Which Documents Are Required for a Cuban Marriage in Italy
Marrying a Cuban citizen in Italy means combining two legal systems: the Cuban side (documents, nulla osta, divorce transcription if applicable) and the Italian side such as Prefettura, Town Hall (Comune), marriage banns (if required) and residence permit for the cuban spouse.
The good news is that all procedures in Italy will be handled directly by our team, so you don’t need to worry about appointments, translations, or dealing with Italian offices. We take care of that for you.
What Is the “Nulla Osta” and Why It’s Essential
The nulla osta is a certificate issued by the Cuban Consulate in Italy confirming that the Cuban spouse is free to marry.
Without this document, Italian municipalities cannot celebrate the marriage. Since Cuba is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, consular legalization is always required.
👉 Our team manages the legalization and acceptance of the nulla osta with the Italian Prefecture and Comune, ensuring no delays on the Italian side.
Documents Required
From the Italian or Foreign Spouse
- Certificate of single status (stato libero) or equivalent.
- If divorced: certified divorce decree or annotated marriage certificate.
- If widowed: death certificate of the former spouse.
- Valid ID or passport.
- Proof of residence, if required by the Comune.
From the Cuban Spouse
- Birth certificate (Certificado de Nacimiento).
- Certificate of single status (Fe de Soltería) or, if applicable, divorce or widowhood certificate.
- Valid Cuban passport, updated with extensions.
- All documents issued within the last 6 months.
- Non-Italian documents translated and legalized.
⚠️ If the Cuban partner divorced in Italy, the divorce must first be transcribed in Cuba through the Consulate. Once recognized, our team will manage the nulla osta procedure in Italy.
Marriage Banns or Alternative Procedures of the Sworn Declarations
Before the wedding ceremony, Italian law requires marriage banns (pubblicazioni di matrimonio) or, in some cases, a sworn declaration (verbale provided by Article 109 of the Italian Civil Code and to Articles 10–12 of D.P.R. 3 November 2000, n. 396).
How this step is handled depends on the couple’s situation:
- If the Italian spouse lives in Italy → The banns are posted at their Comune.
- If the Italian spouse lives in Cuba → The banns are arranged by the Italian Consulate in Cuba, which then sends the record to the chosen Comune in Italy.
- If neither spouse lives in Italy → A special procedure applies under Article 109 of the Italian Civil Code. In this case, the Comune issues a verbale for foreign citizens who are not residents in Italy.
At both the marriage banns/sworn declaration and the wedding ceremony, the presence of an official interpreter is mandatory if one or both spouses do not speak Italian. We provide this interpreter to ensure everything is legally valid.
Civil Wedding Ceremony
The civil wedding ceremony is then celebrated at the Comune (Town Hall), in the presence of:
- The two spouses
- Two witnesses (required by law)
- The official interpreter (required if either spouse does not have sufficient knowledge of the Italian language)
This ensures that your marriage is valid and fully recognized under Italian law.
👉 Our team directly prepares and manages the publications or the verbale with the Comune, without you needing to contact Italian authorities.
Step-by-Step Process (Handled for You in Italy)
- Collect Cuban and Italian documents.
- Obtain and legalize the nulla osta.
- Translate and certify documents if necessary.
- Manage publications or verbale at the Italian Comune.
- Schedule and celebrate the civil wedding.
- Register the marriage in Cuban civil records (if requested).
- Apply for the Cuban spouse’s residence permit in Italy through family cohesion or family reunification.
After the Civil Wedding
Citizenship: After the required years of marriage and residence, the Cuban spouse may apply for Italian citizenship through family cohesion process or family reunification process.
Residence permit: After the civl wedding, the Cuban spouse can apply for a family residence permit. Our team assists with the appointment and paperwork.
Transcription in Cuba: If requested, we also help with the transcription of the marriage in Cuba.
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.
