Legal Requirements for Catholic Marriages in Rome

Religious Requirements

Four/ Six months before your Wedding you need to gather all of the relevant Church documents. Make an appointment with your Parish Priest to organise the following:

1. Pre- Nuptial Inquiry Forms (to be completed by your parish priest)
2. Baptismal Certificate (must be new, issued no earlier than six months before the wedding)
3. Confirmation Certificate
4. Letter of Freedom
5. Dispensation from any impediments to the marriage (only if required)
6. When all of the above papers are completed, your Parish priest should send them to the bishop of your diocese with a request that a Testimonial letter be granted for the celebration of your marriage in Rome. The documents should then be forwarded directly to the church venue from the Bishop's office.
7. Documents should be received by the Church in Rome FOUR weeks before the wedding

NB: It is important that you make a donation to the parish in order to cover the cost of preparing and mailing your documents.

Civil documents

Civil Requirements for Irish Nationals:

Irish Citizens residing in Ireland must apply to the Consular Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs for a certificate of NO IMPEDIMENT. This is also known as a NULLA OSTA. The Department will send the appropriate application forms which should be completed and returned with a set fee about twelve weeks prior to the date of the marriage in Rome. The document will be issued by the Irish Embassy in Rome to the priest who is to perform the ceremony.

Civil Requirements for British Nationals:

Where both parties are British Nationals in the UK they are required to apply to the Superintending Registrar in the district where they reside for a CERTIFICATE OF NO IMPEDIMENT. These documents are then to be mailed to the Vice Consul British Embassy in Rome along with photographs of your passport showing the number, photo, date and place of issue.

You also need to send your original FULL Birth Certificates. Photocopies are not accepted. A Eurocheque must be included to cover the consular fees. The Certificate of No Impediment will then be issued for collection.

NB: A British National who is marrying an Irish citizen must first contact Nationality and Passports Section of the Consular Division for guidance.

Post a Comment

Your comments may be moderated before publication