Informazioni per cittadini USA che desiderano contrarre matrimonio in Italia (solo in inglese)
HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
U.S. couples wishing to get married in Italy must appear, with two witnesses, before the Ufficiale di Stato Civile (Registrar) of the city/town where the marriage is to take place and file a declaration of intent to marry. This process is similar to applying for a marriage license in the U.S.
WEDDING CEREMONIES
Civil ceremonies are performed by the Ufficiale di Stato Civile or their proxy.
Religious ceremonies, performed by Roman Catholic clergy, do not require a separate civil ceremony. Once the ceremony has been performed, the clergy will register the marriage with the local vital records office.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
U.S. citizens must submit the following documents to the Ufficiale di Stato Civile when applying for a declaration of intent to marry in Italy:
1. US passports (U.S. Armed Forces personnel must submit military ID);
2. Certified long form copy of birth certificates for the bride and groom, duly legalized with the Apostille and Translated into Italian;
3. Evidence of termination of any previous marriage (final divorce or annulment decrees or death certificates);
4. For anyone under the age of 18, the authorization from the Minor Court is needed;
5. Affidavit from U.S. legal authority certifying there are no impediments to the marriage under U.S. law.
Since there is no federal registry of marriages in the United States, requirement n. 5 is fulfilled by providing BOTH the following affidavits:
a) Affidavit signed before a U.S. Consular Officer in Italy, in which applicants declare that there are no impediments to their marriage under U.S. law. In this case applicants must contact the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in Italy for an appointment prior to departing the United States (for a list visit this website) and submit the following documents to the U.S. Consular Officer:
1. proof of U.S. citizenship: passport/naturalization certificate, or birth certificate evidencing birth in the United States;
2. U.S. Armed Forces personnel must also submit a consent to the marriage from their Commanding officer;
b) Affidavit signed by four witnesses (no family) before an Italian Consular Office in the U.S. OR before an authorized Agency in Italy (Pretura, Mayor, local public registrar, notary), in which the witnesses declare that “there are no impediments to the marriage under the U.S. law”.
An affidavit (“Atto Notorio”), sworn to by four witnesses, who must be over 18 and unrelated to either of the two parties or to each other. The sworn witnesses must personally appear, with a valid ID (Passport), before the Italian Consular Officer in the U.S. having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
The affidavit will state that the witnesses swear under the penalty of perjury that they personally know the U.S. citizen, that they personally know that the U.S. citizen is a resident of the U.S., that they personally know that the U.S. citizen has never been married or is now divorced or widowed, that to the best of their knowledge the U.S. citizen is free to marry in accordance with the local laws, and that there are no objections for the U.S. citizen to be married in Italy.
To apply for an Atto Notorio with this Consulate, please send an email with a copy of the following documentation to legale.chicago@esteri.it Please be informed that this document is valid for a maximum of 90 days.
- Atto notorio request form;
- Bride and Groom’s certified copies of birth certificates duly legalized with the Apostille;
- Italian translation of the above birth certificates;
- Photocopies of Bride and Groom’s U.S. passports and driver’s license;
- Photocopies of the two witnesses driver’s licenses;
- Fees: Fees must be paid in US Dollars. Please contact this office to check the current fees.