How to Get an Italian Apostille for Documents Heading to the U.S.

If you are an expat returning to the United States, an Italian citizen relocating to America, or a couple who just tied the knot with a destination wedding in Tuscany, you will need to bring official Italian documents back home with you.

Whether you need to submit an Italian marriage certificate apostille for the US, register a birth with a state agency, or file a family-based petition with USCIS, your Italian official records will not be recognized by U.S. authorities until they have been properly authenticated.

Because both Italy and the United States belong to the 1961 Hague Convention, this authentication acts as a universal certificate of authenticity.

Here is where and how to get an Apostille in Italy based on your type of document.

Where to get an Apostille in Italy: prefettura vs. procura

1. Administrative Documents ➔ The Prefettura Office.

The Italian office where you request the Apostille for administrative documents is the Prefettura (local office of the Ministry of the Interior) of the county (province) where the document was issued by the local authorities and institutions in the specific Prefettura’s jurisdiction.

Example: a marriage certificate issued by Florence city hall (comune) must be taken to the Prefettura of Florence to receive its Apostille.

The Prefettura handles Apostilles for the following administrative documents issued within its territorial jurisdiction.
✔Vital Records: birth certificates (certificato di nascita), marriage certificates (certificato di matrimonio), certificates of household composition (stato di famiglia), and certificates of “no impediment to marriage” or “freedom to marry” (certificato di stato libero).
✔Academic Records: diplomas, transcripts from public schools and universities, and professional qualifications or licenses issued by government bodies.
✔Health and Corporate Matters: Chamber of Commerce company excerpts (visure camerali) and healthcare records.

2. Judicial and Notarial Documents ➔ The Procura Office.

The Italian office where you request an Apostille for any document originating from the legal system, or authenticated by a notary, is the Procura della Repubblica (Public Prosecutor’s Office) located at the local courthouse (tribunale).

Example: a criminal record background check issued by the Court of Florence must be taken to the Procura of the Court of Florence to receive its Apostille.

The Procura della Repubblica apostille process covers judicial documents and deeds executed by a notary within that specific court district:

✔criminal records and court rulings: police clearances for immigration purposes (certificato del casellario giudiziale and certificato dei carichi pendenti) and final divorce decrees.

✔notarial deeds: private agreements drafted or authenticated by an Italian notary (notaio), such as a power of attorney (procura) or real estate transaction deeds.

How to File an Apostille Request in Italy

The process of getting an apostille from a prefettura or procura can differ based on the city, but usually involves the following steps:

✔Booking an appointment (appuntamento): most major offices, like the Florence Prefettura, require you to book a specific slot online through their booking portals (Prenota Facile or similar local systems).

✔In-person submission: you or an authorized proxy (such as a translation or relocation agency) must bring the physical, original paper document bearing the wet ink signature of the Italian official.

Processing times vary based on the local office’s workload. You might get the document stamped on the spot, or you may be asked to return a few days later to pick up the completed packet.

Understanding Duty Stamps (marca da bollo)

While the Apostille service itself doesn’t have a hidden fee, it follows Italian tax laws. If you are apostilling vital records (birth, marriage, or death certificates), the process is completely free of charge. However, for other administrative or business documents (like university transcripts or corporate records), you will need to purchase and bring a €16.00 duty stamp (marca da bollo) every 4 pages of each document. A €16.00 duty stamps also applies to legalize the “Nulla Osta” (sworn statement stating that there is no obstacle to a marriage) that U.S. citizens must get directly at the U.S. Consulate General in Florence for their wedding in Tuscany.

Preparing Italian documents for U.S. agencies (USCIS)

Once the Prefettura or Procura has attached the physical Apostille to your Italian document, it is officially legalized for international use. However, U.S. agencies like the DMV, insurance companies, and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) require a certified English translation of the entire packet.

For U.S. immigration and official purposes, the translation must follow these guidelines:

✔It must be a complete, word-for-word translation of the original Italian text.

✔It must include a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy stating that the translator is able to translate from Italian to English.

✔The translation must explicitly include all stamps, seals, and the text of the Italian Apostille itself.

We Manage Your Italian Document Authentication and Certified English Translation

Italian public offices like the Prefettura and Procura can be quite busy. With over 30 years of cross-border experience and familiarity with the local Florence offices, CertiTranslations CertiTranslations can secure your local Italian apostille on your behalf. We also provide certified, USCIS-compliant English translations for all your immigration and administrative procedures in the United States.