How Can Canadian Citizens Get Married in Italy?

Canadian citizens can legally marry in Italy by first obtaining a Marriage Nulla Osta from the Embassy of Canada in Rome.

Once issued, the Nulla Osta must be legalized at the competent Prefettura before the civil marriage can take place at the Italian Town Hall.

What Documents Do Canadian Citizens Need to Get Married in Italy?

📜 Understanding the “Marriage Nulla Osta” for Canadians

If you’re a Canadian citizen, your process starts with obtaining a Marriage Nulla Osta, issued by the Embassy of Canada in Rome.

This document confirms that there are no legal impediments to your marriage under Canadian law and is based on a sworn marriage affidavit.

Swearing the marriage affidavit

The affidavit can be sworn:

• before a notary public in Canada
• at the Embassy of Canada in Rome (by appointment)
• at any Canadian Embassy or Consulate abroad

Supporting documents

In addition to the affidavit, the Embassy of Canada in Rome requires supporting documents depending on your personal situation (e.g. previous marriage, citizenship status, place of birth).

Some documents may only be issued by the relevant Provincial Vital Statistics Office or processed through Global Affairs Canada.

Issuance of the Nulla Osta

Once the affidavit and supporting documents are accepted, the Canadian Embassy in Rome issues the Nulla Osta.

The document is valid for 180 days.

The civil wedding in Italy must take place within this validity period.

Processing time and submission

You can apply for the Nulla Osta either by mail or in person (by appointment only) through the Embassy of Canada in Rome.

The average processing time for a complete application is approximately five business days.

Once issued, the Nulla Osta can be:

• released to you directly if you attend the appointment in Rome
• released to your designated representative in Italy

Supporting documents

In addition to the marriage affidavit, you must submit supporting documentation.

Documents may be provided as:

• original documents
• certified true copies

A certified true copy is a photocopy of an original document formally certified as a true and accurate copy by an authorized person.

An authorized person under Canadian law includes:

• a Notary Public
• a Commissioner for Oaths
• a lawyer authorized in the relevant Province

Typical supporting documents

Depending on your personal situation, additional documentation may be required, including:

• Canadian citizenship certificate (if born outside Canada)
• marriage search record or confirmation letter
• valid passport or national ID of your fiancé(e)
• completed credit card authorization form
• delivery or collection instructions for the Nulla Osta

Marriage search records are generally required for all applicants, regardless of marital history.

💵 Consular fees

A fee of CAD 50 applies to the issuance of each Nulla Osta.

If both parties are Canadian citizens, each applicant must obtain a separate Nulla Osta and pay the corresponding fee.

An additional CAD 50 applies if the marriage affidavit is sworn before a Canadian consular officer.

All consular fees are payable by credit card authorization only.

🔖 Legalization of the Nulla Osta in Italy

Once issued, the Nulla Osta must be legalized at the competent Prefettura.

This step does not verify the content of the document.

The Prefettura only confirms that the signature on the Nulla Osta belongs to a Canadian consular officer whose signature is officially registered.

Civil process at the Italian Comune (Town Hall)

After legalization, the next step is the civil process at the Italian Town Hall (Comune).

Declaration of no impediment

At the appointment, you will declare that:

• there is no kinship, affinity, adoption, or affiliation (Article 87 Italian Civil Code)
• there are no other legal impediments (Articles 85, 86, and 88)

This appointment must be attended in person.

If you do not speak Italian fluently, an interpreter is required by law.

🇮🇹Important: Dual Canadian–Italian citizens

If you hold dual Canadian–Italian citizenship, you must marry as an Italian national.

In this case, marriage banns are mandatory. They must be completed either:

at the competent Italian Consulate in Canada, if you are resident abroad and registered with AIRE,

or in the Municipality of residence in Italy, if you are resident in Italy.

Civil Wedding Day

The civil wedding is celebrated before the Mayor or a delegated officer, in the presence of:

• 👥 Two adult witnesses
• 🗣️ An interpreter (if needed)

Depending on availability, the ceremony is usually held one or two days after the declaration.

✈ 🇨🇦 Recognition of the Marriage in Canada

📄 As of January 11, 2024, the Hague Apostille Convention is in force in Canada.
This change has replaced the former authentication and legalization procedures previously carried out by the Embassy of Canada in Rome.

