Getting married in Italy

For foreigners, getting married in Italy can be a complicated business. If you do not have someone in Italy who can handle the arrangements with the local authorities, or you cannot stay in Italy long enough to handle them yourself, you may consider using an agency to make these arrangements for you. We advise you to use agents located in Italy.

The New Zealand Embassy is not able to make marriage arrangements for you, but issues a document called a Nulla Osta which is required by the Italian authorities and can provide advice on local procedures.

Dealings with Italian authorities on marriage procedures will be in Italian, and so you will need a translator/interpreter who is familiar with legal terms.

You will be required to stay in the town where you choose to marry the minimum statutory time between the completion of notarial procedures and actual wedding date. Arrangments for a wedding vary according to location, and can take up ten days after the Nulla Osta has been obtained from the New Zealand Embassy in Rome.

Fees and charges payable vary from town to town.

Italy, like most other countries, requires a document stating thet you are legally able to marry. you will first need to obtain this document called a Certificate of No Impediment from Births, Deaths and marriages of the Department of Internal Affairs.

There is a statutory processing time in New Zealand of 14 days.