REGISTRY OFFICE
The Registry Office registers in Italy those certificates issued by foreign Authorities concerning births, deaths, marriages, civil unions and divorces of Italian citizens. The Office also supports AIRE citizens residing in its district with marriage banns and applications for change of name and/or surname. These certificates are submitted by Italian citizens residing abroad to their Consular Office, which then forwards them to the citizen’s Italian “Comune” (town hall) for transcription.
All the above applies to the Italian citizens residing in the district of the Consulate of Italy in Manchester.
For more information, you can write to: manchester.civile@esteri.it
More information on the Registry offices can be found on the Farnesina website. On this page you can find information about:
- Who it is for and how to access the service
- How to register a birth certificate
- How to register a civil union or same-sex marriage
- How to register a death certificate
- Marriage banns for marriages in Italy
- Marriage to be celebrated abroad
- How to register a divorce decree
To whom the service is addressed and how to access it
The service is intended for Italian citizens residing in the district of the Consulate of Italy in Manchester. Please note that Italian citizens are required to declare to the relevant Consular Office all changes in their marital status that occur during their stay abroad, by producing the relevant deeds or other documentation.
Most registry services do not require the applicant to present themselves at our counters, and can be requested by post. If the application is submitted correctly, and therefore processed, the original certificates will not be returned - as they must be kept on file at the Consular Office. Instead, incomplete or incorrect applications won’t be processed, and will therefore be returned to the sender.
For some services, an appointment must be booked through the online portal Prenot@Mi; some services are subject to consular fees (link to: consular fees). If the service is provided via post, the fee is collected by postal order. For at-the-counter services, the payment will have to be made in person, by cash.
How to register a birth certificate
Registering a birth certificate can be done via post, without presenting oneself at the Consulate’s counters. In this case, it is necessary to submit the following documentation:
- the birth certificate transcription request form, signed by both parents;
- in case of birth in the UK, the original (photocopies can’t be accepted) birth certificate, complete with Apostille and translated to Italian (link to: Legalizations, apostilles and translations);
- in case of birth in foreign countries other than the UK, the birth certificate must be legalized and translated into Italian as specified by the competent consular office;
- copy of the valid passports or identity cards of both parents.
IMPORTANT! If the parents got married in Italy or have already registered the marriage celebrated abroad, it is sufficient that only one "informant" appears on the birth certificate. If the marriage was celebrated abroad, it will be necessary to attach the request for the registration of the marriage act (see below). If there is no marriage bond between the parents, it is necessary for both parents to be listed as "informants" on the certificate. In the case of children belonging to same-sex couples united in a civil partnership, please refer to the relevant paragraph.
The above documentation must be sent to:
Consulate of Italy – Registry Office
The Chancery, 2nd floor
58, Spring Gardens
Manchester M2 1EW
Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be processed. If, however, the application is successfully processed, please note that the original certificates will not be returned.
Registering a marriage can be done via post, without presenting oneself at the Consulate’s counters. In this case, it is necessary to submit the following documentation:
- the marriage transcription request form, signed by both spouses;
- in case of marriage in the UK, the original (photocopies can’t be accepted) marriage certificate, complete with Apostille and translated into Italian (link to: Legalizations, apostilles and translations);
- in case of marriage in foreign countries other than the UK, the marriage certificate must be legalized and translated into Italian as specified by the competent consular office;
- copy of the valid passports or identity cards of both spouses.
The above documentation must be sent to:
Consulate of Italy – Registry Office
The Chancery, 2nd floor
58, Spring Gardens
Manchester M2 1EW
Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be processed. If, however, the application is successfully processed, please note that the original certificates will not be returned.
How to register a same-sex civil union or marriage
Registering a same-sex civil partnership or marriage can be done via post, without presenting oneself at the Consulate’s counters. In this case, it is necessary to submit the following documentation:
- the application form for the transcription of the union, signed by both parties;
- in case of civil partnership or same-sex marriage in the UK, the original (photocopies can’t be accepted) certificate (Marriage/Civil partnership), complete with Apostille and translated to Italian (link to: Legalizations, apostilles and translations);
- in case of civil partnership or same-sex marriage in foreign countries other than the United Kingdom, the certificate must be legalized and translated into Italian as specified by the competent consular office;
- copy of the valid passports or identity cards of both parties.
