REGISTRATION IN ITALY OF A MARRIAGE CELEBRATED ABROAD
GENERAL RULE
A marriage celebrated abroad has legal effect in Italy only after it has been registered with the competent Italian Municipality (Comune), usually the Comune linked to the Italian citizen’s AIRE registration.
The marriage record, issued by the foreign Civil Status Authority, must be submitted as an original or certified copy, duly legalized (Apostille) and accompanied by an Italian translation.
The documentation must be submitted by the applicants to the Italian Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of residence, which will forward it to the Italian Comune for registration in the civil status records.
Alternatively, where permitted by Italian law, the Italian citizen may submit the marriage record directly to the relevant Italian Comune (art. 12, paragraph 11, Presidential Decree 396/2000).
Marriage records issued by countries that are parties to the Vienna Convention of September 8, 1976, and drafted on a multilingual form, are exempt from legalization and translation.
IMPORTANT – DIFFERENT DOCUMENT NAMES, SAME REQUIRED CONTENT
Marriage documents are issued by different States and Counties, each with its own format and terminology. What matters is not the document name, but that all required information is clearly included.
REQUIRED INFORMATION THAT MUST APPEAR ON THE DOCUMENTS
The documents submitted (Marriage Certificate/License and Marriage Application and Record, or equivalent), taken together, must include:
- both spouses’ full dates and places of birth;
- both spouses’ parents’ names;
- the exact place of celebration (city, not only the County);
- the date of the marriage ceremony.
If this information is split across two documents, both documents are required.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
1. APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE (FORM)
You must submit the application form for the registration of the marriage certificate, fully completed and signed by the Italian spouse. If both spouses are Italia, two forms must be submitted.
2. MARRIAGE DOCUMENTS (CERTIFIED COPIES)
You must submit certified copies or originals of:
- Marriage Certificate/License, and
- Marriage Application and Record (or equivalent document).
The Marriage Certificate alone is usually not sufficient.
3. APOSTILLES
For marriages celebrated in the United States, both marriage documents must bear an Apostille issued by the Secretary of State of the U.S. State that produced the document.
If the marriage was celebrated in a country other than the United States, the Apostille (or other required legalization) must be obtained from the competent authorities of that foreign country, in accordance with local regulations and applicable international conventions.
4. ITALIAN TRANSLATIONS
A complete, accurate, typewritten Italian translation is required, including all elements shown on the documents (text, stamps, headings, notes, etc.), line by line.
The translation may be done by anyone who can write correctly in Italian.
If you prefer to use a professional translator, a reference list is available here: Lista-Traduttori-25.06.2025.pdf
5. IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS
- Photocopy of both spouses’ passports.
- For the non-Italian spouse: photocopy of the birth certificate.
SUBMISSION METHOD
Documentation may be submitted in person or by mail to the address below.
Documents sent by email cannot be accepted.
ADDRESS
CONSOLATO GENERALE D’ITALIA – UFFICIO STATO CIVILE
500 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1850 – Chicago, IL 60611
PLEASE NOTE
- Wisconsin: please request a certified copy of the “Original Certificate of Marriage.”
- Colorado or Minnesota: please also provide the “Application for Marriage Licence” (or equivalent), apostilled and translated into Italian.
- Missouri: please also provide the “Application/Report of Marriage” (or equivalent), apostilled and translated into Italian.
VITAL RECORDS ISSUED IN OTHER CONSULAR JURISDICTIONS OR FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Records issued in the United States (outside Chicago jurisdiction)
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Visit the website of the Italian Consulate with jurisdiction over the State where the record was issued (find the list here);
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Obtain the documentation listed on that Consulate’s website;
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Once confirmed, send all documentation in original form to the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago.
Records issued in other foreign countries
To register a vital record issued outside the United States, you must obtain all documentation required by the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Authority competent for the country where the record was issued.