To be valid before the Italian authorities, documents (deeds, certificates, orders, etc.) issued by foreign authorities must be legalised or apostilled and translated into Italian.
Before submitting a document to the Consulate, it must be legalised and translated according to the following instructions.
Documents issued by British authorities
Documents issued by British authorities (e.g. the GRO) must be:
- Apostilled by the FCDO as per this page. Please note: we only accept paper-based apostilles;
- Professionally translated into Italian. The Consulate cannot carry out translations. We only certify the conformity of translations attached to consular applications (e.g. citizenship applications or registration of civil records). The apostille shall not be translated. Please note: translations that are not consistent with the originals will not be accepted and the application will be returned to the applicant.
Documents issued by other Countries’ authorities
If the document was issued in a state other than the United Kingdom, please refer to the legalisation procedures indicated by the Italian consular office where the document was issued.
Many Countries (click here for a list) have ratified the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, which makes it possible to avoid legalisation. If the document comes from one of these States, you must request an apostille stamp directly from the domestic authorities of the State that issued the document.
In both cases, the documents must be professionally translated into Italian:
- If the document is in English, only a translation is needed. There is no need to have the translation certified or sworn: we will certify the conformity of translations attached to consular applications (e.g. citizenship applications or registration of civil records). Please note: translations that are not consistent with the originals will not be accepted and the application will be returned to the applicant.
- If the document is not in English, the translation and its conformity certification (dichiarazione di conformità) must be carried out according to the procedures indicated by the Italian consular office where the document was issued. Alternatively, the translation may be sworn (asseverata) in Italy.
- The apostille shall not be translated.