Notarized translation standardVerified June 2026

Document Translation Requirements in Italy

Official bodies in Italy generally require a notarized translation of foreign-language documents, and many documents also need an apostille or legalization before they are translated. Below: who can translate, when an apostille is needed, and where the official rules are published.

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Italy requirements at a glance

Translation standard	Notarized translation (Notarised)
Who can translate	Any competent adult, provided the translation is sworn before a judicial authority
Apostille	Required for foreign documents before translation and asseveration
Accepted languages	Italian
Responsible authority	Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office (Procura della Repubblica) / Prefecture (for apostilles)

Important: If an apostille or legalisation is required, it must be obtained before the translation is sworn (asseverated) in Italy.

Who can translate documents for use in Italy?

Italy does not maintain a national registry of sworn translators. A translation may be carried out by any competent adult who is not a party to the document. The translation becomes legally valid only after it has been sworn under oath (giuramento) before a judicial authority, typically at a Tribunale (Civil Court) or before a Giudice di Pace (Justice of the Peace).

What makes a translation official in Italy?

An official translation in Italy is known as a traduzione asseverata. It must include:

The original document (or certified copy)

The complete translation

A sworn statement signed by the translator before a court official

The oath confirms that the translation is accurate and complete.

How does Italy treat documents from abroad?

Foreign documents intended for submission to Italian authorities must first be apostilled or legalised in the country of origin. Only after this step should the document be translated and asseverated before a competent Italian court.

Legal basis

The asseveration process is governed by Italian procedural law and court regulations. Sworn statements are administered by judicial offices, and the oath is formally recorded in accordance with Italian civil procedure.

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Translating Italian documents for the U.S.?

Italian birth certificates, diplomas, and transcripts submitted to USCIS, universities, or credential evaluators need a certified English translation — that is exactly what we do, with a 100% USCIS acceptance guarantee.

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Sending U.S. documents to Italy?

U.S.-issued documents usually need an apostille before they can be used in Italy — and the apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the certificate itself gets translated too. We offer e-apostille processing as an add-on to any order.

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The Italian documents we translate most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.

Italian birth certificate translation Italian marriage certificate translation Italian diploma translation Italian academic transcript translation Italian divorce decree translation Italian death certificate translation

Real casework

Real Italian translation cases we've handled

Anonymized Italian-to-English orders. Each case shows the exact translation problem and how we solved it for the receiving authority.

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RecentJun 2026
legibilityItaly
When 1961 Italian Cursive Made Two Parent Names Hard to Read
A 1961 Italian birth-record extract (estratto di nascita) from the Comune di Ischia was completed by hand in cursive. On the first pass, both parents' names and an abbreviated street name read more than one way. We confirmed each field with the document holder, then issued the certified translation with the corrected names and a Translator's Note. The note records that the values come from holder confirmation, not translator guesswork.
Handled by Giulia Romano, Italian Legal & Apostille Translator
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Italy translation requirements — FAQ

What type of translation does Italy require?

Italy follows the notarized translation standard for official documents. Translations should be completed by: any competent adult, provided the translation is sworn before a judicial authority.

Is an apostille required for foreign documents in Italy?

Required for foreign documents before translation and asseveration

What languages do Italian authorities accept?

Official authorities in Italy accept documents in: Italian. Documents in any other language need a notarized translation before submission.

Can CertTranslate help with documents for Italy?

If you are submitting Italian documents to U.S. authorities (USCIS, universities, credential evaluators), yes — our certified translations are accepted nationwide. For official use inside Italy, authorities generally expect a notarized translation; check the official guidelines linked on this page. We can also advise on apostille requirements for U.S.-issued documents.

Requirements in related countries

Neighbors and countries with a similar translation standard.

Austria Belgium Switzerland Germany Denmark Spain View all countries on the map

Sources

Italian Ministry of Justice – Asseveration of TranslationsOfficial guidelines

Information verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.

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