Last update August 28, 2025.
What are the so-called “pubblicazioni di matrimonio”?
Marriage Banns (Pubblicazioni di Matrimonio) in Italy
If you’re preparing for a civil or religious wedding with legal value in Italy, and either spouse is an Italian resident—or if an Italian citizen is registered with A.I.R.E. abroad—you will be required to complete the Marriage Banns(Pubblicazioni di Matrimonio).
This procedure is a mandatory public notice of your intention to marry, designed to ensure there are no legal impediments under Italian law. It derives from Articles 93 to 100 of the Italian Civil Code and is regulated in practice by Articles 50 to 56 of Presidential Decree no. 396 of 2000 (Regolamento dello Stato Civile).
1. If one or both spouses are residents of Italy
If either of the future spouses—Italian or foreign—is officially resident in Italy, the pubblicazioni must be made at the Comune (Town Hall) of residence.
After presenting all required documents (including the nulla osta for foreign nationals), the civil registrar drafts the “processo verbale di comparizione”, an official declaration confirming that both parties are free to marry and that no impediments exist under Articles 85–88 and 87 of the Civil Code (which prohibit marriage in cases of previous subsisting marriage, insanity, kinship, affinity, or adoption).
The banns are then displayed publicly at the Town Hall for eight consecutive days, followed by a three-day waiting period. Once this period has elapsed, the couple receives the certificate of completed publications (certificato di eseguite pubblicazioni), authorizing the celebration of the marriage anywhere in Italy within 180 days.
2. If the Italian citizen is registered with A.I.R.E. (resident abroad)
If the Italian citizen is registered with A.I.R.E. (the registry of Italians residing abroad), the pubblicazioni di matrimoniomust instead be carried out through the competent Italian Consulate in the country of residence.
The Consulate will collect the required documents and forward the request for publications to the Comune of last residence in Italy (or to the Comune of A.I.R.E. registration). Once the pubblicazioni are completed and the certificate issued, the Consulate will notify the parties and coordinate with the Italian authorities for the issuance of the marriage authorization (nulla osta alle nozze in Italia).
This procedure is equally mandatory for A.I.R.E.-registered citizens, as established by Article 12, paragraph 11 of D.P.R. 396/2000, and ensures that the marriage will be valid and recognized under Italian law once celebrated in Italy.
3. If the foreign spouse is legally resident in Italy
A foreign national legally residing in Italy (with residence permit or registered domicile) must also carry out pubblicazioni di matrimonio at their Comune of residence, according to Article 116 of the Civil Code, which governs the marriage of foreigners in Italy.
In such cases, the nulla osta or equivalent declaration issued by the foreign spouse’s country is required, confirming that the person is legally free to marry.
Summary
In all cases, the pubblicazioni di matrimonio serve as a public verification of marital capacity and are a precondition for any marriage with legal validity in Italy, whether civil or religious.
Only once the process is completed can the civil ceremony be scheduled before the Mayor or Deputy Mayor (or a priest authorized to act as a civil registrar, in the case of a concordat marriage).
🧐 What Are Marriage Banns in Italy?
The “Pubblicazioni di Matrimonio” is an official announcement made by the Municipality (Comune) or the Italian Consulate abroad that informs the public of your intent to get married.
This announcement is made to allow anyone with legal grounds to oppose the marriage, in accordance with the Italian Civil Code.
👥 Who Needs to Apply?
Marriage banns are required if:
- At least one of the spouses is resident in Italy, regardless of nationality.
- Or, if the Italian citizen lives abroad and is registered with A.I.R.E., the banns can be processed by the competent Italian Consulate abroad.
Applicants must be:
- Of opposite sexes (Italian law does not require marriage banns for civil unions; therefore, same-sex couples can request a civil union more easily than opposite-sex couples.).
- Over 18 years old (or over 16 with Juvenile Court authorization).
- Free to marry, i.e., not already married or bound by civil effects from a prior religious marriage.
- Not related by kinship, affinity, adoption, or affiliation in prohibited degrees (unless authorized by a judge).
- Foreign nationals with a Nulla Osta or equivalent certificate of marriage capacity from their country.
Please note that Nulla Osta is required prior to banns.
📝 How to Apply
You must submit your application to:
- The Municipality (Comune) where one of the spouses resides; or
- The Italian Consulate, if applying abroad and registered with A.I.R.E.
During your appointment, the registrar will draft a formal record including:
- Full name, birth date/place, and citizenship of each spouse
- Residence and marital status
- Whether there are legal impediments due to family ties
- Whether the parties have been previously married or declared legally incapacitated
- Any convictions for the murder or attempted murder of a former spouse
📄 Required Documents
- Valid passport or ID for both spouses
- Italian Tax Code (Codice Fiscale)
- Marriage Nulla Osta or equivalent document for foreign nationals
- Letter from the parish priest or religious minister (for religious marriages)
- €16.00 revenue stamp (marca da bollo) — two if the spouses reside in different municipalities
🔄 Publication Timeline & Validity
- Once submitted, your marriage banns will be posted online in the Comune’s official register for 8 days.
- The record remains on file for an additional 3 days to allow for objections.
- After this 11-day period, if there are no objections, you receive a certificate of publication.
- You then have 180 days to get legally married. If this deadline passes, the process must be restarted with a new request.
⚠️ Special Cases & Restrictions
👩⚖️ Minors
- Must be at least 16 and provide authorization from the Juvenile Court.
💔 Divorced Women
- Must wait 300 days from the date of divorce before remarrying.
- This waiting period does not apply if:
- Authorized by court decree (e.g., no cohabitation in the last 300 days)
- The prior marriage was unconsummated or dissolved after a 3-year separation
🕊 Widowed Women
- Must also wait 300 days from the date of their spouse’s death, unless a court waiver is obtained.
📅 Book Your “Pubblicazioni di Matrimonio” with Expert Support
Whether you are an Italian citizen abroad, a foreigner residing in Italy, or an international couple, our legal team ensures your marriage banns are correctly processed and your wedding remains fully compliant with Italian law.on the celebration.
Written by Alessandro Pirrò
Alessandro is a former legal advisor to the Italian Government and has worked with top law firms in Rome, focusing on international marriage and recognition abroad. He now supports foreign couples getting legally married in Italy, offering expert guidance on paperwork, consular requirements and legal recognition in their home country.
We Will Be Your Legal Advisors for Your Civil Wedding in Italy
Due to our experience in law firms and the foreign offices of the Italian public administration, we gained significant expertise in Consular affairs, and we are trained to solve the most complicated procedure such as:
- Marriage Nulla osta process, legalization procedure, Court hearings for the refusal of the town hall when there documents missing , legal translation, apostille procedure, emergency procedure for legalization.
- Immigration law services and consular support for non-EU citizens applying for a Schengen visa.
- Family reunification and family cohesion.
- Same-sex couples that want to celebrate a civil union in Italy when in their country the union is forbidden.
- Couples that come from countries where divorce is not allowed;
Italians living abroadregistered at A.I.R.E. that need to recover their document to start the marriage banns in the Italian Consulate. - Assistance with people that come from countries that do not release the nulla osta.
- American and Australian couples who needs assistance with “atto notorio” in an Italian Court or the Italian Consulate in the USA or Australia.
- People with refugee status who have requested asylum in Italy.
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