The Italian authorities
require proof that foreigners intending to marry in Italy are not already
married. This proof can be obtained by applying for a Certificate of
No Impediment from the Registrar - General's Office, P O Box 31 -115,
Lower Hutt, New Zealand (phone 04-569 4489 or facsimile 04 5665311).
We attach the application form. You can either lodge this in
New Zealand through a close relative of yours or apply directly to a
Registrar - General's Office, paying the fee in New Zealand dollars.
Two full weeks processing are required in New Zealand before a reply
can be issued. The processing fee in New Zealand is NZ 40.00+ GST. If
you wish, you can also send us the application form together with the
fee in Italian Lire 41,000 and we will forward it for you.
Once they receive
the original copy of the Certificate of No Impediment, clearly
stating that the marriage is to take place in Italy, we then issue a
document required by the Italian authorities called a Nulla Osta.
The document we issue is not a simple translation of the certificate
of No Impediment, but contains additional information. This normally
eliminates the requirement to present a full birth certificate and relevant
Italian translation. However this depends on the location where you
will be marrying. We are therefore attaching a form you would both need
to complete and sign. Please ensure you complete the section requesting
an address in Italy, even if it is a temporary address, such as a hotel
or your agent. We also issue a Consular Certificate attesting to your
citizenship.
When you return
the completed form (particulars for inclusion in Nulla Osta) to us,
you should attach a certified copy of the biopages of your New Zealand
passport, and that of your partner. When the Nulla Osta and Certificates
are ready, we will either advise you or these can be collected and can
then be legalized at a Prefettura (section of the Italian Department
of Internal Affairs).
The completed
form and certified passport pages should not be sent by facsimile. We
require original copies.
The cost for this
service is Lire 39,000 for each certificate issued. Normally, two certificates.
This amount should be sent to us by bank draft (in Italian lire),
made out to the New Zealand Embassy, Rome, together with the documentation.
At the time of
writing for legalization in Rome you need to go to Via della Colonna
Trajana (behind Piazza Venezia), in Rome there is no charge, providing
you take the documents in before 10:30 you can collect them before 13:00
the same day, Monday through Friday. In Venice the address of the Pretura
is San Marco, Calle Prefettura, Campo San Maurizio 2661. You go up to
the 3rd floor to the Ufficio Legalizzazioni. At the time of writing
in Venice there is a charge in stamp money "marche da bollo" of Lire
20,000 per document. Opening hours in Venice are Monday through Friday
09.00-13.00.
In Florence
the address of the Prefettura is Via Giacomini 8 - Ufficio Legalizzazioni.
This office is open Monday to Saturday 09.00-11.00 a.m. only.
Having received
the Nulla Osta certifications from us, you are then ready to
proceed to the next step, which is organising the actual marriage ceremony.
The procedures vary slightly depending on the town.
Marriages conducted
abroad are recognised in New Zealand as legally binding (if celebrated
in non polygamous countries and in accordance with the laws of that
country). The overseas marriage is not, however, automatically registered
in New Zealand, and it is not possible for the same couple to remarry
each other in New Zealand, having already been married overseas.
In cases where
either party is divorced, they will need to present an original or certified
copy of the decree nisi or order of dissolution of marriage, together
with an official translation into Italian issued by the Italian Embassy
in Wellington.
