If you are an Australian citizen getting married in Italy, this guide explains the paperwork, legal requirements and practical steps usually involved before a civil or legally recognised ceremony can take place.

Australian citizens can legally get married in Italy, but they need to prepare specific documents before the wedding and complete some formal steps once they arrive in Italy.

At Efffetti, we assist Australian couples with the practical side of the process, including document checks, appointments, legalisation at the Prefettura, interpreting and communication with the local Comune, or Town Hall.

The information below is provided as a general guideline. Each case may vary depending on where you live, where the wedding will take place, previous marriages, mixed nationalities, residency and the specific requirements of the Italian Town Hall.

Planner’s note: in our experience, the Australian paperwork process is manageable, but timing matters. The Atto Notorio, Nulla Osta, Prefettura legalisation, interpreter and Comune appointment all need to be coordinated carefully, especially if you are arriving in Italy close to the wedding date.

Quick overview for Australian citizens

• Yes, Australian citizens can legally get married in Italy
• Australian government representatives cannot perform marriage ceremonies
• You cannot get married at an Australian Embassy or Consulate
• The main documents usually involved are the Atto Notorio and the Nulla Osta
• The Nulla Osta must be signed in Italy before an Australian consular officer
• The Nulla Osta must then be legalised at the competent Prefettura
• An interpreter is required if one or both spouses do not speak Italian
• The local Comune must always confirm the final requirements

Can Australian citizens get married in Italy?

Yes. Australian citizens can get married in Italy with a legally valid civil wedding, provided the correct documents are prepared and delivered to the Italian authorities before the ceremony.

The marriage must be celebrated according to Italian law, either through a civil ceremony or through a religious ceremony that is legally recognised in Italy.

Because Italian municipalities may apply local administrative rules, the procedure should always be checked with the Comune where the wedding will take place before booking appointments or confirming travel plans.

For a general overview of paperwork for all nationalities, you can also read our wedding documentation in Italy guide.

Documents for Australian citizens getting married in Italy

Australian citizens getting married in Italy usually need to deal with two main documents:

1. Atto Notorio, a sworn declaration stating that there are no legal impediments to the marriage
2. Nulla Osta, a sworn declaration signed in Italy before an Australian consular officer

These documents must then be presented to the Italian Town Hall where the wedding will be celebrated.

If one spouse is not Australian, that spouse must follow the paperwork requirements of their own nationality. This is very important, because the procedure may be completely different.

Before arriving in Italy

Before leaving Australia, you should check which document the Italian Consulate or the Italian authorities require in your specific case.

In many cases, Australian citizens prepare an Atto Notorio before travelling to Italy. This is a sworn declaration confirming that there are no legal impediments to the marriage.

The Atto Notorio may be obtained through the Italian Embassy or Consulate responsible for the area where you live. The consular office may ask for an appointment, witnesses and supporting documents such as birth certificates, divorce documents or evidence of termination of a previous marriage, depending on your situation.

Some consular offices may request or mention a Certificate of No Impediment or additional documentation. For this reason, you should always check directly with the Italian Consulate and with the Comune where the wedding will take place before starting the process.

If the Atto Notorio is obtained in Australia, make sure all names and personal details match your passport and any supporting documents exactly. We do not usually suggest following this path, as obtaining the Atto Notorio in Italy is often simpler.

Can the Atto Notorio be done in Italy?

Yes, and in many cases we suggest doing the Atto Notorio in Italy, through the competent local authority accepted by the Comune where you are getting married.

If you choose this route, you will need to attend the appointment in person, together with 4 witnesses. Witnesses cannot be siblings or parents. If you or the witnesses do not speak Italian, an interpreter may also be required.

This option should never be left to the last minute because appointments, local availability and document requirements can vary.

Once in Italy – Nulla Osta for Australian citizens

Once in Italy, an Australian citizen intending to marry must usually sign a Nulla Osta, also called a sworn declaration, before an Australian consular officer.

The Nulla Osta states that there is no legal impediment to the marriage. It must be signed in person, whether you are single, divorced or widowed.

This appointment is usually arranged at:

• the Australian Embassy in Rome
• or the Australian Consulate-General in Milan

You must travel with your Australian passport and any documents requested by the consular office. If you have been married before, you may need to provide evidence of the termination of the previous marriage. If you are widowed, you may need to provide the death certificate of your previous spouse.

