Getting married in Italy as a foreigner is one of the most romantic dreams a couple can imagine, but beyond the beauty of rolling Tuscan hills and Renaissance villas, there’s also a set of legal requirements to navigate. The process isn’t difficult, but it does require time, precision, and the right local assistance.
Since all your documentation must be translated and legalized, it’s essential to rely on a professional who understands the Italian system and can guide you through each step, from paperwork to the actual civil marriage or religious ceremony in case you want to combine the legal validity with the rite of your faith.
At Floé Weddings we offer paralegal assistance collaborating with a professional that specializes in facilitating civil weddings in Italy for UK citizens, ensuring the entire process runs smoothly and without surprises.
In this article, we will explain the entire process of how to get legally married in Italy as a UK citizen: where you can have a civil wedding in Italy, which documents you need to provide, how and where to obtain them, and the fees that you can expect during the process, so you can have a complete overview even before you get started.
Where you can get Legally Married in Italy as a UK Citizen
In Italy, civil weddings can be celebrated either at the local town hall or in selected venues that have been officially authorized by the municipality. These licensed venues are limited in number and often in high demand, especially during peak season, so flexibility with your wedding date can significantly increase your chances of securing availability.
A legally binding civil marriage is officiated by the Mayor or a civil registrar and is typically conducted in Italian. If needed, an official interpreter can provide a translation into English during the ceremony.
If you wish to combine the legal marriage with a religious celebration, making the wedding both spiritually meaningful and legally valid, the religious rite will be officiated by a minister or pastor of your faith, not by the civil registrar. The civil component is usually incorporated at the end of the religious ceremony and followed by the signing of the official marriage registers.
It is important to note that the legal paperwork and procedures remain the same as for a standard civil wedding; the religious ceremony complements the civil act but does not replace it.
Required Documents for your civil wedding as UK citizen
Below you will find a detailed overview of the main documents required to legally marry in Italy. Please note that specific requirements may vary slightly depending on your nationality and the municipality where the wedding will take place.
- Coloured copy of your passports
A clear coloured scan of each partner’s passport is required. Passports must be valid and must not expire within six months after the wedding date. If your passport is close to expiration, you will need to renew it as soon as possible and provide an updated copy prior to the ceremony. - Coloured copy of your witnesses passports
Coloured copy of your witnesses passports
Italian law requires at least one witness per spouse (two witnesses in total). Witnesses must be over 18 years old and can be of any nationality. A coloured copy of each witness’s valid passport (or ID card, if applicable) must be submitted in advance. Witnesses do not need to be residents of Italy. - Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
The Certificate of No Impediment confirms that there are no legal obstacles preventing you from marrying. This document is issued by the competent authority of your home country. It must clearly state that you are free to marry according to the laws of your country. The document will need to be apostilled and translated into Italian. - Statutory Declaration
The Statutory Declaration is a sworn statement confirming your personal details (such as name, date and place of birth, nationality, marital status, residence, and parents’ names). It is typically signed in front of a consular officer or authorized official.
How to obtain the documents to Get Legally Married in Italy as a UK Citizen
Now that you know which documents are required, we’ll guide you through the specific procedure: how to obtain each document, which authorities to contact, and the ideal timing.
Most of the process takes place in your country of residence. You will typically need to book appointments with local authorities and, in many cases, attend in person to request the documents. Since office hours, processing times, and waiting lists can vary widely, we recommend checking the exact timelines and requirements with the competent offices in your area. This will help you secure the necessary appointments early enough and avoid last-minute issues.
The final steps, instead, take place in Italy and require local assistance. A dedicated professional will guide you through this phase, schedule the necessary appointments, handle the required bureaucratic procedures on your behalf, and provide interpreter support during any appointments you need to attend in person.
The final steps, instead, take place in Italy and require local assistance. A dedicated professional will guide you through this phase. He will schedule the necessary appointments, handle the required bureaucratic procedures on your behalf, and provide interpreter support during any appointments you need to attend.
Below is a step-by-step overview to help you stay organized and stress-free.
However, before starting the process, there are two essential points to keep clearly in mind.
