Italian Document Apostille in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Italy and the United States are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a U.S. public document used in Italy needs an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state, never consular legalisation. What the Italian consulate adds is the other half of the job: the Italian translation, whose accuracy usually has to be certified before an Italian office will accept the document.

Quick facts

Order matters. The apostille goes on the original certified copy first; the translation is made afterwards and covers the apostille as well. Translating first is the most common and most expensive mistake in this procedure.

Fees breakdown

Consular charges in this network are published in euros and converted into dollars each quarter, so confirm the current amount before paying.

How to prepare a document for Italy

1. Order a certified long-form copy from the vital records office, county clerk or issuing agency. Short forms and photocopies are refused.
2. Have private documents notarised first, since the apostille certifies the notary’s signature rather than the content.
3. Send the document to the Secretary of State of the issuing state, or to the U.S. Department of State for federal records.
4. Have the apostilled document translated into Italian, including the apostille itself.
5. Have the translation certified as accurate by the consulate, or sworn before a court in Italy, depending on what the receiving office requires.

Required documents

• Original certified copy, unaltered, with signature and seal.
• Completed state authentication request and payment.
• Prepaid return envelope for filings by mail.
• The full translation, including stamps and marginal notes, for consular certification.
• Photo ID when appearing in person.

Where the consulate fits in

Consulates certify translations, issue certificates for their own registrants, and produce declarations of value for academic qualifications where an Italian institution asks for one.

Additional notes

Documents going from Italy to the United States

Italian public documents are apostilled inside Italy, by the Prefettura for administrative records and by the public prosecutor’s office attached to the court for judicial and notarial ones. No consulate abroad can do it.

Academic qualifications

Recognition of a U.S. degree in Italy may require a declaration of value from the consulate or a statement from the national recognition centre. Ask the Italian university which it accepts before paying for either.

Multilingual forms

Some European civil status certificates circulate without translation under EU rules, but those rules do not cover U.S. documents, which always need both apostille and translation.

Keep spare copies

Italian offices retain what you file. Ordering two or three certified copies at the outset costs little and saves repeating the whole chain later.