Making a document legally valid in Italy

Do you have a document written in a language other than Italian and want to make it legally valid in Italy? Legalization, translation, asseveration, apostille: you may have heard these expressions related to this issue but are confused about the differences.

In our article, we provide a brief and practical guide on how to proceed depending on your situation and needs.

1. Legalization

Legalization consists of affixing a stamp on the original document that certifies both the qualification of the public official who signed the act and the authenticity of his signature. To obtain this stamp, you will have to go to the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representation present on the foreign territory where the act to be legalized was drawn up.

2. Translation

In the event that the document is not drawn up on a multilingual model required by the International Conventions, it must be translated into Italian language. Acts and documents signed by Italian diplomatic or consular representations abroad do not need to be legalized.

3. Apostille

In countries that have signed the Convention Concerning the Abolition of the Legalization of Foreign Public Documents, the need to legalize deeds and documents issued by foreign authorities is replaced by another formality, namely the affixing of the "apostille." A person from a country that has acceded to this Convention does not need to go to the Consular Representation and request legalization. Instead, he or she may go to the competent domestic authority designated by each to obtain theaffixing of an apostille on the document. Thus perfected, the document is recognized in Italy.

4. Asseveration

Sworn translation is a public act through which the correspondence of the contents of the translation to the original document is certified. Also known as "sworn translation," it consists precisely of the swearing of the translation before the court, which certifies that the translation faithfully adheres to the original document throughout its length. The translated document to be sworn:

• must be complete with a revenue stamp worth 16.00 euros if the translation is a maximum of 100 lines, including the oath report;
• to line 101, and every 100 lines thereafter, must be complete with another 16.00 euro mark.

Next steps of asseveration

The revenue stamps affixed to the document are cancelled at the swearing-in by the court official. Through the affidavit, the person who takes the oath assumes all responsibility for the truthfulness of his or her statement. The said official finally stamps the document, which is thus asseverated and is thus valid in Italian territory.