Italy
Apostille in Italy
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Italy, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court (Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale) of the district where the document was issued, judicial and notarial documents2 Prefecture, Territorial Government Office (Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo) with territorial competence, all other administrative documents, including civil status documents since 31 March 20112 |
| Fee | No fee, according to the office (apostilles from the Public Prosecutor's Office in Udine)3checked 18 October 2026 €16 (stamp duty (marca da bollo) at the Prefecture of Ferrara, only for documents subject to stamp duty)4checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | Varies by office; the Public Prosecutor's Office in Udine says documents are returned within a few days of submission3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Electronic apostille | Not available9 |
| Online register to check apostilles | Not available9 |
| Documents covered | 5 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in Italy
Find the office for the area where the document was issued: the Public Prosecutor's Office for judicial and notarial documents, or the Prefecture for other administrative documents.2
Check whether that office needs an appointment; for example, the Public Prosecutor's Office in Turin only takes apostille requests by appointment, booked by email at segreteriacivile.procura.torino@giustizia.it.5
Hand in the document to be apostilled, with any attachments, at the office.5
Collect the document when it is ready.3
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Criminal record certificates and pending charges certificates issued by the local Public Prosecutor's Office6
- Certified copies of court documents from the local court and justices of the peace6
- Deeds drawn up or authenticated by notaries based in the district6
- Civil status records, registry office documents, consular documents and university degrees (at the Prefecture)6
- Documents of the Rome Chamber of Commerce (only at the Prefecture of Rome)7
More about these documents: criminal record certificate, university degree certificate, court judgment, company registration certificate, certified copy of a document.
Contacts
Who to contact in Italy
- Apostille officePublic Prosecutor's Office at the Court (Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale) of the district where the document was issued2Judicial and notarial documents
- Apostille officePrefecture, Territorial Government Office (Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo) with territorial competence2All other administrative documents, including civil status documents since 31 March 2011
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in Italy
A document issued in Italy
The apostille comes from Italy, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Italy.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Italy
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Italy. Italy accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
The Prefecture of Rome says private documents cannot be apostilled unless they are first turned into public documents, for example by authentication of the signature or a certified copy.7
Note: Rule
Each Public Prosecutor's Office only apostilles judicial and notarial documents formed in its own district, such as deeds of notaries based there.8
Note: Rule
Under EU Regulation 2016/1191 public documents drawn up for use within the European Union do not need an apostille.8
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in Italy
Does Italy accept apostilles?
Yes. Italy has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 11 February 1978, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Italy?
Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court (Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale) of the district where the document was issued (judicial and notarial documents) and Prefecture, Territorial Government Office (Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo) with territorial competence (all other administrative documents, including civil status documents since 31 March 2011).
How much does an apostille cost in Italy?
No fee, according to the office (apostilles from the Public Prosecutor's Office in Udine). €16 (stamp duty (marca da bollo) at the Prefecture of Ferrara, only for documents subject to stamp duty). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Italy?
The office says: Varies by office; the Public Prosecutor's Office in Udine says documents are returned within a few days of submission.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Italy - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Apostille e legalizzazioni - Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Udine
- Legalizzazione documenti new - Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo di Ferrara
- Legalizzazione apostille - Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Torino
- Legalizzazioni ed apostille - Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Bologna
- Legalizzazione documenti - Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo di Roma
- Legalizzazione Apostille - Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Taranto
- Implementation Chart of the e-APP
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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