Congratulations! Now that you’re married to your Italian partner, you might be wondering what to do next.

First and foremost, you’ll need to obtain a visa to enter Italy. However, a tourist visa often has a high chance of being denied.

So, what’s the best way to enter Italy and reunite with your partner? The answer is to register your marriage contract in Italy, which will facilitate a smoother process when applying for a National Visa.

Steps to Register Your Marriage in Italy:

1.Wait for a PSA (Philippines Statistics Authority) copy of the Marriage Contract.

2.Apostille your Marriage Certificate.

Apostille is a validation of documents by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). They will verify the authenticity of your document. This process can take up to five days.

3.Translate your Marriage Contract into Italian.

After obtaining the apostille, you need to translate your Marriage Contract into Italian.

Here are accredited translators recommended by the Italian Embassy:

PHILIPPINE ITALIAN ASSOCIATION / Patronato ACLI Manila

Address: 2/F Zeta II Building, 191 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, 1229 Makati City, Philippines

Office hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Società Dante Alighieri Manila

Address: Unit 45/4th floor, Zeta Building, 191 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines

Note: Contact them directly for current pricing.

4. Prepare an authorization letter.

If only one spouse can apply for the transcription of Marriage, ensure you have an authorization letter ready.

5. Schedule an appointment with the Italian Embassy.

Note: Try to schedule an appointment as early as possible because securing an appointment at the consular office can be challenging.

Remember, the processing time can vary between 1 week to 1 month, depending on the workload at the Italian Embassy and the comune (municipality) of your Italian partner.

Alternative Option: As per the Filipina Italian community Facebook group, your Italian partner can directly register the Marriage Certificate at his comune in Italy. He should bring the Marriage Certificate PSA copy with apostille, translate it into Italian in Italy, and then register it in his city.

Once you register your Marriage Certificate, send a copy of the “Estratto di matrimonio” to his Filipina spouse. Only then can she apply for a National Visa.

Additional Resources:

Legal Capacity: How to get it?

DIY Matrimony in The Philippines

How to drive in Italy without undergoing examination?

Best of luck with your journey!