Nulla Osta for Getting Married in Italy
Marrying in Italy? We notarise, apostille and translate every document your comune will ask for — accurate, accepted, and on a fixed fee.
Tell us about your Italian wedding
Send us your comune and your date and we’ll confirm exactly which documents you need — no obligation.
What is a Nulla Osta?
A Nulla Osta is an official “no impediment” clearance: a statement confirming there is no legal reason you cannot marry. Italian comuni require it from foreign nationals before a legal civil wedding, so that they are not marrying someone who is already married or otherwise barred. It is the Italian equivalent of the proof of freedom to marry that almost every country asks of overseas couples.
The wording and the exact documents differ from one comune to the next, and Italian authorities apply their own marriage laws — so the safest approach is always to confirm what your specific town hall expects before you book the date.
Do UK citizens need a Nulla Osta to marry in Italy?
Yes — but UK citizens do not obtain a document literally called a “Nulla Osta” from the British authorities. The British Embassy no longer issues one for British nationals. Instead, Italian comuni accept a combination of UK documents that together prove the same thing:
- A Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) from your UK register office — the UK’s Nulla Osta equivalent.
- A sworn Atto Notorio — a statutory declaration that you are free to marry under Italian law. Many comuni require this too.
- Your passport and, depending on the comune, your birth certificate.
- If you have married before, your decree absolute; if widowed, the relevant death certificate and marriage certificate.
How we prepare your documents
1. Notarise
We draft and swear your Atto Notorio and certify your documents under our notarial seal.
2. Apostille
We obtain the FCDO apostille on your CNI, Atto Notorio and supporting documents.
3. Translate & ready
We arrange certified Italian translation where needed, and return a complete, accepted set.
Where does the notary come in?
This is the heart of the process, and where our work is essential. The Atto Notorio is a sworn declaration that must be made in front of a notary public. As your notary, we draft the declaration in the correct form, administer your oath or affirmation, and certify it under our notarial seal — the step that gives the document legal weight for use in Italy.
A notary also verifies your identity and can certify copies of your passport, birth certificate and other supporting documents to the standard Italian authorities expect. As both a solicitor and notary practice, we can advise on what your comune requires as well as notarise it — a distinction that matters when the instructions from Italy are unclear or conflicting.
Which documents need an apostille?
A notarised or UK-issued document is not enough on its own — Italian authorities cannot verify a UK signature or seal on sight, so the documents must be legalised with an apostille under the Hague Convention. After Brexit, the UK remains a full member of the Convention, so the apostille route applies. In practice, the apostille is needed on your Certificate of No Impediment, your Atto Notorio, and any other UK certificate the comune asks for, such as a birth certificate or decree absolute.
The apostille itself is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office, not by the notary. We obtain it for you as part of the service, so your documents come back ready to use. Many comuni also require a certified Italian translation, which we can arrange alongside the apostille. You can see our full process on our document legalisation hub.
How Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers helps
We manage the whole Nulla Osta chain under one roof, on a fixed fee, so you are not juggling a register office, a notary, the FCDO and a translator separately:
- We draft and notarise your Atto Notorio / sworn declaration of freedom to marry.
- We certify your passport, birth certificate and supporting documents.
- We obtain the FCDO apostille on your CNI, Atto Notorio and any other required document.
- We arrange a certified Italian translation where the comune requires it.
- We confirm the exact requirements with you first, so the set is accepted at the town hall.
What does it cost and when should you start?
We work on fixed fees with no hidden costs. Notarisation is charged per document, and the apostille is added on top — you can see current turnaround options and pricing on our apostille service page.
Book before you fly. The CNI requires giving notice at your register office in advance, and the apostille and translation each take time. As soon as you have your comune and your date, send us your list and we will work to your timeline.
Nulla Osta FAQs
Is a UK Certificate of No Impediment the same as a Nulla Osta?
What is an Atto Notorio?
Does my Nulla Osta paperwork need an apostille?
Do the documents need translating into Italian?
How far in advance should I start?
Can you help if my comune asks for something unusual?
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers
19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH
Telephone: +44 20 7499 2605 · Email: notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury · Members of The Notaries Society · STEP-qualified · ACSP-registered
Marrying in Italy? Let’s get your documents right.
Tell us your comune and your date and we’ll confirm exactly what you need — notarised, apostilled and translated on a fixed fee.