Getting married in Italy is romantic—and quite doable if you know the required documents and the process. This guide explains what paperwork you need, how the publication of banns works, and what applies specifically to foreigners. That way, the red tape becomes just a small step on the path to saying “I do.”.
Civil ceremony or church wedding?
There are two legally valid options:
- Civil (civil marriage): The wedding ceremony takes place at City Hall or the registry office (Civil Registry Office) in the municipality.
- Church-related (marriage by concordat): Thanks to the Concordat, a Catholic wedding also has legal effect under civil law—meaning it is also recognized by the state.
The Required Documents
The key document is the Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (Italian certificate of no impediment to marriage): It certifies that, under the laws of your home country, there are no legal impediments to your marriage. In addition, the following are generally required:
- one International Birth Certificate (multilingual form with parents' names),
- your travel document or an ID card,
- if necessary, one Proof of the dissolution of a previous marriage.
Important: The documents must not be on the wedding day no more than 6 months old . You can find tips on apostilles and certified translations in the guide Navigating Bureaucracy in Italy.
Civil Marriage in Italy (matrimonio civile): Process & Documents
Getting Married in a Civil Ceremony in Italy: How the "matrimonio civile" Works—Jurisdiction (ufficio di stato civile), Required Documents, Publication of Marriage, Witnesses, and Interpreters.
The Lineup: The Publications
Before the wedding ceremony, you must apply to the Civil Registry Office that Notice of Intention to Marry (Wedding Announcements). There will be at least Displayed publicly for 8 days; only then may the couple marry. For couples who are not registered in Italy, the publication of the banns may be waived depending on the circumstances—be sure to clarify this with the municipality well in advance.
On the day of the wedding
For the ceremony, you'll need two witnesses (testimoni). If you don't speak Italian, a Interpreter Required. Civil weddings take place at city hall or at a location approved by the municipality—many municipalities offer particularly beautiful historic halls.
After the Wedding
The marriage is recorded in the civil registry; for the Recognition in One's Home Country Do you need a International Marriage Certificate. Marriage to an Italian citizen can later pave the way to Naturalization through marriage Open. To the Name Usage And if you're unsure about specific details, seek advice. If a marriage were to fail, the guide explains Divorce in Italy the process.
What You Need to Do Next
Talk to the person in charge early on Municipality (or a wedding planner) about the schedule and dates, obtain the certificate of no impediment to marriage and the documents with an apostille and translation, and be sure to meet the 6-month deadline. Make arrangements for the publication of the banns, an interpreter, and two witnesses well in advance. Depending on your preferences, our guides to the different types of weddings can help— symbolic, ecclesiastical or same-sex – and, depending on the origin, for example, for German or American. For the most beautiful backdrop, it’s worth checking out the wedding destinations—such as the Tuscany, the Lake Como the Amalfi Coast, Sicily or the Dolomites. The guides on the following topics are helpful for planning: Costs & Budget, Locations and the the best time of year. And for special formats: Elopement, Vow Renewal and Honeymoon.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Married in Italy
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office / German Embassy in Rome – Marriage in Italy (accessed in June 2026)
- City of Milan – Marriage Notices (accessed in June 2026)
