The Vital Records Registry of an Embassy or Consulate handles, just as an Italian municipality does, the registration, updating and maintenance of the Vital Records Registry. There are four Vital Records Registries: citizenship, birth, marriage/civil union, and death. For each of these matters, the Consulate is authorized to issue certified copies of documents filed with it attesting to the “civil status” of each individual.
In particular, this Consulate receives records issued by foreign authorities and transmits them to Italian municipalities for registration.
The Vital Records Registry department of this Consulate, in addition to handling the four registries, assists citizens residing within its jurisdiction to complete the following procedures:
• drafting of marriage bans and posting them at the Consulate;
• celebration of Consulate weddings, as long as there is no local law preventing it;
• transmission of requests addressed to the authorized Prefecture to change a name (considered ridiculous or embarrassing);
• reception and transmission of separation, divorce and adoption rulings for registration in the authorized municipalities.
PREREQUISITES FOR CLAIMING THE RIGHT TO REQUEST THE REGISTRATION OF VITAL RECORDS AND/OR OBTAIN RELATED CERTIFICATES FROM THE VITAL RECORDS REGISTRY.
Italian citizens can register births, marriages and/or deaths that have occurred in out Consular Jurisdiction.
ALL DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY UNITED STATES AUTHORITIES MUST BE ORIGINALS BEARING THE REQUIRED “APOSTILLE” IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED VALID IN ITALY (in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention of 1961). Click here for the addresses of the Secretary of State Offices in the five states of our consular jurisdiction authorized to issue the “Apostille”. Furthermore, an Italian translation is always required.
CHANGES IN CIVIL STATUS
BIRTH
PLEASE NOTE: For the registration of birth certificates for children born in the United States from an Italian citizen, please refer to the webpage “Birth”.
MARRIAGE/CIVIL UNION
Registration in Italy of the marriage abroad of Italian citizens:
In order to have legal value in Italy a marriage celebrated abroad must be transcribed in Italian at the authorized municipality.
An Italian citizen, duly registered in the AIRE, will have to ask that the wedding bans be posted at the Consulate and will then be able to be married either before the authorized foreign authorities or at the Consulate, on the condition that there is no local law preventing this.
The Italian citizen residing in Italy will have to request that the marriage bans be posted in the municipality of residence and can then be married before foreign authorities.
The interested parties are then required to submit the marriage certificate, in “long form” (indicating the place of marriage), issued by the local authorities, with relative translation and “Apostille”, to this Consulate to be forwarded to the authorized Italian municipality for registration.
DIVORCE
Registration in Italy of a divorce ruling pronounced abroad: first and foremost, it is necessary to realize that a divorce ruling pronounced abroad is not automatically considered valid in Italy.
The documentation required for transcription are:
– the final ruling (original or certified photocopy bearing an “Apostille”);
– official Italian translation of the ruling;
– self-certifying affidavit;
– photocopies of all the documentation presented.
These documents need to be in certified copy bearing the authentication of the court. If the documents are valid according to the law of the country of issue, the Consulate will forward the documents to the Italian municipality for the registration of the court’s verdict.
DEATH
Registration in Italy of the death of an Italian resident abroad.
The death of an Italian citizen abroad must be registered in Italy.
Documents necessary for registering deaths are:
– death certificate issued by the authorized Vital Records Office of the Country of residence and authenticated with an “Apostille”;
– Italian translation prepared by an official translator;
– documentation of the deceased’s citizenship: identity card, Italian passport or certificate of Italian citizenship.
REMAINS AND ASHES
For assistance regarding the repatriation of remains and ashes of Italian citizens who have died within the jurisdiction of this Consulate, please review the instructions on the linked pages.
CHANGE OF NAME/SURNAME
Registration in Italy of the Name/Surname change of an Italian residing abroad.
Necessary documents for registering Name/Surname changes are:
– original or certified copy of the “Judgment issued by the Court”, authenticated with an “Apostille”;
– Italian translation of the documentation.