Getting married in Italy

What is marriage?

Marriage is a legal and social act that formalises the union between two people and gives them certain rights and obligations within family relationships. This union may be entered into in either a civil or a religious form, depending on the country’s traditions and laws. In Italy marriage is an important social institution, recognised in law and governed by the Civil Code. Marriage can affect various aspects of life, including financial, legal and social matters such as inheritance, child custody and tax obligations.

Who can get married in Italy?

The following can get married in Italy:

• Italian citizens.
• Citizens of other countries who hold a valid passport and a visa (if required).
• Stateless persons who hold a valid document proving their identity.

Requirements for marriage

• Age: The minimum age for marriage in Italy is 18. People under 18 may marry only with the consent of their parents or guardians.
• Marital status: At the time of the wedding you must not be married to anyone else.
• No blood relationship: You cannot marry close relatives, such as parents, children, brothers and sisters.
• Consent to marry: Both parties must give their consent to the marriage freely and knowingly.

The marriage procedure

1. Application: To register a marriage, you must apply to the town hall (Comune) of the town where you plan to marry.
2. Documents: You must provide a number of documents, including:

∙Passport (for Ukrainian citizens) and copies of it.

∙Birth certificates.

∙Certificates of marital status.

∙Other documents, depending on your situation (for example, if there were previous marriages).

• Wedding ceremony: The ceremony may be conducted by a civil registrar or by a religious minister, as the couple prefers.
• Registration of the marriage: After the ceremony, the marriage is registered at the local civil registry office (ufficio di stato civile).

Obtaining a certificate of no impediment to marriage (Nulla Osta al matrimonio)

To obtain the document needed for marriage from the consulate, the Nulla Osta al matrimonio, Ukrainian citizens who have never been married must submit:

• Ukrainian international passport — the original and 2 photocopies of the first page.
• Certificate of registered address (propyska) — the original and a photocopy of all completed pages of the internal passport bearing the registered address stamp.
• Notarised statement of marital status — this can be drawn up by a notary in Ukraine.
• Birth certificate — the original and a photocopy.
• Carta d’identità (identity card; if you have changed your registered address) and permesso di soggiorno (residence permit; if you have one) — the original and a photocopy.

Ukrainian citizens who have been married before or have changed their name must provide:

• Divorce certificate or a final court judgment — the original and a photocopy.
• Marriage certificate and death certificate if one of the spouses has died.
• Certificate of change of first name or surname — the original and a photocopy.

Important: Documents issued in Ukraine do not need to be translated into Italian or to bear an apostille.

Attendance when submitting documents

When the marriage documents are submitted to the consulate, the citizen of the other country whom you plan to marry must be present. If the marriage is between two Ukrainian citizens, both parties must attend.

Key points about getting married

• Validity of the Nulla Osta: A Nulla Osta is valid for 6 months, so submit your documents in good time.
• Planning the ceremony: Choose the date and venue for the ceremony, bearing in mind that you must have all the necessary documents in advance.
• Rules on marriages for foreign nationals: If one of the parties is a foreign national, it is important to find out what additional requirements may apply for their country.

Conclusion

Getting married in Italy is an important legal and social procedure that involves meeting a number of requirements and completing certain formalities. The process includes applying to the local town hall (Comune), providing the necessary documents, holding the ceremony and registering the marriage. Ukrainian citizens who wish to marry in Italy must prepare their documents, including their passport, birth certificate and certificates of marital status, and obtain the Nulla Osta al matrimonio from the Ukrainian consulate.

It is important to follow the established procedures, bearing in mind how long documents remain valid and that both parties must be present when the application is submitted. To avoid delays, plan the date of the ceremony carefully and check all the requirements in advance, especially if one of the parties is a foreign national.