Indulging your romantic spirit, you’ve chosen to seal your love with a dream wedding amidst the enchanting atmosphere of Italy. If the picturesque Sicily is your destination, there’s a crucial aspect to consider: the Legal requirements to get married in Italy as a foreigner.
While your priority is to dedicate a marvelous, engaging and unforgettable wedding in Sicily to your partner and guests, ensuring a smooth experience requires attention to the fundamental requirements for marrying in Italy. Fear not, for with this guide by L’amuri Weddings in Sicily, a Sicilian event agency specializing in wedding planning and design, you’re bound for success.
Before delving into the details, it’s essential to note that specific requirements may vary based on your nationality and individual circumstances. Therefore, it is highly recommended to consult the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country for precise and up-to-date guidance tailored to your unique situation.
If you want assistance right from the first steps in organizing your wedding, contact us, and we’ll take care of your legal requirements to get married in Sicily
Now, let’s explore the necessary documents for getting married in Italy, ensuring your union is both legally sound and gracefully executed.
Religious or Civil Marriage in Italy: Legal Differences
In Italy, two primary forms of union exist: civil and religious marriages. In addition to that, our beautiful country also recognizes civil partnerships for same-sex couples, granting rights similar to those of matrimonial unions.
Civil marriage is a non-religious option conducted in Italian by the Mayor or Civil Registrar. This ceremony can take place at municipal offices or other locations authorized by the chosen municipality, with the presence of two witnesses, one for the bride and one for the groom. If you prefer a different venue, you may consider having a symbolic wedding ceremony. Contact us to learn more and receive assistance from a wedding planner.
If either of you does not speak Italian, the presence of an interpreter is also required. The interpreter can also customize certain steps of the ceremony, which typically lasts no more than twenty or thirty minutes.
Religious weddings differ from civil ones in their religious setting and ceremonies. Conducted in churches, they involve a priest and the reading of Bible passages by involved families. While Italy recognizes marriages of all faiths, it’s essential to note that, except for Catholic ceremonies, they are not legally binding without a prior civil ceremony.
If you dream of celebrating your wedding in one of the historic and majestic churches in Sicily, one of you, either you or your partner, must be Catholic that is having received all sacraments before marriage.
It’s worth emphasizing that religious ceremonies, though more evocative and spiritual, demand greater attention than civil ones. These ceremonies require meticulous planning, involving coordination between the Italian church, the local church, municipal officials, and consulates. Lasting approximately an hour, they necessitate the submission of documentation at least 2 months before the wedding but no later than 6 months.
To have the wedding of your dreams in Sicily, you must know the legal requirements to get married in Italy. Don’t leave anything to chance. Learn what you need to do to get married in Italy and make your dream wedding a reality.
Note: if you wish to marry in an Italian church, be prepared for a more extensive document collection process!
How to Get Married in Italy: Documents checklist
Here’s our checklist to ensure you don’t overlook anything when getting married in Italy:
- Nulla Osta (CNI): Issued by the embassy or consulate of your home country, this certificate confirms your eligibility for marriage. To obtain it, you’ll typically need to provide proof of identity, proof of residence, and details about any past marriages or divorces. This step is crucial, so handle it with the utmost care
- Valid passport beyond the scheduled wedding date. This ensures a seamless procedure, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of your big day
- Birth certificate. In many cases, it may need to be translated into Italian by an official translator to ensure all details are correctly understood
- Divorce or death certificates of the former spouse. If you were previously married, you may need to provide relevant documents confirming your current single or widowed status.
Furthermore, as part of the legal process, ensure you have at least two witnesses present at your wedding ceremony in Sicily. They must be individuals capable of identifying themselves and willing to sign the marriage registry, attesting to their role as witnesses to your union.
In addition to preparing the documents, remember that some of them require the application of a revenue stamp, especially for the Nulla Osta application and the Nulla Osta itself, as well as for the Notarial Deed and the accompanying witness affidavit. All things considered, be mindful of these details as you plan your memorable journey to wedded bliss in Italy.
Other Documents for a religious wedding in Sicily
In the context of a religious marriage, you need to demonstrate your spiritual journey through baptism, confirmation and first communion certificates.
But that’s not all. Among the documents you need to prepare for a wedding in an Italian church are a certificate of attendance at the premarital course, a premarital inquiry issued by the archdiocese of your hometown, and a letter of approval for marriage from the Bishop of the Parish in your country.
We conclude this helpful guide to the necessary documents for getting married in Sicily with an invitation, urging you to plan your wedding in Italy well in advance to avoid last-minute stress. A religious wedding requires at least six months of preparation, while a civil one requires only four.
Finally, if you are a non-Italian citizen and wish to marry in Sicily, the road may seem long and complex, but as a wedding planner, L’Amuri Weddings in Sicily will be by your side step by step to complete everything you need to realize your dream wedding in Sicily.
Contact us today and get ready to experience the magic of a wedding ceremony in Sicily, immersed in our unique locations and pampered with every detail just as you desire.
