Apostille: Complete Guide
Learn what an Apostille is, how to obtain it, required documents, timelines, and how to make your papers valid in Italy under the Hague Convention.
Legalizations & Translations
Sep 14, 2025
4 min read
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Apostille Services
International certification for documents to be used in Italy
Immediate recognition of foreign documents in Italy
Simplified procedure thanks to The Hague Convention
Permanent validity of the obtained apostille
Complete support for translation and consular endorsement
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Introduction
What You Need to Know
Simplified international certification for foreign documents
Apostille is an international certification that authenticates your foreign documents to make them valid and legally recognized in Italy. If you are a foreign citizen and need to use documents from your country of origin in Italy - for work, study, marriage, family reunification or any other official procedure - Apostille is the fundamental step that guarantees the authenticity and legal validity of your documents.
Thanks to The Hague Convention of 1961, this system simplifies international document recognition, eliminating lengthy bureaucratic procedures and allowing you to achieve your life projects in Italy.
Ready to start your journey? Follow the steps below to understand the complete process.
Step 1
Who can request it
Can request Apostille for documents to be used in Italy:
🌍
Eligible
Citizens of Convention Countries
Foreign citizens from countries adhering to The Hague Convention
🏠
Eligible
People relocating to Italy
People who transfer residence to Italy
🎓
Eligible
International students
International students who want to enroll in Italian universities or schools
💼
Eligible
Foreign workers
Foreign workers who need documents for contracts or title recognition
💑
Eligible
Mixed couples
Mixed couples for marriages or civil unions
👨👩👧👦
Eligible
Families for reunifications
Families for family reunifications and citizenship procedures
Important note
The service is available for all public documents issued by authorities of countries that have adhered to The Hague Convention of 1961.
Translation Endorsement (Additional Procedure)
📋
What is Endorsement?
Translation endorsement is an additional procedure required by some Italian consulates (especially in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other Eastern European countries) after obtaining the Apostille.
The Italian consulate in your country expressly requires this procedure
You need to translate apostilled documents to be used in Italy
The consulate wants to authenticate the translation and the translator's qualification
The endorsement does not replace the Apostille, but integrates it to ensure the complete validity of the translated document in Italy.
⚖️
How It Works
Step-by-step procedure for consular endorsement
Obtain the Apostille on the original document in your country
Translate the document at a translator accredited by the Italian consulate
Submit the translation to the Italian consulate for endorsement
The consulate affixes the stamp on the translation, certifying translator and translation
The procedure requires 3-10 working days after translation and involves payment of additional consular fees. You will need to present the translation together with the apostilled document and your identity document.
Step 2
Step 2: Required Documents
Complete document checklist for your application
📄
Documents to Apostille
Original document issued in your country of origin (birth certificate, marriage, diploma, criminal record, etc.)
📋
Documents for the Procedure
Copy of the applicant's identity document
Specific application form for Apostille (provided by the competent authority of your country)
Receipt of payment of fees required in your country of origin
Written authorization if the request is submitted by a representative
🔄
After Apostillation
Sworn translation into Italian (required after apostillation for use in Italy)
First Apostille, Then Translation
The Apostille must be obtained BEFORE translation, in the country that issued the original document. The Apostille certifies the authenticity of signatures and seals of documents issued in countries adhering to The Hague Convention.
We Handle Everything
Future Italian offers you complete support for your Apostille Service, managing all complementary procedures including translation endorsement.
Step 3
Step 3: Application Process
From start to finish: here's everything that happens step by step
1
Identification of Competent Authority
We identify the competent authority in your country based on the document type: Ministry of Foreign Affairs for government documents, Ministry of Justice for criminal records, Ministry of Education for diplomas, Civil Registry Offices for civil status certificates.
2
Application Preparation and Submission
We prepare all necessary documentation and submit the request to the competent authority. The application can be submitted in person, online (where available) or through an authorized representative.
3
Obtaining the Apostille
The competent authority applies the Apostille on the original document. Times vary: 5-15 days for digitized procedures, 15-30 days for standard requests, 2-5 days for urgent services.
4
Verification and Translation
We verify that the Apostille is complete and legible, coordinate sworn translation with accredited translators in Italy and manage any consular endorsement procedures if required.
5
Delivery and Use
The apostilled and translated document is now immediately recognized by Italian authorities for any official procedure. The Apostille has no expiration date and remains valid indefinitely.
🎉 Your Apostille has been completed! Your documents are now valid for use in Italy.
How long does it take?
The time to obtain Apostille varies based on the issuing country and required procedure.
2-4
weeks
Average processing time
How Future Italian Can Help You
Apostille is a fundamental process that requires knowledge of international procedures. With Future Italian, we manage every phase with precision to obtain your Apostille certification without errors or delays.
Personalized consultation
We analyze the documents needed for your project in Italy and identify the competent authorities in your country of origin, planning timing and procedures while verifying if additional consular endorsement is needed
Document assistance
We support you in documentation preparation verifying document compliance, coordinate with authorities in your country and identify translators accredited by consulates
Completion and submission support
We assist you in form completion coordinating with local representatives in your country, manage procedures and payments booking appointments at consulates
Case monitoring
We constantly control progress status providing timely communications on every development, managing any complications or delays coordinating between local authorities and consulates
Post-issuance support
We verify the correctness of the received Apostille assisting you for translation at accredited translators, managing consular endorsement for Russia, Ukraine and other countries that require it supporting you in using documents for your Italian procedures coordinating with consulates for additional procedures
You cross borders. We certify your documents.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to the most common questions about this service
Apostille is an international certification that authenticates public documents issued in countries adhering to The Hague Convention of 1961. You need it when you must use documents from your country of origin in Italy for work, study, marriage, family reunification or other official procedures.
Times vary by country: 5-15 days for digitized procedures, 15-30 days for standard requests, 2-5 days for urgent services (where available with additional costs). During periods of high demand or national holidays, times may be longer.
The Apostille must be requested in the country that issued the original document from the competent authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (government documents), Ministry of Justice (criminal records), Ministry of Education (diplomas), Civil Registry Offices (civil status certificates).
ALWAYS AFTER! The Apostille must be obtained BEFORE translation, in the country that issued the original document. Only after obtaining the apostillation can you have the document translated by a sworn translator in Italy.
It's an additional procedure required by some Italian consulates (especially in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other Eastern European countries) to authenticate the translation and the translator's qualification. It requires 3-10 working days and additional consular fees.
Main adherent countries include all EU countries, USA, Canada, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, South Korea and many others. Future Italian always verifies your country's adherence and specific requirements for Italy.
No, the Apostille itself has no expiration date and remains valid indefinitely for authentication purposes. However, the document content might lose validity (e.g., medical certificates, criminal records) according to specific Italian regulations.
Yes, a document apostilled in your country can be used in any other country adhering to The Hague Convention, not just Italy. However, each country may have specific requirements for translations.
If the competent authority refuses the Apostille request, we must identify the problem: unsuitable document, incomplete documentation, errors in the request. Future Italian helps you resolve the issue and resubmit the application correctly.
It's not advisable. The Apostille is often a fundamental prerequisite for visas, residence permits, university enrollments, employment contracts, marriages. It's better to complete the apostillation first to avoid delays in subsequent procedures.
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