Is marriage in Italy valid in the US?

Yes. Both Italy and the United States are signatories to the Hague Convention, which means that by applying the apostille to the Italian marriage certificate and to the sworn translation made before an Italian court, the document is fully recognized in the US.

What documents do US citizens need before a civil wedding in Italy?

If you work with us, you don’t need to bring any documents from the US. Some municipalities may require a divorce decree or death certificate if a previous spouse has passed away. However, in most cases, all that is needed is the atto notorio, which we can obtain in just a few minutes in an Italian court, and the sworn statement (affidavit) issued at the US Consulate in Italy, which we then have legalized. You only need to bring your passports.

Do we need to visit the U.S. Consulate in Italy for an affidavit?

Yes. You must appear in person. We will prepare the affidavit for you, and once it is authenticated by the US Consul, we will have it legalized at the Prefettura so it is recognized under Italian law.

What is the Atto Notorio and how do we get it?

The atto notorio is a sworn declaration made by a US citizen under Italian law stating that there are no legal impediments to the marriage according to the laws of the state where they reside, and in compliance with Articles 85, 86, 87 (numbers 1 and 2), 88, and 89 of the Italian Civil Code.

Can one partner be absent and use a power of attorney (procura speciale)?

Yes—but only in exceptional cases. It requires prior court authorization (Tribunale) for serious reasons, with one spouse abroad. The absent spouse must issue a procura speciale (special power of attorney) by public deed naming the other party; it is typically valid for 180 days. Publications can be requested by the proxy. We can arrange both the court order and the procura before an Italian Consulate or a foreign notary, with apostille and sworn translation.

Are there differences between municipalities and consulates?

Yes. The municipality (comune) is where the wedding takes place and where—if required—the marriage banns begin or the “declaration of absence of impediments” for foreign non-residents is made (usually one day before the wedding, sometimes two or three). The consulate is the foreign authority in Italy that issues the nulla osta to marry, or, in the case of US and Australian citizens, it is where the sworn statement is made. This sworn statement replaces the nulla osta under agreements between Italy and those countries, but it must still be legalized at the Prefettura, just like a nulla osta.

What steps are required for US recognition after an Italian wedding?

First, we request from the municipality the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio (Extract from the marriage register), which also includes your declaration regarding the applicable law for your matrimonial property regime. Next, we have the Prefettura add the apostille to this document. Then, a professional translator translates the certificate into English and swears it before an Italian court (asseverazione). Finally, we request an apostille from the Public Prosecutor’s Office for the court where the translation was sworn. This is because acts issued by municipalities are apostilled by the Prefettura, while acts issued by a court require legalization by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Do we need an apostille for the Italian marriage certificate for US use?

Yes, the apostille is required for US recognition.

Do we also need a sworn/certified translation for the US?

Yes, a sworn translation is required.

Why do you request the estratto per riassunto instead of the multilingual certificate?

The estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio in Italian can be translated and apostilled for recognition in the US. The multilingual certificate, issued under the Vienna Convention of 8 September 1976, is not recognized in the US because the US is not a signatory. Even if it contains English, it will not be accepted. The correct procedure is to use the estratto per riassunto, apostille it, translate it into English, and apostille the translation.

How long does the process take after the wedding?

It depends on the municipality, but we can usually complete the entire process within three weeks and ship the translated and legalized certificate to you via DHL.

Can you handle everything without us being present?

Yes—for the post-wedding recognition process, we can handle everything for you. Before the wedding, however, you must be present in court for the atto notorio and at the consulate for the sworn statement. We can attend the Prefettura on your behalf. You must also appear at the municipality one or two days before the wedding to make a formal declaration (with an interpreter present) that there are no impediments to your marriage under Articles 85, 86, 87 (numbers 1, 2, and 4), and 88 of the Italian Civil Code.

I was divorced—do I need to provide additional proof?

If you marry in one of our recommended municipalities, you do not need to provide your divorce decree.

Are same-sex marriages celebrated in Italy recognized in the US?

Yes. Under the Cirinnà Law, Italy allows same-sex civil unions. While technically called “civil unions,” the legal framework is almost identical to marriage. The process is slightly different.

Does a Church/concordatario wedding change the paperwork for US recognition?

