Wedding Requirements for Australians

FROM 1 JULY 2004, PROCEDURES FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS PLANNING TO MARRY IN AUSTRALIA WILL CHANGE

THE NEW PROCEDURES ARE SET OUT BELOW

BEFORE ARRIVING IN ITALY

1. Before leaving Australia, you need to obtain an Atto Notorio (sworn declaration) from the Italian Embassy or Consulate in Australia in the state where you reside.
2. Make sure you travel with your Australian passport. If you were married before, bring evidence of the termination of the previous marriage.

If you are widowed, you must bring the death certificate of your previous spouse. Certificates can be obtained from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

ONCE IN ITALY

• In addition to the Atto Notorio, an Australian citizen intending to get married in Italy will need to make a Statutory Declaration (Nulla Osta). This Statutory Declaration must be signed whether you are single, divorced or widowed and you will do so in the presence of an Australian Consular officer at the Australian Embassy in Rome or Australian Consulate-General in Milan- A Nulla Osta literally states that "there are no impediments," or that one is free to marry. The Nulla Osta (Statutory Declaration) is valid for six months and, as of April 2007, costs the equivalent in Euro of A$50.00 per Australian Citizen. 
  You will be assisted by one of our on site representatives in doing this step in Italy.
• The Nulla Osta must then be legalised by the Uffico Legalizzazioni of the Prefettura. You will be assisted by one of our on site representatives in doing this step too. Nulla Osta and legalization can be done during the same morning.
• If you did not obtain an Atto Notorio prior to coming to Italy or you currently reside in Italy, the Atto Notorio can be executed in Rome or Milan.  
  If this is the case we  will need to make an appointment. There is a cost that might vary to do this and includes fees, taxes, stamps, necessary witnesses and assistant.  Please ask your wedding planner for details.  

            CIVIL CEREMONY

• If the wedding hall requires it, we will set an appointment with the Wedding Hall authorities, about two days before the wedding. At this time, you will make a Promessa di Matrimonio, or Declaration of Intent to Marry. Sometimes the appointment for the Declaration and Wedding may fall on the same day.
• If one or more of the parties is Italian or is an Australian with Italian residency, then Banns (pubblicazione di matrimonio) must be posted for at least two weeks before the date of the marriage.

PLEASE NOTE that Italian law states that at least 300 days must pass before a woman can remarry if she was previously divorced.