Your Legal Wedding Timeline for a European Elopement in 2027
The timeline
Dates below are for Lovefool's 2027 set dates: Lake Como from late August to early September, and Sicily in mid-September. If you're eloping somewhere else in Europe or on different dates, the same steps apply. Just count back from your date.
Now to early 2027: book your photographer and celebrant. European elopements are usually booked 12 to 24 months ahead.
When you book: lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage. It's valid for 18 months, so lodging now covers you.
When you book: check both passports. Expiry and issue date both matter for Europe.
Late 2026 to early 2027: book flights and accommodation, using the exact name on your passport.
By June 2027, or after the trip: have your legal ceremony in Australia. Before the trip leaves plenty of time for the certificate. After the trip works too.
Straight after: order your official marriage certificate. NSW standard is up to 3 weeks plus postage.
July 2027: check ETIAS and entry rules. The rules for entering Europe are changing.
August 2027: final timeline with your photographer and celebrant: locations, times and a backup plan.
Late August to mid-September 2027: fly to Europe and have your ceremony. No foreign paperwork needed.
There's no booking deadline with Lovefool. If your dates are free, we can make it work. Just remember the Notice of Intended Marriage has to be lodged at least one month before your legal ceremony.
Legal ceremony after the trip? That's fine too. Lodge your Notice any time up to one month before the date you choose at home.
The Notice of Intended Marriage, explained
What it is: a government form telling your celebrant you plan to marry.
The rule: your celebrant has to receive it at least one month before the legal ceremony, and no more than 18 months before.
What that means for 2027:
If you lodge it in October 2026, your legal ceremony has to happen by April 2028. That's plenty of time.
If your legal ceremony is on 1 June 2027, the latest you could lodge it is 1 May 2027.
Can it be witnessed remotely? Yes. Since June 2024, the form can be witnessed by video call if you're both in Australia.
Passports: two dates to check
For a short stay in Europe, the Schengen rules say your passport must:
Be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen Area.
Have been issued within the last 10 years.
Example: if you leave the Schengen Area on 25 September 2027, your passport needs to be valid until at least 25 December 2027.
Don't change your passport name before you travel. Your tickets and bookings need to match the passport you're travelling on.
Entering Europe in 2027
The Entry/Exit System has been running at all Schengen borders since 10 April 2026. You'll give fingerprints and a photo at the border instead of getting a stamp.
The 90/180 rule still applies: up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries.
Not every European country is in the Schengen Area. The UK, for example, has its own entry rules. Since 25 February 2026, Australians need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying there. It costs £20, lasts 2 years, and is applied for on the UK Government website or app.
ETIAS, a €20 online travel approval, is expected but hadn't started as of September 2026. The EU withdrew its 2026 date in July 2026, and as of mid-September 2026 there's no confirmed start date. It's expected in 2027. Once it starts, there's a 6-month transition period. Don't pay any website claiming to sell it before the EU officially opens applications.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance do you lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage?
At least one month and no more than 18 months before the legal ceremony.
Can we have the legal ceremony after we get back from Europe?
Yes. Lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month before the legal ceremony. You'll be legally married from that date.
Is there a booking deadline?
Not with Lovefool. If your dates are free, we can make it work.
Can we lodge it before we've set the legal ceremony date?
Yes, as long as the legal ceremony happens within 18 months.
How long does a marriage certificate take in NSW?
Standard online is up to 3 weeks, priority up to 2 weeks, plus 5 to 7 days postage. The celebrant has up to 14 days to register the marriage first.
Do Australians need a visa to elope in Italy or Europe?
Not for stays in the Schengen Area of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Check ETIAS closer to the date. Countries outside Schengen, like the UK, have their own rules.
What passport validity do Australians need for Europe?
At least 3 months beyond the date you leave the Schengen Area, and issued within the last 10 years.
About the author
Izzy is an authorised Australian marriage celebrant (Hitched by Hazell) and one half of Lovefool Elopements in Newcastle, NSW. She manages the legal paperwork for Lovefool's European couples. Izzy and Emily have worked together for years and have married many couples.