If you are wondering how to get married in Italy as an American citizen, this guide explains the legal requirements, documents and practical steps usually involved for U.S. couples planning a legally binding wedding in Italy.

American citizens can legally get married in Italy, provided they follow the correct procedure and prepare the required documentation both in Italy and, in some cases, through Italian authorities in the United States.

If you are planning your wedding in Tuscany, you can read more here: wedding in Tuscany.

The information below is provided as a general guideline for U.S. citizens planning a wedding in Italy. Each case may vary depending on residency, marital status, previous marriages, dual citizenship, mixed nationalities and the city where the wedding will take place.

Planner’s note: in our experience, the most important part of the process is not only collecting the documents, but coordinating the timing correctly between the U.S. Consulate, the Prefettura, the Italian Court or Consulate, the interpreter and the local Comune. For this reason, we always recommend checking the specific procedure with the Town Hall before confirming paperwork appointments or travel plans.

Quick overview for U.S. citizens

• Yes, American citizens can legally get married in Italy
• A civil or legally recognised religious marriage performed in Italy is generally valid in Italy and recognised in the United States
• The main documents required are the Nulla Osta / Affidavit and the Atto Notorio
• The Nulla Osta must be issued by the U.S. Consulate in Italy and legalized
• The Atto Notorio can be obtained in the USA or in Italy
• If neither spouse is Italian nor resident in Italy, the Notice of Marriage is usually waived
• Many couples choose to complete the legal part and then have a symbolic ceremony in Italy

American citizens can get married in Italy

American citizens can get married in Italy, but they need to follow a specific legal process. The documents must be prepared correctly and delivered to the relevant Italian authorities before the civil or legally recognised religious ceremony can take place.

At Efffetti, we regularly assist American couples with wedding paperwork in Italy, including coordination with the local Comune, consular appointments, Prefettura legalization, interpreter services and the final delivery of documents before the wedding day.

Our experience with American couples marrying in Italy

Over the years, we have helped many American couples prepare their civil wedding paperwork for ceremonies in Tuscany and in other Italian cities. The procedure is usually straightforward, but the timing must be handled carefully, especially when the couple needs appointments with the U.S. Consulate, the Prefettura and the local Comune within a short stay in Italy.

One of the first things we check is where the wedding will take place, because each Town Hall may have its own appointment system, interpreter requirements and deadlines for document submission. This is why we do not recommend treating the paperwork as a last-minute task.

If you would prefer to complete all the bureaucracy in the United States and have a ceremony in Italy, Efffetti can assist you with a symbolic wedding through our specialised team of symbolic wedding celebrants.

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

Please note: weddings involving U.S. citizens cannot be performed by U.S. Consuls nor take place on the premises of the U.S. Consulate.

Documents required to get married in Italy as an American

To get married in Italy, an American citizen must usually present two main documents:

1. Nulla Osta or affidavit, released by the American Consulate in Italy and legalized
2. Atto Notorio, released by the Italian Consulate in the USA or by an Italian Court

If the citizen is resident in Italy, he or she will also need to apply for a Notice of Marriage at the local Comune, or Town Hall.

For a general overview of the process for all nationalities, see our wedding documentation in Italy guide.

Below you will find how to obtain these two documents.

Nulla Osta / Affidavit for American citizens

The required Nulla Osta, also called Sworn Statement or Affidavit Form, is available once you book your appointment with the relevant U.S. Consulate in Italy.

Please complete the form but do not sign it until you are in front of a consular officer.

• Marriage Dichiarazione Giurata Consulate MILAN
• Marriage Dichiarazione Giurata Cons Agent GENOA
• Marriage Dichiarazione Giurata Cons Agent VENICE
• Marriage Dichiarazione Giurata Consulate FLORENCE
• Marriage Dichiarazione Giurata EMBASSY ROME
• Marriage Dichiarazione Giurata Consulate NAPLES
• Marriage Dichiarazione Giurata Cons Agent PALERMO

Be sure to book your appointment with the U.S. Consulate at least two months before your arrival in Italy, as appointment availability can vary depending on the consulate and the season.

• Schedule a notarial appointment in Rome
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Florence
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Naples
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Milan
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Genoa

Please bring:

• A valid passport or official ID
• $50 or equivalent in Euro for each signature/seal

The Nulla Osta must then be legalized at the local Prefettura. This legalization confirms that the consular signature is valid for use with the Italian authorities.

Atto Notorio for American citizens getting married in Italy

The Atto Notorio is a sworn declaration confirming that there are no legal impediments to your marriage.

It can be obtained either at an Italian Consulate in the USA or at a local court in Italy, in the presence of witnesses.

If completed in Italy, you must be present with two witnesses at least one full week before the wedding.

In practical terms, the Atto Notorio is one of the documents that most often affects the travel timeline. If you decide to obtain it in Italy, you need enough time before the wedding to attend the appointment, sign the declaration and complete any further steps required by the local authorities.

Suggested paperwork timeline

• 2 to 3 months before arrival: confirm the Town Hall requirements and book the U.S. Consulate appointment.
• Before travelling: prepare passports, divorce decrees, death certificates or previous marriage documents if applicable.
• At least one full week before the wedding: complete the Atto Notorio in Italy if it has not already been obtained through an Italian Consulate in the United States.
• Usually 2 days before the wedding: attend the declaration at the Comune with an interpreter, where required.

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

Town Hall declaration before the wedding

With the Atto Notorio and the Legalized Nulla Osta, couples not residing in Italy will meet the Town Hall registrar two days before the wedding together with an interpreter.

After that, the wedding can take place as planned.

Weddings in Venice do not require this step separately, as it is completed just before the ceremony.

If one spouse resides in Italy, a Notice of Marriage must be published in advance.

This requirement is waived if neither spouse is Italian nor resident in Italy.

If one spouse is not American, specific procedures for that nationality will apply. If you are unsure, you can book a consultation here.

Civil and religious weddings in Italy

A marriage is considered valid in Italy if performed through a civil ceremony or through a religious ceremony that is legally recognised under Italian law.

Civil ceremonies take place at the Town Hall or at an approved civil wedding venue. An interpreter is required if one or both parties do not understand Italian.

Religious ceremonies must be performed by authorised clergy to be legally recognised. Catholic weddings and other religious ceremonies may require additional paperwork, so they should be checked separately from the civil documentation process.

Do you need to register your Italian marriage in the United States?

You do not usually need to register your wedding in the US through a national registration process.

However, to make your Italian marriage certificate easier to use with U.S. institutions, it can be legalized with an Apostille. Some couples may also need a certified translation depending on the institution requesting the document.

We usually recommend asking for the correct marriage certificate format before leaving Italy, especially if you need to update records with Social Security, insurance providers, banks, employers or other institutions in the United States.

Official reference for American citizens getting married in Italy

For additional general references, please visit the US Embassy website.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can find specific guidance for British citizens getting married in Italy or Australian citizens getting married in Italy.

Important: this page is intended for general planning purposes and does not replace instructions from the U.S. Embassy, Italian Consulate, Prefettura or local Comune. Requirements can change, and individual cases such as divorce, widowhood, dual citizenship, residency in Italy or mixed-nationality couples may require additional checks.