Marriage in Italy: Nulla Osta and Document Translation for Comune

116 euros, one visit to the consulate - and you’ve got your Nulla Osta al Matrimonio, without which no Comune in Italy will register your marriage. Sounds simple, right? But between “got the Nulla Osta” and “officially married” there’s still the Prefettura, pubblicazioni, sworn translations, and a pile of details you only discover when you’re standing in line with the wrong set of documents. On a forum, a woman from Milan shared how she went to the Comune three times because each visit she was missing some translation. Here’s how to avoid that.

What’s a Nulla Osta al Matrimonio and why you need it¶

Nulla Osta al Matrimonio (literally “no objection to marriage”) is an official certificate confirming you’re free to marry under the laws of your home country. Without it, the Comune (municipality) can’t even begin the pubblicazioni process (marriage banns).

This is required by Article 116 of the Italian Civil Code: any foreigner wanting to marry in Italy must provide a Nulla Osta from the competent authority of their country. For Ukrainians, that’s the Ukrainian Consulate or Embassy in Italy.

One important detail: the Nulla Osta is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. If you don’t get married within that window, you’ll need a new one.

Documents needed to get the Nulla Osta¶

The list depends on whether it’s your first marriage or you’ve been married before.

If you’ve never been married¶

• International passport (original + 2 copies of the first page)
• Birth certificate (original + 1 copy)
• Notarized declaration that you’re not currently married (done in Ukraine or at the consulate)

If you’ve been previously married¶

All of the above, plus:

• Extract from your previous marriage certificate (original + 1 copy)
• Divorce certificate or court decision on dissolution of marriage (original + 1 copy)

Documents from Ukraine need an apostille - a special stamp confirming the document’s authenticity for use abroad. The Ukrainian Ministry of Justice apostilles birth, marriage, and divorce certificates.

Where and how to get the Nulla Osta¶

The Nulla Osta is issued by the Ukrainian Consulate in Milan, the Embassy in Rome, or the Consulate in Naples. You need to appear in person together with your partner (or your partner fills out a separate application form).

Cost: 116 euros for a bilingual document (Ukrainian and Italian). It’s issued the same day - no weeks of waiting.

Documents from Ukraine don’t need to be translated into Italian for the consulate - they work with Ukrainian originals.

What happens after you get the Nulla Osta: the Prefettura¶

This is where many people stumble. The Nulla Osta from the consulate is NOT ready to be submitted to the Comune. First, you need to go through legalizzazione (legalization of the consul’s signature) at the Prefettura - the Italian Prefecture, a state government office.

What the Prefettura does: it verifies and certifies that the consul’s signature on your Nulla Osta is genuine. Without this step, the Comune won’t accept the document.

How to do it:

1. Book an appointment at the Prefettura in the city where you plan to register your marriage
2. Bring the original Nulla Osta + a copy
3. Bring your passport
4. The Prefettura stamps the legalization

Wait times depend on the city - in Milan and Rome, it can take 1-3 weeks to get an appointment. In smaller cities, it’s often within a week.

Documents for the Comune: the full list¶

After the Prefettura, you go to the Ufficio Matrimoni (marriage office) at the Comune. Here’s what you need to bring:

If your Nulla Osta doesn’t contain birth details or parentage info, the Comune may additionally request a full birth certificate with translation and asseverazione.

Document translation: what and how¶

All Ukrainian documents submitted to Italian authorities require:

1. Apostille in Ukraine - on the original document
2. Italian translation - done by a sworn translator (traduttore giurato) registered with an Italian court
3. Asseverazione - the translator’s oath before a court official, which gives the translation legal force

The Comune won’t accept a translation without asseverazione. This isn’t just a formality - after the oath, the translator bears criminal liability for the accuracy of the translation.

Cost of translation with asseverazione: 40-80 euros per document. Plus marca da bollo (revenue stamp) at 16 euros per 4 pages of translation. You buy the stamps at a tabaccheria (tobacco shop).

Need a quick draft translation to understand a document before ordering an expensive sworn translation? ChatsControl can translate from Ukrainian to Italian in minutes.

Pubblicazioni: the marriage banns¶

Once the Comune has accepted all your documents, the pubblicazioni phase begins - a public announcement of your intent to marry. It’s mandatory in Italy.

How it works:

• The Comune posts the announcement on the Albo Pretorio (the municipality’s online notice board) for a minimum of 8 consecutive days
• If the couple lives in different municipalities, the pubblicazione is posted in both
• 3 days after the pubblicazione ends, the Comune issues a certificato (marriage authorization)
• After that, you have 180 days (6 months) to hold the ceremony

Cost: marca da bollo of 16 euros if both of you are registered in the same Comune, or 32 euros if in different ones.