The above documentation must be sent to:
Consulate of Italy – Registry Office
The Chancery, 2nd floor
58, Spring Gardens
Manchester M2 1EW
Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be processed. If, however, the application is successfully processed, please note that the original certificates will not be returned.
IMPORTANT! The aforementioned acts will be registered in the Italian legal system as "civil unions" in the special Provisional Register of Civil Unions established at each municipality (Art. 9, paragraph 1, DPCM 144/2016). In documents and deeds in which the civil status is to be indicated, the formulas of "joined or united civilly" will be used at the request of the interested parties (Art. 7, paragraph 2, DPCM 144/2016).
How to register a death certificate
Registering a death can be done via post, without presenting oneself at the Consulate’s counters. In this case, it is necessary to submit the following documentation:
- the death transcription request form, along with a copy of the identity document of the applicant;
- in case of death in the UK, the original (photocopies can’t be accepted) death certificate ("Extract of an Entry in the Registers of Deaths"), complete with Apostille and translated to Italian (link to: Legalizations, apostilles and translations);
- in case of death in foreign countries other than the United Kingdom, the death certificate must be legalized and translated into Italian as specified by the competent consular office;
- a copy of the identity document of the deceased.
The above documentation must be sent to:
Consulate of Italy – Registry Office
The Chancery, 2nd floor
58, Spring Gardens
Manchester M2 1EW
Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be processed. If, however, the application is successfully processed, please note that the original certificates will not be returned.
Marriage banns for marriages to be celebrated in Italy
If the bride and groom of a marriage to be celebrated in Italy, whether civil or religious with civil effects, is an AIRE citizen of the Consulate's constituency in Manchester, they must request marriage banns. For this service, it is necessary to book an appointment at our counters through the Prenot@mi portal. At the time of the appointment, you will need to present:
- the marriage banns disclosure form, signed by both spouses;
- copy of valid passport or ID card of both spouses;
- in case of religious marriage, a letter on the letterhead of the church in Italy, stamped and signed by the Priest who will celebrate the marriage, in which the full details of the bride and groom, as well as the church and the date of the marriage, must be specified;
- means of payment in cash for the relevant consular fees (Link to: Consular Fees), corresponding to: NAA stamp duty (two payments to be made, in case one of spouses is resident in Italy) + art. 3 Affixation of Marriage banns + art. 24 if applicable, Authentication of signature for non-EU citizens (including British citizens) + art. 2c Certificate of Publication.
ATTENTION! In case the marriage in Italy is with a foreign spouse, they also must present the "Nulla Osta al matrimonio", i.e., the permission to get married (art. 116 of the Civil Code) issued by the competent authorities. In particular:
- if a British citizen, they have to present a valid identity document and a Certificate of no impediment (CNI) issued by the local British Registry Office, together with a bilingual Affidavit (statutory declaration) made by the involved parties at a British lawyer or notary public (Link to: Forms). No legalization or translation is required;
- if an EU citizen, they have to present a valid identity document and a Certificate of no impediment (CNI) issued by their country's authorities no more than 6 months prior the date of the appointment;
- if a U.S. or Australian citizen, they have to present a valid identity document and a notarial deed signed in Italy at an Italian notary public, or at a British notary public, or at a U.S. or Australian notary public (the relevant signature must be completed with Apostille according to the rules of the respective countries);
- if a non-EU citizen, they have to present a valid identity document and a Certificate of no impediment (CNI) legalized in the forms provided by the country of origin, and accompanied by a certified translation into Italian.
Both bride and groom must present themselves at the appointment with their identity documents. Only in case of proven impediment may only one of spouses show up, with a written proxy from the other. In case the delegating party is a non-EU citizen (including British citizens), the proxy must be made in front of a notary/lawyer, whose signature must be legalized, together with a certified copy of their ID. The proxy can also be drawn up at the Consular Office in the country of residence outside the UK.