No. You will still need the atto notorio and the legalized sworn statement, because it is the municipality that authorizes the priest to perform the ceremony.

Will the US accept the Vienna multilingual certificate?

No. Neither the US federal government nor any US state has signed the Vienna Convention.

Do we need one apostille or two (on certificate and on translation)?

Two. One for the estratto per riassunto and one for the sworn translation (asseverazione).

What are the typical costs and what’s included in your service?

Our fee depends on several factors: the location of the wedding, whether either of you has dual or Italian citizenship, whether you choose a municipality with stricter requirements, whether legal translations are needed, and whether you require US recognition of the marriage.

How fast can you deliver—do you offer an expedited option?

We can get you legally married in Italy in as little as 7 business days.

How do you ship documents to the US and is tracking included?

We use DHL, and all shipments include tracking.

Which US offices might ask for the apostilled/translated certificate (SSA, DMV, USCIS)?

The competent US Secretary of State’s office, and in some cases, specific federal or state agencies such as the SSA, DMV, or USCIS.

Are there differences by US state, or is recognition nationwide?

Recognition is nationwide. The only variation may relate to matters such as prenuptial agreements, which require separate consideration.

Is marriage celebrated in Italy legally valid in the United States?

Yes. A civil marriage legally celebrated in Italy is generally recognized as valid in the United States.

To use an Italian marriage certificate in the U.S., couples may need to obtain an apostille on the Italian marriage certificate, have the certificate translated into English, and complete the required authentication of the sworn translation.

In Italy, this usually involves the competent Prefettura, an Italian Court for the asseverazione of the translation, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Procura della Repubblica) for the apostille of the sworn translation.

This guide explains how to obtain and prepare an Italian marriage certificate for legal use in the United States after a civil wedding in Italy.

If you are looking for a complete overview of the legal requirements for American citizens getting married in Italy— including documents, timelines, and local procedures, you can find the full step-by-step guide for US citizens legally marrying in Italy.

A bride signs the marriage certificate after her civil wedding in the "sala rossa" in Rome.

After the Civil Wedding in Italy – recognition of your marriage in the USA

Once your civil wedding has taken place, we take care of all the steps needed to ensure your marriage is fully recognized in the United States of America.

Which Italian Marriage Certificate Is Valid in the United States?

1️⃣We will request the Italian Municipality to issue multiple certified copies of the official Italian marriage certificate, formally called the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio.

📌 This is the only Italian marriage certificate that records, when applicable, the spouses’ choice of law governing their property regime at the time of the wedding.

⚖️ Other certificates — including the multilingual version issued under the Vienna Convention — do not have legal relevance in the United States, as the United States is not a signatory to that Convention.

The fact that a certificate is printed in English does not automatically make it legally valid in the U.S. legal system.

🇺🇸 For recognition of an Italian marriage in the United States, the correct certificate must be properly issued by the Italian Municipality and apostilled under the Hague Convention.

Relying on informal online information or incorrect assumptions may result in delays or legal complications if the marriage certificate needs to be presented for official purposes in the United States.

Under Article 22 of Council Regulation (EU) 2016/1103, spouses or future spouses may expressly choose the law governing their matrimonial property regime. They may choose:

the law of the State where either spouse is habitually resident at the time the agreement is concluded; or
the law of a State of nationality of either spouse at the time the agreement is concluded.

For international couples, this choice can be particularly important because it determines which national law will govern their matrimonial property regime and many of the financial and property consequences of the marriage.

Where the choice of applicable law is recorded in the Italian marriage record, the relevant annotation appears in the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio. Unlike a simple marriage certificate, the estratto per riassunto may therefore contain important legal information concerning the spouses and their matrimonial property regime.

For this reason, when an Italian marriage must be documented for legal use in the United States, we generally rely on the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio as the basis for the apostille, sworn translation, and subsequent authentication process.

This distinction can be important for the couple’s future legal and financial affairs.

A common mistake is to request only a multilingual marriage certificate and have it apostilled because the document already contains an English version.

However, a multilingual certificate should not automatically be treated as equivalent to the estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio for legal use in the United States.

Multilingual civil-status certificates are issued under international conventions that do not necessarily apply between Italy and the United States. In addition, a multilingual certificate may not contain the same annotations and legal information recorded in the Italian marriage register.

