HOW TO TRANSCRIBE IN ITALY A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATED ABROAD
(updated on 19/04/26 – CP-DC)
In Italy, the institution of civil partnership was introduced by Law No. 76 of 20th May 2016 (also known as the “Cirinnà Law”) and is reserved exclusively for same-sex couples. Civil partnerships celebrated before foreign authorities, in which at least one of the parties is an Italian national, produce in the Italian legal system the same effects as civil partnership regulated by Law No. 76/2016.
Italian nationals who, abroad and in accordance with local foreign legislation, have entered into a civil partnership with a person of the same sex may request the transcription of such registration into the National Registry of the competent Italian Municipality (Law No. 76/2016 art. 8, para. 3) through the Consular Authorities.
It is also possible to request the transcription of such certificates even if the civil partnership took place before the entry into force of the aforementioned Law.
The documents will be transcribed into the Italian National Registry as “civil partnerships” in the Provisional Register of Civil Partnerships established in each Municipality (article 9, paragraph 1, DPCM 144/2016). At the request of the interested parties, in documents and records where marital status must be indicated, the marital status of these persons will be recorded as ‘’civil partners’’ (article 7, paragraph 2, DPCM 144/2016).
Civil partnerships between opposite-sex couples
The institution of civil partnership for opposite-sex couples is not provided for under the current legislation in Italy, whereas it is recognized in the United Kingdom. Therefore, these certificates cannot be transcribed in Italy and requests submitted to this Consulate will be returned.
For further clarification, Italian nationals should contact their Municipality in Italy, visit the pages available on the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the UK Government, or carry out additional online research.
ONLY opposite-sex couples who entered into a civil partnership in Scotland may convert their union into a marriage. For further information on this procedure, please contact the relevant Registry Office.
A. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisites
This Registry Office can process requests to transcribe the civil partnership certificates of same-sex couples ONLY if the following two prerequisites are met:
- Registration in the AIRE of London of at least one of the civil partners and an up-to-date residential address:
For information and detailed instructions on how to register in the AIRE or update the address, please click here;
- Up-to-date civil status:
Previous marriages, unions and divorces must be registered/transcribed in Italy. For information and detailed instructions on how to register/transcribe a divorce, please click here.
How to submit a registration request, processing time, and original documents
The procedure is entirely postal. Documents CANNOT be submitted in person or by appointment and can only sent by ROYAL MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY to:
CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY IN LONDON
Registry Office
83/86, Farringdon Street
London EC4A 4BL
- Applications are processed in chronological order of receipt by the Registry Office. The current processing time for these applications is approximately 12weeks.
- In compliance with Italian legislation, the complete and correct documentation will be retained in the Consulate archives. Additional identical copies of the certificate may be requested from the issuing Registry Office;
- Incomplete and/or incorrect documentation will be returned to the sender with a request to provide additional and/or correct documents;
Requests for confirmation and information
- To confirm receipt of the envelope:
Check the Royal Mail website at the page Track your item and enter the code printed on the Special delivery receipt;
- To check the status of the request:
Wait for the notification of transmission sent by this office to the competent Municipality (Comune) via certified email (PEC) and simultaneously to the applicant via ordinary email. It is important to provide a clear and legible email address and to check the junk mail folder (spam).
- To confirm the outcome of the registration:
Check your profile and/or family records on the ANPR (National Register of the Resident Population) portal, accessible using a digital identity: SPID, an Electronic ID Card or a Carta Nazionale dei Servizi (CNS).
Alternatively, contact the relevant Municipality directly using the details available on their website.
B. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
The documentation to be submitted depends on the country where the civil partnership was celebrated or the country where the certificates were issued.
- For civil partnerships celebrated in the United Kingdom, please click here;
- For civil partnerships celebrated in countries other than the United Kingdom, please click here;