- All required documents are personal, meaning they refer to each spouse individually and not to the marriage as a joint application.
both partners must provide their own documentation. - The information reported on all your documents: CNI, Statutory Declaration, and Passport, must be fully consistent.
Documents containing discrepancies or inconsistent information will not be accepted by the Italian authorities.
Step 1: Documents and info you need before you get started
To start the process make sure to have the following documents fully valid and original for both spouses:
- Wedding venue and date
Before starting the process, it is essential to have confirmed the wedding date and the Comune (Town Hall) where the ceremony will take place.
These details must be stated in the documents you will request in the UK. For this reason, we recommend finalizing these details before beginning any formal applications. If these details change, you will need to apply for new documents. - Valid UK passport
A colored copy of a valid UK passport is required as proof of identity and nationality. The passport must be valid at the time of the wedding and should not expire within six months after the ceremony. - Birth certificate
An original or certified copy of your full birth certificate is required. It must clearly show your parents’ names - Divorce decree or death certificate (if previously married)
If either partner has been previously married, it is mandatory to provide the original divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse. This document must clearly prove the legal freedom to enter into a new marriage.
For women, Italian law requires that a minimum period of 300 days has passed between the date of divorce and the new wedding date. This is a fundamental requirement. The only alternative is to obtain a medical certificate confirming that the woman is not pregnant. This certificate must then be formally validated by an Italian court. This is a complex and costly legal procedure which, except in cases of strict necessity, can generally be avoided by simply respecting the legal waiting period.
Step 2: Obtaining the Certificate of no Impediment or Nulla Osta
You can get the CNI by giving a notice of marriage at your local registrar office in the UK. The CNI will be issued after your bans have been posted for 28 days.
The certificate is valid for 6 months, for this reason you should apply around 6 months before the wedding date, not earlier.
The Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) must clearly state the exact Comune (Town Hall of jurisdiction) where the ceremony will legally take place.
It is important to understand that Italy is organized into provinces, municipalities (Comuni), and each Comune can include several villages, hamlets, or smaller localities. The address of your venue may refer to a nearby village or a frazione (subdivision), which does not necessarily correspond to the official Comune where the marriage will be registered.
For this reason, you must verify the correct legal wording to be stated on the CNI. We strongly recommend confirming this detail with your wedding planner assisting you locally, or directly with the relevant Comune, to ensure the document reflects the exact Town Hall of jurisdiction.
Useful link
You can find the registrar office you have to apply at by entering the postal code of the town you live in, in the form here
Step 3: Statutory declaration
You will need to make a Statutory Declaration before a UK solicitor or public notary, formally confirming your eligibility to marry.
While you may complete the form in advance, it must be signed in person in front of the solicitor or public notary in the UK. The professional will then witness and certify your signature.
A fee will apply, and the amount may vary depending on the individual solicitor or notary.
The Statutory must specify your passport number and expiry date. Make sure to use the same that you’ll show at the wedding. If your passport expires within six months after the wedding date, apply for a new one before proceeding with the Statutory Declaration.
Useful Links
- You find the bilingual Statutory Declaration form here
- If you do not already have a trusted professional, you can search for a qualified solicitor or public notary via the Law Society website here
Step 4: Translate and legalize the documents
Once issued, both the CNI and the Statutory Declaration must be legalized. Legalization is the process that verifies the authenticity of the signature or seal on a UK public document. It involves attaching an official certificate, the Apostille, which makes the document valid for use abroad.
You should complete this step at least three months before the wedding date.
The Legalization Office offers two types of services; however, you must use the standard paper-based service. The electronic “e-Apostille” is not accepted in Italy, as all documents must be presented in their original hard copy. Digital versions are not valid.
With the standard paper-based service, you can send the signed documents to the Legalization Office by post or courier, and the legalized documents (with Apostilles attached) will be returned to your chosen address within 15 working days.
If you require a faster turnaround, you may ask a solicitor to arrange a next-day Apostille service.
Before legalizing your documents, make sure that they meet the requirements below:
- CNIs must be original with the registrar’s original signature
- Statutory Declarations must be signed by a solicitor and properly certified
When the Solicitor or Public Notary signs the document, he must:
Use the personal signature, not a company signature.
Include the date of certification and company address.
