Apostille or consular legalisation
- Hague Apostille: if your country is party to the 1961 Convention (USA, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, India and many more), the document is apostilled in the issuing country.
- Consular legalisation: if it isn't, the document must be legalised at the Italian Consulate.
- Italian documents for use abroad: apostilled or legalised at the Prefettura (or the Public Prosecutor's office for court documents).
Sworn translation (asseverazione)
In Italy official translations are done through asseverazione: the translator swears the translation before the Tribunal, a Justice of the Peace or a notary. We coordinate trusted translators and the swearing, including for documents to be apostilled for use abroad.
Procedures with Italian offices
- Questura: applications, appointments, permit collection and file follow-up.
- Prefettura: nulla osta, apostilles, A2 Italian test and integration agreement.
- Comune: registration of residence, certificates, transcriptions and record searches for citizenship.
- Agenzia delle Entrate: codice fiscale (tax code) and contract registration.
- Consulates: legalisation, dichiarazione di valore and visas.
Common mistakes
- Apostilling the copy instead of the original (or vice versa).
- Translating without asseverazione when the office requires it.
- Using expired certificates (many are valid for 6 months).
- Name discrepancies between documents: they must be corrected first.
Documents usually required
- Original documents you need to use in Italy
- Passport
- Which procedure they are for (so we know the required format)
The exact list depends on your case, your home country and the office (Questura, Consulate or Comune). We give you the final list in the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I apostille my birth certificate?
In the country that issued it, with the designated authority. We tell you where depending on your country.
Can I translate my documents in my home country?
It depends on the procedure: some offices accept consular translations or translations legalised abroad; others require asseverazione in Italy. We tell you which is best.
How long are certificates valid?
Many civil status and criminal record certificates are considered valid for 6 months. Birth certificates usually don't expire, but some offices ask for recent copies.
Last updated: 2026-10-23. This guide is general information and does not replace a lawyer's advice on your specific case. Italian immigration rules change often.