The wedding ceremony at the Comune¶

The ceremony itself takes place in the Sala del Matrimonio (wedding hall) at the Comune. You need at least 2 witnesses over 18 years old with valid IDs.

The cost of the ceremony depends on the city and the day of the week. For reference, in Rome in 2026:

In smaller cities it’s much cheaper - 100 to 300 euros for the ceremony, and often free for residents.

If one spouse doesn’t speak Italian, an official interpreter is required at the ceremony. This can be a sworn translator or a person appointed by the Comune. Their services are paid separately - 100 to 250 euros depending on the city.

Alternative: marriage at the Ukrainian Consulate¶

If both of you are Ukrainian citizens, there’s a simpler path. You can register your marriage directly at the consulate. This marriage is legally valid in both Italy and Ukraine.

Advantages:

• No Nulla Osta needed
• No document translations needed
• No Prefettura step
• Much less bureaucracy

The catch: both of you must be Ukrainian citizens. If your partner is Italian or from another country, this option isn’t available - you’ll have to go through the Comune.

Do you need a permesso di soggiorno to get married¶

Short answer: no. Article 116 of the Italian Civil Code guarantees the right to marry regardless of immigration status. The Comune cannot refuse to register a marriage because you don’t have a permesso di soggiorno or because your stay is irregular.

This has been confirmed by Italy’s Constitutional Court: the right to marry is a fundamental human right that doesn’t depend on a residence permit.

A practical note: while the marriage will be registered, it doesn’t automatically grant you a permesso di soggiorno. But it does open the path to obtaining a permesso per motivi familiari (family reasons permit) if your spouse is an Italian or EU citizen.

Full budget: how much does it cost to get married in Italy in 2026¶

Let’s calculate using a “Ukrainian woman + Italian man” couple registering in a small city:

This doesn’t include travel costs to the consulate and Prefettura. And the wedding reception, obviously.

Common mistakes when registering a marriage¶

Not legalizing the Nulla Osta at the Prefettura. The most common mistake. You get the Nulla Osta at the consulate and go straight to the Comune - and they turn you away. There’s always a Prefettura step between the consulate and the Comune.

Forgetting to translate the birth certificate. The Nulla Osta is bilingual and doesn’t need translation. But the birth certificate is a separate document that needs to be translated and go through asseverazione.

Not translating the apostille stamp. The translator must translate the entire document - both the certificate text and the apostille stamp. Without a translated apostille, the Comune may reject the document.

Not checking the specific Comune’s requirements. Each municipality can have its own additional requirements. Before collecting documents, call or visit the Ufficio Matrimoni and ask for their checklist - it’ll save you time and frustration.

Showing up without an interpreter. If you don’t speak Italian and didn’t arrange an interpreter in advance, the ceremony may be postponed. Some Comuni require the interpreter to be a sworn translator.

FAQ¶

What documents does a Ukrainian need to get married in Italy?¶

The essentials: Nulla Osta al Matrimonio (116 euros, obtained at the Ukrainian consulate), legalized at the Prefettura. Plus a birth certificate with apostille, translated into Italian with asseverazione. Your international passport. If previously married - a divorce certificate with apostille and translation. Your specific Comune may require additional documents - always check in advance.

How much does it cost to get married in Italy as a Ukrainian?¶

Minimum document budget: 313-500 euros. That’s the Nulla Osta (116 euros), translation with asseverazione (50-80 euros), stamps (32-48 euros), and the Comune ceremony (0-300 euros for residents). If you need an interpreter at the ceremony, add 100-250 euros. In major cities like Rome, the ceremony for non-residents can cost 1,400-1,600 euros.

Do you need a permesso di soggiorno to get married in Italy?¶

No. Article 116 of the Italian Civil Code guarantees the right to marry regardless of immigration status. The Comune can’t refuse you because you lack a permesso di soggiorno. However, marriage alone doesn’t automatically grant you a residence permit.

How long does the process take from Nulla Osta to the wedding?¶

Between 3 weeks and 2 months. The Nulla Osta is issued the same day. Legalization at the Prefettura takes a few days to 3 weeks (depending on the city). Pubblicazioni require a minimum of 11 days (8 days of posting + 3 days of waiting). In Milan or Rome, the whole process can take 1.5-2 months due to queues.

Can two Ukrainian citizens get married at the consulate instead of the Comune?¶

Yes. If both of you are Ukrainian citizens, you can register the marriage at the Ukrainian Consulate or Embassy in Italy. This marriage is recognized in both Ukraine and Italy. It’s a much simpler route - no Nulla Osta, no translations, no Prefettura, and no pubblicazioni required.