Quick answer: the documents you need to marry legally in Italy
To marry legally in Italy as a foreigner you generally need a valid passport, a birth certificate, and a "Nulla Osta" (a certificate of no impediment stating you are free to marry). The Nulla Osta is issued by your own embassy or consulate in Italy, translated and legalised, then sworn (giuramento) at the comune (town hall). EU citizens can use a certificate of no impediment from home instead. Processing runs several weeks, so start early. A civil ceremony in Italy IS legally valid and is recognised back home once properly transcribed. This is general guidance, not legal advice - always verify current requirements with the comune and your consulate.
Foreign couples often get lost in Italian bureaucracy: which documents, which translations and apostilles, whether the ceremony can be in English, whether the marriage is recognised at home, and how residence and nationality change the process. This guide walks through it step by step, with the difference between EU and non-EU citizens clearly flagged.
Quick answer: the document checklist
Most foreign couples need the following. Exact requirements vary with your nationality and your residence, so always confirm with the comune where you will marry:
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | For both partners |
| Birth certificate | Often apostilled and translated |
| Nulla Osta (no impediment) | Certificate that you are free to marry |
| Sworn translation | By a sworn translator into Italian |
| Legalisation or apostille | Under the Hague Convention |
| Giuramento (sworn declaration) | Nulla Osta confirmed under oath at the comune |
Nulla Osta: what it is and how to get it
Nulla Osta literally means "no obstacle" and is the heart of the process. It is a certificate confirming there is no legal impediment to your marriage. For non-EU citizens it is normally issued by your own country's embassy or consulate in Italy. It then often needs legalising (by Italian authorities or via apostille) and swearing under oath - the giuramento - at the comune or before an Italian court, depending on local practice.
Where you reside and your nationality matter. If you live in a country other than the one you hold citizenship in, you may need to approach the correct consulate, and some nationalities instead use an "atto notorio" or a certificate of no impediment (equivalent to the CENOMAR for some countries). The comune is the local authority that actually performs the civil ceremony.
EU citizens vs non-EU (Swedish, British, American)
The difference is decisive. As an EU citizen (for example Swedish) you can often use a certificate of no impediment from your home country instead of a consular Nulla Osta, which simplifies the process. For Swedes, the tax authority (Skatteverket) issues an impediment certificate that, with the right legalisation, can be used in Italy.
Non-EU citizens (for example American or, after Brexit, British couples) usually go through their consulate in Italy to obtain the Nulla Osta, and the process has more steps. A common piece of advice in couples' forums is to "hire someone within the EU if you marry in an EU country" - the point is that a local coordinator who knows Italian bureaucracy saves you a lot of time regardless of nationality.
Is the marriage legally valid in your home country?
Yes. A civil ceremony performed correctly at an Italian comune is legally valid and is recognised in your home country once it is transcribed and registered according to home-country procedures. The ceremony can be held in English or with an interpreter - a bilingual officiant or a sworn interpreter makes it valid even if you do not speak Italian. Always check your home country's recognition rules, as the details can differ.
Timeline and common pitfalls
Italian bureaucracy is notoriously slow, so book consular appointments and request documents early. Expect several weeks, in practice often 2-3 months, from start to finish. The most common pitfalls are missing or incorrect translations, absent apostilles, and consular appointments that are fully booked well in advance. Many couples describe it as "a nightmare where every turn brought issues" - almost always because the paperwork was started too late.
This is exactly why many international couples choose the symbolic route: marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Italy. Read about the difference in our guide on symbolic vs legal weddings abroad and the general guide to legally valid weddings abroad.
Next steps
The hassle of the Nulla Osta and the comune is handled by local planners who have done it a hundred times. Get up to 6 free quotes from suppliers who manage the paperwork. Wondering what it all costs, see what a wedding in Italy costs per guest, and for choosing a region: where in Italy should you get married?
Sources and reliability
This guide is based on Italian consular and municipal procedures, information from wedding planners specialising in legal coordination in Italy, and home-country impediment procedures, verified in July 2026. This is general guidance and not legal advice. Legal requirements differ between EU and non-EU citizens and can change - always verify current requirements with the relevant comune and your consulate before booking. Published by the Wedding Abroad editorial team. Last updated July 2026.