For this reason, the safer and more complete approach for U.S. legal use is to obtain the appropriate Italian marriage record, have it apostilled, translated into English through the required sworn translation procedure, and complete any further authentication required for the translation.

2️⃣ Apostille on the Original Certificate

We handle the apostille for your original marriage certificate (estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio) at the Prefettura that has jurisdiction over the municipality where your wedding took place.

This step makes your certificate legally valid for use abroad under the Hague Convention.

For couples from the United States, this is especially important: the U.S. is a signatory to the Hague Convention, which means any Italian document with an apostille is automatically recognized in the U.S., and vice versa.

3️⃣ In addition to the apostille, we provide a professional translation of your Italian marriage certificate into English.

The translation is prepared by a qualified translator and must be formally sworn before an Italian court official through a procedure known as asseverazione (sworn certification of the translation).

⚖️ This sworn translation confirms the accuracy and legal fidelity of the English version and ensures that the document can be properly used for official purposes in the United States.

4️⃣ Apostille on the Translation

📑 Once the sworn translation has been completed, we obtain a second apostille from the Prosecutor’s Office (Ufficio del Procuratore della Repubblica) of the same Court.

⚖️ This second apostille certifies the signature of the court official who supervised the asseverazione, ensuring that the sworn translation is properly legalized for use abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention.

🇺🇸 As a result, both the original Italian marriage certificate and its sworn English translation can be validly presented for official purposes in the United States.

At the end of this process, your marriage certificate will:

Be officially legalized and translated
Have dual apostilles (on both the original and the translation)
Be ready for registration or recognition in any U.S. state

Recognition of the Marriage Contracted in the U.S.

Italy is a signatory of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, which simplifies the legalization of public documents between member countries. Thanks to this agreement, your Italian marriage certificate can be legally recognized in the United States through a standardized process known as the Apostille.

After your civil wedding in Italy, you will receive an Italian marriage certificate (estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio). Our team handles the entire legalization process for you:

We request the Apostille from the Prefettura (the local government office responsible for the area where your wedding took place). This certifies the authenticity of your Italian marriage certificate.
We arrange for a court-sworn translation (known as asseverazione). We recruit a professional legal translator, manage all the required paperwork, and accompany them to the Italian court to swear the translation’s accuracy.
We obtain the second Apostille for the sworn translation from the competent Public Prosecutor’s Office (Procura della Repubblica), ensuring that the translation itself is also internationally valid.

Once these steps are completed, you will have a fully legalized and translated marriage certificate that is immediately recognized in the United States, with no further procedures required on your part.

Legal consultant at the The Legal Wedding Planner

About the Author
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 procedures such as:

Marriage Nulla osta process, legalization procedure, Court hearings for the refusal of the town hall when documents are missing, legal translation, apostille procedure, emergency procedure for legalization.
Assistance with Catholic Marriage in Italy for U.S. Citizens.
Same-sex couples that want to celebrate a civil union in Italy when in their country the union is forbidden.
Italians living abroad registered at A.I.R.E. who need to recover their documents to start the marriage banns in the Italian Consulate.
Assistance for people from countries that do not issue a nulla osta.

The paperwork is complex. The process doesn't have to be.

Most couples spend weeks figuring out which documents they need, which authorities to contact, and in what order. We’ve done this for couples from 40+ countries. Tell us your nationalities — we’ll tell you exactly what’s needed.

Alessandro Pirrò

Alessandro Pirró is an Italian legal consultant exclusively specialised in civil marriages in Italy for foreign nationals and AIRE-registered Italian citizens. He holds a law degree and has professional experience in law firms and the foreign affairs offices of the Italian public administration, where he developed expertise in consular law, administrative law, and private international law. He has assisted couples from more than 40 nationalities through the full legal process for civil marriages in Italy, including Nulla Osta coordination, U.S. Dichiarazione giurata (sworn statement) and Atto Notorio procedures before Italian courts, Prefettura for legalization and Apostille, legal translations (asseverazione e certificazione conformità di traduzione), and matrimonial property regime advice under Article 22 of EU Regulation 2016/1103. Alessandro works directly with Italian Comuni, Prefetture, Italian Embassies and Consulates abroad and foreign Embassies and Consulates in Italy. He is based in Bolzano and operates across all Italian jurisdictions.