Banns must be made no later than 180 days before the date of the marriage. They will remain affixed for eight consecutive days at the Consulate's Notice Board online. On the fourth day from the completed banns, the procedure ends with the issuance of the "Certificate of Executed Marriage Banns'' - which is valid for 180 days. It will be sent by this Consulate directly to the applicants' residence, and advanced via PEC (certified e-mail) to the relevant municipality.
Marriage to be celebrated abroad
An Italian citizen who intends to get married abroad does NOT have to request the marriage banns (except for Albania). AIRE citizens in the Manchester Consulate's jurisdiction may apply for a Contextual Certificate, "Nulla Osta" or Marital Capacity according to the Munich Convention of 05.09.1980. The above can be requested by post, without presenting oneself at the Consulate’s counters. In this case, it is necessary to submit the following documentation:
- the application form for the interest form, signed by both bride and groom;
- copy of valid passport or ID card;
- statement issued by the General Register Office confirming that the applicant DID NOT get married locally;
- copy of a valid identity document of both bride and groom;
- Postal order for the relevant consular fees (link to: Consular Rates): art. 8 for Contextual certificate or art. 2d for Certificate of capacity to marry or Marriage clearance, plus GBP 0.85 to cover the bank fees;
- Prepaid envelope to receive the requested certificate.
The above mentioned documentation must be sent to:
Consulate of Italy – Registry Office
The Chancery, 2nd floor
58, Spring Gardens
Manchester M2 1EW
ATTENTION! Once the marriage has taken place, the Italian citizen is required by law to transmit to this Consulate a full original extract of the relevant act, according to the procedures indicated above.
How to register a divorce decree
Registering a British divorce decree can be done via post, without presenting oneself at the Consulate’s counters. In this case, it is necessary to submit the following documentation:
- the application form for the transcription of the divorce decree, signed by the Italian citizen;
- copy of valid passport or ID card of both spouses;
- divorce decree ("Decree final and absolute"), accompanied by a certified Italian translation and bearing the Judge’s stamp stating: ''I certify that this is a true copy of an original document filed with this Court.''
- if the divorce decree has been transmitted by the Court in a digital format (.PDF by email), it is mandatory to attach the delivery note by which the Court transmits the document to the applicant;
- if the decree was issued before 31.12.2020, Model Art. 39 - Form D180 must be completed, dated, signed and stamped by the Court (no translation required);
- if the British decree was issued AFTER 31.12.2020, the Decree Nisi (provisional decree) must be presented in original with a certified Italian translation and bearing the Judge’s stamp: ''I certify that this is a true copy of an original document filed with this Court";
- if the decree has been rendered in default ("default of appearance") and the claimant’s transmission is the "petitioner" (plaintiff), please send confirmation of notification report to the respondent ("acknowledgement of service"), accompanied by a certificate of dispatch from the Court and a translation into Italian bearing the aforementioned stamp of "true copy" by the Judge;
- a Special delivery envelope up to 100g.
IMPORTANT! In case there’s an agreement on minor children, the “Agreement for children" must be submitted along with an Italian translation and the aforementioned Judge’s "true copy" stamp. Alternatively, the following can be provided: letter from the Court certifying that there is no need for intervention regarding minor children; proof of agreement reached between the parties on the matter before a British lawyer or agency recognized by the British government. This documentation, together with a certified translation into Italian, must be accompanied by a self-certification attesting to one of the above circumstances.
If you intend to transcribe a divorce sentence from a country other than the United Kingdom, the sentence must be legalised and translated in the manner indicated by the competent consular office (https://serviziconsolarionline.esteri.it/ScoFE/services/service-info.sco?serviceId=50)
The above documentation must be sent to:
Consulate of Italy – Registry Office
The Chancery, 2nd floor
58, Spring Gardens
Manchester M2 1EW
Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be processed. If, however, the application is successfully processed, please note that the original certificates will not be returned.