The Nulla Osta is normally valid for six months. Fees, payment methods and appointment availability should always be checked directly with the Australian Embassy or Consulate before attending the appointment.

Legalisation at the Prefettura

After the Nulla Osta has been issued, it must be legalised by the competent Prefettura in Italy.

This legalisation confirms that the consular signature is valid for use with the Italian authorities.

A revenue stamp, called marca da bollo, is normally required for each Nulla Osta. Efffetti can handle this step on behalf of the couple when included in the service.

Prefettura offices usually work in the morning and may have specific appointment systems or closing days, so timing should be checked carefully.

Town Hall appointment before the wedding

Once the Atto Notorio and the legalised Nulla Osta are ready, the documents are delivered to the local Town Hall where the wedding will take place.

Most couples then attend a pre-wedding declaration at the Comune, usually a few working days before the ceremony. During this meeting, the registrar checks the documents and the couple confirms their intention to marry.

An interpreter is required if one or both spouses do not speak Italian.

The exact timing of this appointment depends on the Town Hall. Some municipalities ask couples to attend two or three working days before the wedding, while others may have different requirements.

Civil wedding ceremony in Italy

A civil wedding in Italy is celebrated by the local registrar, usually at the Town Hall or at an approved civil wedding venue.

Many Italian Town Halls are historic buildings, and some municipalities also approve villas, gardens or other official ceremony locations. Fees for non-resident couples may vary depending on the Comune, the day of the week, the time of the ceremony and the chosen venue.

The civil ceremony is conducted in Italian. If one or both spouses do not understand Italian, an interpreter must be present.

After the ceremony, the Italian marriage certificate can be issued by the Comune. If you need to use the certificate abroad, additional legalisation or translation may be required depending on the authority requesting it.

Previous marriages, divorce or widowhood

If you have been married before, you should check the requirements carefully before travelling.

Australian citizens who are divorced may need to provide evidence of the termination of the previous marriage. If you are widowed, you may need to provide the death certificate of your previous spouse.

Please also note that, under Italian law, a divorced woman who wishes to marry again within 300 days from the date of divorce may need to seek special permission from the Italian authorities, unless the required period has already passed.

These situations should always be checked individually with the Comune and, when necessary, with the relevant consular authority.

Religious or symbolic ceremony in Italy

If you would prefer a religious or symbolic ceremony in Italy, the process depends on whether you want the ceremony to be legally binding.

A symbolic ceremony gives you more flexibility with location, wording, music and structure. It is not legally binding, but many couples choose it because it allows the ceremony to feel more personal.

You can read more about this option here: symbolic wedding celebrants in Italy.

For Catholic weddings, please read the Catholic weddings in Italy section.

Suggested paperwork timeline

• Before travelling: check the Comune requirements and confirm the correct Atto Notorio or consular route.
• Before travelling: prepare passports and any documents relating to previous marriages, divorce or widowhood if applicable.
• Once in Italy: attend the Nulla Osta appointment at the Australian Embassy in Rome or Consulate-General in Milan.
• After the Nulla Osta: complete legalisation at the Prefettura.
• Usually a few working days before the wedding: attend the Town Hall declaration with an interpreter, if required.

This timeline is a planning guideline only. The final schedule must always be checked with the Comune where the wedding will be celebrated.

How Efffetti supports Australian couples

We help Australian couples with the practical and administrative side of getting married in Italy.

Depending on your case, we can assist with:

• personalised paperwork checklists
• communication with the Italian Town Hall
• coordination of timing with the Comune
• guidance on Atto Notorio and Nulla Osta steps
• Prefettura legalisation
• interpreter services for the declaration and ceremony
• delivery and management of documents
• symbolic ceremony support
• wedding planning in Tuscany on request

We work with couples who need paperwork only, as well as couples looking for wider wedding planning support.

If you are also planning the wedding itself, you may find this page useful: wedding in Tuscany.

Official references for Australian citizens

For official reference, please check the Australian Embassy in Italy and the Italian Consulate responsible for your area in Australia.

• Australian Embassy in Italy
• Australian Embassy – Marriage in Italy information

If you are not an Australian citizen, you can also explore our guides for American citizens getting married in Italy and British citizens getting married in Italy.

Please note: requirements may vary depending on residency, previous marriages, widowhood, mixed-nationality couples and the specific Comune involved. For this reason, we always recommend checking each case individually before booking appointments or travel.