Stamp or emboss the document with the notarial seal.
Useful links
Step 5: Declaring Your Intent to Marry
Before the wedding, you will attend a Dichiarazione di Matrimonio appointment at the Town Hall where your ceremony will take place, usually two to three days prior to the wedding.
During the Dichiarazione, you will be asked to:
- Confirm your intention to marry
- Confirm that the marriage will be governed by the British law
- Review and sign the required legal documents
- Verify your personal details before the marriage certificate is prepared
Please remember to bring your passports to this appointment. Witnesses are not required at this stage.
If you do not speak Italian, you will need an official interpreter to assist you.
For many couples, this is the moment when everything feels real, standing inside a centuries-old Italian Town Hall and realizing that your wedding is truly about to happen.
Step 6: The Civil Ceremony
The big day has finally arrived, and with it the moment to say the two long-awaited words: “I do.”
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, your civil ceremony can take place either at the Town Hall or at your reception venue, provided it holds the necessary legal authorization.
In all cases, the ceremony will be conducted in Italian, as required by law, and translated into English by the interpreter you have appointed for the occasion (usually your wedding planner).
The civil ceremony typically lasts around 15 minutes. However, it can be enriched with readings, personal vows, or symbolic rituals to make it more personal and meaningful, while respecting the legal framework required for a valid marriage in Italy.
At the end of the ceremony, you will sign the official marriage register together with your two witnesses (one for each spouse), and finally you will be invited to seal your marriage with a kiss.
Step 7: Marriage certificate
The marriage certificate is issued after the wedding, and the timing varies depending on the Town Hall.
In most cases, it takes between one and three months to be released. In some circumstances, typically when the ceremony takes place directly at the Town Hall, it may be possible to receive it shortly after the ceremony.
Unless the certificate is issued immediately, you will need someone based in Italy to collect it on your behalf and arrange a secure shipment to your home address.
The certificate can be issued in a multilingual format and does not require translation.
don’t need to register your marriage in the UK, it is recommended to keep at least one original copy for future legal or administrative matters, such as a name change, visa applications, or other official procedures where an original certificate may be required.
For this reason, we usually recommend requesting three to four original copies: two for administrative purposes such as applying for marital leave, and one or two for your personal records.
Any additional copies requested after the initial issue are subject to processing times, which may not align with your personal deadlines, as well as to a fee that will be confirmed by the Town Hall at the time of the request.
What Does a Civil Wedding in Italy Cost?
When planning a civil wedding in Italy as a UK citizen, it’s essential to consider not only the beauty of the setting but also the practical aspects, including fees, taxes, and administrative costs.
As mentioned earlier, the ceremony can take place either at an Italian Town Hall or at a wedding venue that holds specific legal authorization.
If the ceremony is held at a Town Hall, the fee varies significantly depending on the municipality. In smaller or lesser-known towns, it may start from approximately €700, while in prestigious locations, such as certain ceremonial rooms in Florence, it can reach €8,000 or more.
If the ceremony takes place at your reception venue (provided it is legally authorized), a municipal fee must still be paid in addition to the venue rental cost. This fee generally ranges from €500 to €1,000 and typically covers administrative charges, local taxes, and the presence of the Mayor or Registrar (or their delegate) to officiate the ceremony, as well as the processing and issuance of the official marriage documents.
Professional assistance with the legal paperwork, including translations, legalizations, document checks, coordination with UK authorities and Italian Town Halls, and on-site interpretation, is not included in the municipal fees outlined above. These services vary depending on the complexity of your documentation and the level of support required.
Partnering with an experienced planner or legal consultant in Italy ensures that every step is managed correctly and efficiently, helping you avoid bureaucratic delays or errors that could jeopardize the celebration of your marriage on your chosen wedding date.
Final Thoughts
Between the different alternatives for your ceremony, planning a civil wedding abroad comes with its fair share of paperwork, but in Italy, even the legal process has a certain charm.
At Floé Weddings, we’ve guided countless international couples through this process, ensuring everything runs smoothly so you can focus on what really matters: celebrating your love in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Official sources
The info in this blog is taken from the British Government Website.
As the process may change without notice, we invite you to explore the process at the one of following link: https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships-abroad
