If you're already an Italian citizen, your New Zealand marriage or your children's births usually have to be registered with Italy, using NZ certificates with an apostille and an Italian translation. If you're claiming citizenship by descent, Italy narrowed the rules in 2025 and its Constitutional Court upheld the change in 2026, so many people with Italian grandparents no longer qualify. Confirm eligibility first, then we prepare the NZ documents. Certificates ordered and apostilled from NZ$198.
Which one are you?
Registering a NZ marriage or a child
Italian citizens living in New Zealand need their life events recorded in Italy. It’s usually the first Italian paperwork a family in New Zealand needs.
- NZ marriage certificate from BDM, apostilled and translated into Italian
- Children's NZ birth certificates, prepared the same way
- Death certificates for estates and pensions in Italy
Applying through a parent or grandparent
Still possible for some people after the 2025 change, but not for everyone. Check eligibility with an Italian citizenship lawyer or the consulate first.
- Your NZ birth certificate and your parents' marriage certificate
- Name changes and NZ citizenship records along the family line
- Every NZ document apostilled and translated into Italian
Registering a NZ marriage with Italy: what the Embassy asks for
The Italian Embassy in Wellington lists exactly what it needs to record a New Zealand marriage in Italy. Here is each item and who takes care of it.
| The Embassy asks for | Who takes care of it |
|---|---|
| An original BDM marriage certificate (not the wedding-day certificate) | We order it as an approved BDM Online organisation |
| An apostille on that certificate | We lodge it with DIA |
| An Italian translation by DIA or an NZSTI-registered translator | We arrange it with a registered translator |
| The Marriage Registration Request form and a copy of your passport | You sign; we check it's complete |
| Everything posted to the Embassy in Wellington | We send it, tracked |
Registration itself is free. The Embassy keeps what you send, so we suggest ordering a second marriage certificate for your own records. Same-sex marriages can be registered in Italy as a civil union.
How it works with us
- Tell us your situationRegistering an event, or a by-descent claim.
- Free document checkWe list every NZ document needed, in the right form.
- Certificates orderedAs an approved BDM Online organisation.
- ApostilleOn every NZ document Italy will see.
- Italian translationArranged and fitted into the right step.
- DeliveredTo you, the consulate or your lawyer in Italy.
What it costs
| Service | All in |
|---|---|
| NZ certificate ordered and apostilled, returned in NZ | From NZ$198 |
| Apostille on a NZ certificate you already have | From NZ$116 |
| Italian translation | Quoted per document |
| A family set (marriage + children) | One quote for everything |
| Courier to Italy or your lawyer | Added to your quote |
Prices include government fees and GST. See pricing.
If it turns out we can't help
Italian files vary a lot, which is why the document check comes first and costs nothing. Once you've paid, if something we didn't foresee stops us finishing the New Zealand side, we return our fee in full, along with any certificate, apostille or translation costs not yet spent. Decisions by the Italian authorities themselves sit outside that promise.
What slows Italian files down
- Using the wedding-day certificate instead of a BDM marriage certificate
- Names spelt differently in Italian records and NZ certificates
- Translating a certificate before it has been apostilled
- Spending on a full by-descent document set before checking the 2025 rules
- Older certificates the consulate considers too old to use
We prepare New Zealand documents and do not give legal advice. Citizenship and registration decisions are made by the Italian authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Do NZ documents need an apostille for Italy?
Yes. Italy and New Zealand are both in the Apostille Convention, so NZ certificates take an apostille. They also usually need a translation into Italian.
Can I still get Italian citizenship by descent?
Possibly, but fewer people qualify after the 2025 law change, which Italy's Constitutional Court upheld in 2026. Check eligibility with an Italian citizenship lawyer or the consulate before ordering documents.
I'm already Italian. How do I register my NZ marriage?
The Italian Embassy in Wellington asks for an original BDM marriage certificate with an apostille, an Italian translation by DIA or an NZSTI-registered translator, the request form and a passport copy, sent by post. We prepare and send the whole set.
Why shouldn't I use my wedding-day certificate?
The certificate signed on the day is not an official BDM certificate and can't be apostilled. We order the correct NZ marriage certificate for you.
Can you send documents to Italy for me?
Yes. We courier the finished set to you, the Italian Embassy or consulate, or your lawyer or family in Italy, tracked.
Sources
NZ Document Assist Limited is an independent company, not a government agency. We are not a law firm, Notary Public or licensed immigration adviser and do not give legal or immigration advice.