What is an Apostille?

A Hague Convention Apostille is a standardized, international certificate that authenticates the signature and capacity of the person signing an official document, as well as the seal or stamp that it shows.

The apostille removes the need for complex international document authentication processes.

Since both Italy and the United States are members of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention (which now includes 130 countries), an apostilled document issued in the U.S. is automatically recognized as authentic by Italian officials and vice versa.

Where Do You Get an Apostille?

An Apostille can only be requested in the country where an official document was originally issued. A sworn translator or foreign authority cannot issue an Apostille for a foreign record.

Apostilles for US documents to be submitted in Italy

(e.g., for an Italian visa application, a real estate purchase or a wedding in Italy)

✔ State-level documents: birth, marriage, death certificates and divorce decrees must be apostilled by the Secretary of State in the specific state where the document was issued. For example a New York birth certificate needs a New York state Apostille).
✔ Federal documents: records with the signature of a US federal official, such as an FBI Identity History Summary background check, must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.

Apostilles for Italian documents to be submitted in the U.S.

(e.g., for U.S. immigration, USCIS Petitions)

✔ Vital records: certificato di nascita, atto di matrimonio, certificato di stato civile, must be apostilled at the Prefettura in the city (comune) where the document was issued. For example a birth certificate from the comune of Florence must be apostilled by the Prefettura of Florence.
✔Judicial documents: legal files, court rulings, or criminal records (Casellario giudiziale and Certificato dei carichi pendenti) must be apostilled at the Procura della Repubblica of the city where the document was issued. For example, the Milan Procura can only authenticate deeds and documents issued by the Milan Court or a Milan notary, because an official’s signature is filed only in the office where the official works, and not in all Italian offices.

Translation rules and different types of certification

While the Apostille certificate itself is standard and legally recognized, the document it authenticates must match the rules of the authority receiving it.

✔Italian Consulates in the US: when applying for an Italian visa or registering vital records via an Italian consulate in the U.S., each Italian Consulate has slightly different rules. All consulates require vital records/certificates to be translated into Italian, but most do not require that the US Apostille itself be translated. Always verify the exact, current guidelines with your specific consular jurisdiction.
✔Italian City Halls & Courts: if you are submitting non-Italian documents directly to an Italian city hall (comune) or a court, all non-Italian text must be translated including the Apostille. Italy does not recognize U.S. standard certified translations so when you need to submit documents with their Apostille directly in Italy, not though an Italian consulate, the entire packet must undergo a formal court-certified translation process (traduzione giurata) in person at an Italian court (tribunale).

Helpful Official Links

✔Verify the official HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention Section.
✔Review federal processing times via the U.S. Department of State – Apostille & Authentication.
✔Check guidelines on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) – Legalization Portal.