To ensure that your Italian marriage is fully valid and legally recognized in Canada, we handle the entire post-marriage process as follows:

• Request for the Italian marriage certificate
  We obtain the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio from the Municipality where the marriage was celebrated.
  This is the only Italian marriage certificate that records the spouses’ declared choice of the law applicable to their matrimonial property regime, pursuant to Article 30 of Law no. 218/1995.
• Apostille on the Italian marriage certificate
  We obtain the apostille from the competent Prefettura, which has jurisdiction over the Municipality where the marriage took place, in accordance with the 1961 Hague Convention.
• Sworn translation (asseverazione) in Italy
  We arrange a sworn translation of the Italian marriage certificate before the competent Italian Court.
• Second apostille on the sworn translation
  Since the sworn translation constitutes a separate judicial act, we obtain a second apostille from the competent Public Prosecutor’s Office to ensure full recognition under Canadian law.

These steps ensure that your marriage is fully valid and recognizable in Canada, without the need for any further consular procedures.

Choice of the Applicable Law to the Matrimonial Property Regime (Article 22, EU Regulation 2016/1103)

Under Article 22 of EU Regulation 2016/1103, spouses marrying in Italy may choose the law applicable to their matrimonial property regime.

The applicable law must be either the law of the State where one or both spouses have their habitual residence at the time the agreement is concluded, or the law of a State of which one of the spouses is a citizen at that time.

For Canadian citizens, this means that, at the time of the civil marriage in Italy, the spouses may formally elect:

• the law of Canada, or
• the law of another State of which one of the spouses holds citizenship,

provided that the choice is expressly declared during the marriage procedure.

This choice is not automatic. It must be explicitly made and recorded at the time of the civil wedding.
When properly declared, the chosen law is reflected in the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio, which is the only Italian marriage certificate that includes the applicable matrimonial property regime.

Making this election allows Canadian couples to ensure continuity and legal certainty between the Italian marriage and its effects under Canadian law, particularly in matters relating to property, assets, and future succession planning.

🇮🇹 Getting Married in Italy as a Canadian

With the right legal support, your civil wedding in Italy can be legally binding, internationally valid, and stress-free. We guide you from start to finish—from consular paperwork and legalizations to Town Hall procedures and final celebrations—ensuring nothing is left to chance.

Frequently Asked Questions for Canadian Citizens Getting Married in Italy

Can Canadian citizens legally get married in Italy without being residents?

Yes, Canadian citizens can legally get married in Italy even if they are not residents. In most cases, banns are not required if neither party is Italian or resident in Italy.

Do Canadian citizens need a Nulla Osta to get married in Italy?

Yes. Canadian citizens must obtain a Nulla Osta issued exclusively by the Embassy of Canada in Rome, either remotely or in person.

Can Canadians obtain the Nulla Osta remotely or do they need to travel to Italy?

Yes. Canadian citizens can apply remotely by preparing a sworn marriage affidavit in Canada and sending it, together with the supporting documents, to the Embassy in Rome. Alternatively, they can attend an appointment in person in Italy.

Is the Nulla Osta immediately valid in Italy after it is issued?

No. After issuance, the Nulla Osta must be legalized at the Prefettura before it can be accepted by the Italian Municipality.

How long is the Nulla Osta valid for Canadian citizens?

The Nulla Osta is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance.

Do Canadians need to be present in Italy before the wedding?

Yes. Canadian citizens must attend the declaration of no impediments in person at the Municipality before the wedding ceremony.

Is an interpreter required for Canadian citizens getting married in Italy?

If either of the spouses does not speak Italian, an interpreter is required both for the declaration and the civil ceremony.

What is the most important marriage certificate for recognition in Canada?

The key document is the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio, which contains essential legal information such as the chosen property regime.

Can Canadian couples choose the law governing their property regime?

Yes. Under Italian law, spouses can choose the law of a country where one of them is a citizen or resident, and this must be recorded in the marriage record.

How is an Italian marriage recognized in Canada?

The marriage certificate must be apostilled at the Prefettura, translated and sworn before an Italian court (asseverazione), and then apostilled again by the competent Public Prosecutor’s Office.

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 Act as Your Legal Advisors for Your Civil Marriage 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 abroad registered 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 issue the nulla osta.
• American and Australian couples who need 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.
  
  For all other matters, please visit our FAQ section.