Skip to main content

This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it.

Confirm you’re free to get married in Italy if you live abroad

Contents


Get a certificate of no impediment at an embassy or consulate

Here’s how to get a CNI at the British Embassy Rome. Alternatively, you can get a CNI by post.

  1. Apply online and pay £100 for your CNI – £50 for receiving notice (non-refundable) and £50 for issuing the CNI.
  2. Book an appointment at the British Embassy Rome to make a declaration that you intend to get married or register a same-sex civil partnership, known as ‘giving notice’. You’ll be sent instructions on how to book an appointment once you’ve completed your online application.
  3. If you do not live in Italy, you must be there for 3 whole days before you attend your appointment, starting the day after you arrive.
  4. Attend your appointment where you can check all the information in your notice and make any corrections before signing.
  5. Your notice will be displayed for 7 days.
  6. Your CNI will be issued after 7 days if no one has raised a legal objection to your marriage or civil partnership.
  7. You can collect your CNI or choose to have it posted to you for an additional fee (£19.00 in Italy or £47.00 rest of world). You’ll select if you want to book an appointment to collect your CNI or have it posted when you apply online.

Select an appointment that’s at least 7 days after you apply so your documents can be checked. For example, if you apply on a Wednesday your appointment should be after the following Tuesday. You’ll need to bring the originals of the documents you upload to your appointment and proof you’ve been in the country for at least 3 days.

A CNI is equivalent to a ‘Nulla Osta’ in Italy.

Once you have your CNI, it will be accepted by local authorities for 6 months.

Apply online – CNI at an embassy or consulate

To apply you’ll need your:

  • UK passport
  • proof of address
  • partner’s passport (or national identity card if they’re not a UK national)
  • partner’s proof of address
  • proof any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended
  • credit or debit card to pay for your CNI
  • your parents‘ full names
  • partner‘s proof any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended
  • proof of permanent address if you live outside of Italy

If any documents are not in English or the local language, you’ll need to upload a certified translation and bring the original document and translation to your appointment. Find a qualified translator.

Make sure you have these documents with you before you start. Your application will timeout if you’re inactive for 20 minutes. You can either scan your documents or take photos on your mobile phone.

It will take about 35 minutes to apply and pay for your CNI online.

Check with the person conducting your ceremony or relevant local authority before you apply to make sure you need a CNI.

Apply now