Single status certificate
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The single status certificate attests to the absence of any marriage or civil union, either because none has ever been contracted or following widowhood or dissolution of the marriage. In Spain it is frequently required for registration as a pareja de hecho and for certain social benefits. The Firm arranges for its issue by the town hall or the consulate, according to its intended use.
Competent authority: town hall or consulate
This is a population registry certificate. It is issued by the Italian town hall of registration (for residents abroad, the town hall of AIRE registration) and, for residents within its consular district, by the consulate. The choice of authority affects the usability of the document:
| Issued by the consulate | Issued by the town hall | |
|---|---|---|
| Use | In Spain or in another EU Member State | In a State outside the EU that requires the apostille (for example, for the celebration of a marriage in the United States) |
| Apostille | Cannot be affixed | Can be affixed by the Prefecture, as the document is drawn up in Italy |
| Points to note | Requires AIRE registration within the consulate's district | Some town halls refuse to issue it to persons registered with AIRE, considering it a consular matter: the Firm verifies this in advance |
Single status and capacity to marry
These are separate documents. The single status certificate attests only to the absence of any marriage or civil union at the date of issue. For the celebration of a marriage in Spain, by contrast, the certificate of capacity to marry is required, which attests to the absence of impediments and is issued by the consulate to persons registered with AIRE.
Pareja de hecho and other uses in Spain
For registration as a pareja de hecho, the registers of the autonomous communities require a document attesting to civil status, but each community determines the type of certificate it accepts. Before proceeding, the Firm verifies the requirements of the competent register, so as to avoid requesting an unsuitable document.
A pareja de hecho constituted in Spain cannot be transcribed in Italy: the consulate does not register it.
Stamp duty and validity
- The town hall certificate is normally subject to stamp duty of 16 €, save in the cases of exemption provided for by law.
- The certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue.
Documentation required
- Full name, date and place of birth.
- Copy of a valid Italian passport or identity card.
- Indication of the Italian town hall of registration (residence or AIRE) and, for persons born abroad, of the town hall in which the birth record was transcribed.
- Power of attorney in favour of the Firm, prepared by the Firm.
Timescales and costs
Timescales depend on the consulate or the town hall. The Firm issues a detailed, no-obligation quote for the route best suited to the case.
Certificates we handle
Sources: D.P.R. 445/2000, art. 41 · D.P.R. 642/1972 (stamp duty) · Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 · Information pages of the Italian consulates. Information only, updated September 2026.