by the relevant Court of Appeal;

• Women who have divorced abroad less than 300 days ago: to re-marry they must have a copy of the divorce judgment issued by a foreign authority and authorisation from the Civil Court;

• Persons who have reached the age of 16 years and wish to get married before they reach the age of consent: they must have authorisation from Juvenile Court. 

Costs and Payment Methods

Marriage charges and payment methods are established in the Comune (district offices) where the ceremony will take place. 

Where to go

For detailed information on procedures relating to marriage, one can go to the Civil Status Office in the Comune where one is resident. In the “Useful Links” section below it is possible to find information on the Civil Status Offices throughout the Province of Prato. 

Recommendations and Clarifications

Based on specific agreements and international conventions, for some foreign national citizens, the documents required for marriage are different. Citizens from Austria, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Moldavia, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey (those who adhere to the 1980 Monaco Convention), instead of the nulla osta, they must present a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage, issued by the Civil Status Office in their country of origin. In the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage the parents of the spouses are not indicated: for this reason, it is necessary to also present a full birth certificate issued by the Italian Consolate Authority abroad and translated, or edited in line with the international plurilingual model. The Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage does not need to be legalised if the country that issued it adheres to the convention. 

If the citizen is from the United States, instead of a nulla osta, he/she must present:

• a sworn declaration made at American Consolate with signatures legalised at the Prefecture's office;
• attested affadavit expressed in front of a Unified Court
• birth certificate

If the citizen is from Australia, he/she must present:

• a sworn declaration made at the Australian Consolate with signatures legalised at the Prefecture's office;
• attested affadavit (which must also indicate that the citizen is eligible for marriage based on legislation in his/her country of origin) made at the relevant Italian authority, with 4 witnesses.

If the citizen is from the United Kingdom, instead of a nulla osta, he/she must present:

• a “marriage eligibility certificate” issued by the local authority in the country of origin (to be legalised);
• a “bi-lingual sworn declaration” made by the relevant party in the presence of a lawyer or british solicitor (to be legalised);

If the foreign citizen is recognised as a refugee he/she must present:

• certificate issued by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees;
• attested affadavit with 2 witnesses made in the Courts regarding conditions that cannot be proven with the required certification;
• travel document attesting the status of political asylum refugee;
• valid form of identification