Marriage abroad

An Italian citizen may marry abroad before the local authority and, under certain conditions, before the consular authority. In all cases the marriage must be transcribed in the civil status registers of the Italian town hall. The Firm assists the prospective spouses at every stage.

Marriage before the Spanish authorities

In order to marry in Spain, an Italian citizen registered with AIRE must produce to the Registro Civil the certificate of no impediment to marriage issued by the Italian consulate, which attests to the absence of impediments. For residents in Italy, the certificate is issued by the town hall of residence.

Marriage before the consular authority

Consular marriage is provided for by art. 12 of Legislative Decree 71/2011, but is subject to significant limitations: the local authorities may not recognise it where one of the prospective spouses is a citizen of the State of residence, and at some consulates the service is not currently available.

Marriage in Italy of citizens registered with AIRE

A citizen registered with AIRE who intends to marry in Italy must request the publication of the banns through the consulate. The documentation must be received well in advance (some consulates require at least three months before the intended date); the marriage may be celebrated from the fourth to the one hundred and eightieth day following publication.

Transcription in Italy

A marriage celebrated abroad must be transcribed in the civil status registers of the competent Italian town hall. The application is submitted to the consulate or directly to the town hall of AIRE registration.

• Marriage celebrated in Spain: original certificado de matrimonio plurilingüe; where the regime of separation of property has been adopted, also the certificado literal with translation. The Libro de Familia is not an acceptable document.
• Marriage celebrated in a non-EU State: full-text record bearing an apostille (or legalisation) and an official translation into Italian.
• Marriage between persons of the same sex: it is transcribed in Italy as a civil union (Law 76/2016).

Documentation required for transcription

• Passports of both spouses.
• Marriage record in the form indicated above.
• Indication of the Italian town hall of transcription (as a rule, the town hall of AIRE registration or of the family's origin).

Timescales and costs

Transcription timescales depend on the consulate and the town hall. The Firm issues a detailed, no-obligation quote, distinguishing between transcription through the consulate and transcription directly at the town hall.

Consular services

Sources: D.P.R. 396/2000, arts. 17 and 19 · Legislative Decree 71/2011, art. 12 · Law 76/2016 · Information pages of the Italian consulates on civil status and marriage. Information only, updated September 2026.