The publication of the banns of marriage are mandatory for Italian citizens intending to marry in Italy, both for civil and religious ceremonies with civil effects.
At least one of the two betrothed individuals must be an Italian citizen registered with the AIRE at this Consular Chancellery.
Non-Italian citizens intending to marry in Italy should contact their respective embassies in Italy.
To schedule an appointment, an email must be sent to the Civil Status (Vital Records) Office (stcivile.washington@esteri.it), attaching copies of the below information, which must be presented in original form on the day of the appointment.
Marriage banns remain posted for 8 consecutive days on the online Consular Notice Board. After three days, authorization for the celebration of the marriage in Italy will be granted, valid for 180 days.
Both betrothed individuals must appear at the appointment with their identity documents, and the non-Italian partner must bring all the original documentation. The certificate will be transmitted directly to the relevant municipality where the marriage will be registered.
Required documents and instructions
- Marriage banns request form (click here), completed in full and signed by both betrothed individuals
- Documents for both betrothed individuals
For the Italian partner registered with the AIRE:
- Valid Italian passport
- Estratto per riassunto dell’atto di nascita (certified abstract of an entry in the register of births), issued by the municipality of birth or registration
- Valid Italian identity document
For the U.S. partner:
- U.S. passport
- Proof of address (driver license, utility bill in his or her name, etc.)
- U.S. long-form birth certificate (including the city of birth) in original form with apostille
- Translation into Italian of the birth certificate (the apostille does not need to be translated)
- Notarial act to be requested from the Notary Office in the presence of two witnesses (to be paid before the publication of the banns)
For the foreign partner (non-U.S.) living in the United States:
- Passport with visa or permanent resident card (green card)
- Original birth certificate with apostille or consular legalization (excluding the European Union) and translation into Italian (if the original document is not in English, the translation must be certified by the local Italian consulate)
- Certificate of no impediment, issued by the competent authorities of his or her country, no more than 6 months before the appointment date, with apostille and translation certified by the local Italian consulate
- Notarial act to be requested from the Notary Office in the presence of two witnesses (to be paid before the publication of the banns)
- In the case of a religious marriage, a letter on Italian church letterhead, stamped and signed by the priest who will be officiating the ceremony. The letter must specify the complete personal details of the spouses, as well as the church and the date of the marriage.
- Payment (see the consular fee table for the updated amount). The following consular fees must be paid for the publication of marriage banns:
- Redazione del Processo Verbale, a seguito di richiesta di pubblicazioni (Drafting of the Procès-verbal, following the request for the banns) [Diritti Consolari Art. 67]
- Richiesta di pubblicazioni al comune italiano (Request for the banns to the Italian municipality) [Diritti Consolari Art. 67]
- Atto di pubblicazioni di matrimonio con affissione all’albo consolare (Act of marriage banns with posting on the consular notice board) [Diritti Consolari Art. NAA ed Art. 03]
- Certificato di eseguite pubblicazioni (Certificate of completed publication of the marriage banns) [Art. 02C]