2 April 2024

Italian wedding notary services guide

Italy is a popular place for weddings. If you want your special day in Italy, then find out what documents you need to prepare for your wedding, and how we can help.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Many people want an Italian wedding. Italy is a country with beautiful countryside, a rich culture, and plenty of tasty food and drinks.

Whether you want to get married in the warmer climate of Italy’s Mediterranean coast, or fancy something different in the Alpine mountain range in the north, you will need to get your legal documents ready for your Italian wedding.

As a Notary Public, we can assist you with getting your documents ready to be used in Italy for your wedding.

To learn more about what documents you will need and how we can help you, read on.

Prove you can get married

Before you can get married, you will first need to prove that you can get married to begin with.

If you are in the UK, then you will need to get a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) alongside an affidavit, so as to prove that there is no reason that you cannot get married. Your partner will also need to do this if they are British.

Both documents will need to be given to the individual marrying you. This will be a priest if you are having a religious ceremony, or the registrar at the local Italian comune if you are having a civil ceremony.

However, if you are already in Italy, you will not be able to get a Certificate of No Impediment unless you fly back to the UK. Instead, you will have to get a Nulla Osta.

A Nulla Osta may be less convenient to get than a CNI, as you will likely have to stay in Italy for an extended period whilst you wait for it, so you will end up paying more.

Whilst we can help you with the Certificate of No Impediment by notarising it for you, we cannot help you with the Nulla Osta. As the latter is a document that is obtained from within Italy itself, it will not need notarising, nor will it need an apostille.

Affidavits

An affidavit is a statement similar to a Statutory Declaration which an individual makes under oath, swearing that it is true.

Italian wedding FAQ

Are the requirements the same for same-sex weddings?

Yes, the requirements are basically the same. However, it should be noted that same-sex couples can only have a civil ceremony.

How long before my wedding should I arrive in Italy?

It would be best to arrive two or three days before your wedding, so that you have time to present your documents to the local authorities.

Will my documents need to be translated?

Yes, you will need to get your documents translated into Italian for them to be understood by local authorities.

How long does a Certificate of No Impediment last for?

A Certificate of No Impediment lasts for six months when issued from England or Wales, and you intend to use it in Italy. Make sure your wedding is within this timeframe.

What is the difference between a CNI and a Nulla Osta?

Whilst they both essentially do the same thing in that they prove you can get married, there are a few differences between the CNI and Nulla Osta.

Aside from the fact you get a CNI whilst in the UK and you get a Nulla Osta if you are in Italy, the costs are also different. A CNI costs £35, whilst a Nulla Osta costs at least £100, it being £50 to display it, £50 to have it issued, and then any courier fees on top.

Getting a CNI is much cheaper.

How we can help

Our Notary Public of England and Wales, Nathan Woodcock, can assist you with all of your notarial needs for your Italian wedding. He can sign and witness your affidavit, and then notarise it alongside your other documents.

You can meet Nathan at one of our offices in London, Manchester, or Sheffield. Alternatively, you can use our mobile notary service to book your appointment at a reasonable time and place that suits you. This can be at your home, an office, or somewhere else acceptable to meet at.

Furthermore, we can get your documents issued with an apostille, as we work closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Apostilles are a requirement for using your documents abroad. We offer a standard service and a fast-track service to get you an apostille on a time-scale that suits you the best. Please note that the length each service takes can vary throughout the year.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your needs with us, and see how Nathan can help you.