TL;DR: original documents need Apostilles; translations into Italian no longer do (most of the times).
If you are applying for Italian citizenship, you know that you need “Apostilles”.
But just what is an Apostille?
Why do I need one and where do I get it?
Apostilles are documents, usually stapled or tied to the original document, that certify the document’s authenticity.
They are recognized internationally in the countries adhering to the 1961 Hague Convention, among which are Italy and the US. You can learn more about this Convention by clicking here.
Translations of Documents Submitted to an Italian Consulate
For Italian citizenship purposes, an Apostille applied to a document issued in the US will make the document legal in Italy.
Up until some time ago, Italian translations of US documents were required to have apostilles as well.
This requirement, however, is not longer in place. In other words, if you are sending any translated documents, including citizenship applications, to an Italian Consulate in the US, the translations do not need to be notarized and apostilled.
Translations of Documents Submitted in Italy
If you are submitting your documents directly in Italy, i.e. you are not going through a Consulate, the requirements are slightly different.
There are two main differences:
- The apostille applied to the original document has to be translated
- The translation needs to be notarized and apostilled
Where to Get Apostilles
There is one last tricky bit to sort out: what office is in charge of issuing Apostilles? Note carefully: it depends on the kind of document and the issuing office.
1. If your document was issued by a US state > go to the Secretary of State/Commonwealth. For example, if you have a birth certificate that was issued by the State of Massachusetts, the apostille will be issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
New York State requires an extra step: your documents will need to be certified by the County Clerk before being apostilled.
2. If your document was issued by the Federal Government > go to the US Department of State. For example, an FBI background check will be apostilled by the US Department of State.
3. Translations: when required (see above), translations can be apostilled. This is a two-step process.
- First, the translator’s signature must be authenticated by a notary public.
- Second, the notary’s signature must be legalized with an apostille.
I hope that this is helpful to you as you navigate what requirements you need to fulfill. If you have any further questions or doubts, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments or reach out.
And if you have documents that need to be translated into Italian – for citizenship or study/work purposes – I’ll be happy to assist you with the translation.
