If you or your partner are an Irish citizen(s) and are thinking of getting married outside of Ireland, you should realise that the legal validity of your marriage is governed, in part, by the laws of the country in which you marry. In most, if not all cases, the legal formalities abroad are very different to those in Ireland.

Some countries may require non-nationals, before they can get married in their jurisdiction, to produce a certificate from their country of origin that they are free to marry. These are usually known as Certificats de Coutume or in the case of Italy 'Nulla Osta' and may be issued to Irish citizens resident in New South Wales who apply to the Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney. Irish citizens resident elsewhere in Australia should apply to the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra.

Note: Australian authorities do not require this document for marriages which take place within Australia.

Applications for Certificats de Coutume/Nulla Osta

Applications should be made four months before the marriage is due to take place. The Certificat de Coutume/Nulla Osta is valid for 120 days from the date of issue. The fee for this service is listed here. (link to Fees F1)

All applications must be accompanied by the applicant’s original long form birth certificate. Birth certificates issued in a language other than English or Irish must be accompanied by a certified translation.

All applications must be accompanied by a photocopy of the applicant’s current Irish passport.

Divorcees and Widows/Widowers

Applicants who hold a divorce issued by the Irish courts must provide the original final decree of divorce.

Applicants who hold a foreign divorce (i.e. a divorce which has not been issued by the Irish courts) must provide BOTH the original petition for divorce and the original final decree of divorce, along with a certified translation if they have been issued in a language other than English/Irish.

Applicants who have previously been married and are now widowed must provide the original death certificate, along with a certified translation if issued in a language other than English/Irish.

Application Forms

The application forms which need to be completed vary depending on your individual circumstances. Please read the below carefully to ensure you complete every form which is relevant to your circumstances:

To be completed by all applicants:
MP1 (PDF 431kb)  - Questionnaire to be completed by Irish citizen seeking 'Certificat De Coutume'/ 'Nulla Osta' for marriage abroad.

To be completed by all applicants who are getting married in Italy:
MP2 (PDF 32kb)  

To be completed by applicants not previously married:
MP2A (PDF 423kb)  - Statutory declaration by Irish citizen seeking 'Certificat de Coutume'/ 'Nulla Osta' for marriage abroad,

To be completed by applicants who hold an Irish divorce:
MP2E (PDF 60kb)  - Statutory declaration to be made by an Irish Citizen holding a divorce decree issued by the Irish courts requiring a 'Certificat de Coutume'/ 'Nulla Osta' for marriage abroad.

To be completed by applicants who hold a foreign divorce:
MP2B (PDF 709kb)  -  Statutory declaration to be made by a divorced Irish citizen requiring a 'Certificat de Coutume'/ 'Nulla Osta' for marriage abroad.

To be completed by a divorced person (holding a foreign divorce)  wishing to marry an Irish citizen (This only relates to citizens wishing to marry in Poland, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Bulgaria, Portugal and Italy) :
MP2D (PDF 674kb)  - Statutory declaration to be made by a divorced person wishing to marry an Irish citizen requiring a 'Certificat de Coutume'/ 'Nulla Osta' for marriage abroad.

To be completed by a divorced person (holding an Irish divorce) wishing to marry an Irish citizen (This only relates to citizens wishing to marry in Poland, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Bulgaria, Portugal and Italy):
MP2F (PDF 526kb) - Statutory declaration to be made by a person holding a divorce decree issued by the Irish courts who wishes to marry an Irish citizen requiring a 'Certificat de Coutume'/ 'Nulla Osta' for marriage abroad.

Important Notes on Applications

The Statutory Declaration must be completed in the presence of, and witnessed by one of the following:

• A Notary Public
• A Justice of the Peace
• A Commissioner for Oaths
• A Solicitor
• A Diplomatic or Consular Officer of Ireland

Only the signature of one of the above will suffice (i.e. the criteria for a witness to a passport application DO NOT APPLY and the signatures of a priest, police officer, school principal or bank manager will not be accepted).

A Diplomatic or Consular Officer of Ireland will only witness an application in exceptional circumstances and this will incur an additional fee.

Application forms cannot be submitted via e-mail. Original application forms and documentation should be sent to the Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney.

Persons under 18 years of age require the consent of their parents and should contact the Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney for more information.

Postal applications should be accompanied by a Pre-paid Registered Post Envelope to ensure safe return of your original documentation. THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF IRELAND IN SYDNEY CANNOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY FOR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION WHICH IS LOST IN THE POST.