Apostille Services for Italy
Italy became a member of the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 February 1978. Therefore, any Indian traveling to Italy for a student visa or work visa must get their documents apostilled. Apostille is a form of legalization carried out by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
It is a square, light orange-coloured sticker affixed to the back side of the certificate, which proves that the document has been legalized by the issuing authority in India. This ensures that the Italian government has no objections in accepting the documents for visa issuance.
When Apostille is Needed for Italy
Here are the most common reasons to get Apostille or Legalization for Italy.
- For Higher Education in Italy (universities and colleges)
- Religious Visa – Short Term
- Sports Visa
- Research Visa – Long Term
- Employment Visa (Lavoro Autonomo – Independent Work / Independent Professionals)
- Family Reunion Visa – for Children
- Family Reunion Visa – for Joining Spouse
- Application for D Visa and C Visa
- Applying for Declaration of Value (DOV)
Which Certificates Are Required to Be Legalized for Italy?
- For pursuing a student visa for a bachelor's course, the 10th and 12th certificates are required to be apostilled.
- For pursuing a master's degree course, the graduation degree certificate and convocation certificate are required to be apostilled
- For a family reunion visa, the birth certificate and marriage certificate are required to be apostilled and legalized.
Along with all these certificates, the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is one of the most important documents that is required to be apostilled for Italy.
In case a marriage with an Italian citizen is being planned, the divorce certificate must be apostilled, and a Single Status or Unmarried Certificate is required to be issued by the Government of India.
Process of Apostille and Legalization for Italy
- The certificate must be attested by a Notary.
- The certificate must be legalized by the respective State authority (State HRD for educational documents, Home Department/SDM for personal documents).
- The certificate must then be legalized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
Processing Time for Apostille and Legalization of Documents for Italy
The time for apostille and legalization of documents depends on the state where the certificate is issued and, in the case of educational documents, the university.
Educational documents must first be verified and attested by the university and then attested by the State HRD before apostille. Some states take longer to process documents, while others complete it in just a few days. Based on our experience, educational documents generally take 30 to 45 working days, while personal documents can be processed within 7 working days.
Translation Requirement for Italy
Translation is just as important as apostille because, according to embassy regulations, any document submitted to the embassy must first be translated into Italian. The translation must be done by an embassy-authorized translator and cannot be done by any outside party. Some of the authorized translators include:
- Dr. Sara Andreis
- Dr. Daniela Bollini
- Dr. Mery Cecconi
- Dr. Elisa De Pascali
- Dr. Addolorata Dibari
- Ms. Federica Freni
- Dr. Cristina Gastaldo
- Dr. Michela Gemito
- Dr. Iram Kazi
- Dr. Cinzia Michelis
- Ms. Surya Minelli
- Mr. Baljeet Singh
- Dr. Rachele Verona
If you want to contact any of these official translators, please send us an email or fill out this inquiry form with your complete requirements and the number of documents.
Validity of Apostille for Documents in Italy
The Italian Embassy only accepts apostilled documents that have been attested by the State HRD. Therefore, there is generally no issue regarding validity, as HRD-attested apostilles are considered valid for a lifetime. In rare cases, if the apostille stamp is not clearly visible, the document may need to be re-apostilled.
Step-by-Step Guide to Start Apostille and Legalization Procedure for Italy
ND Universal Pvt Ltd, established in 2009 and registered with the Government of India, provides reliable apostille services for Italy.
To begin the process, you can email or contact our dedicated executive, Mr. Nitin, who will personally guide you through every step. He will assist with:
- Understanding the documents required
- Explaining the collection process
- Providing the cost details
Once your requirements are clear, you can proceed to get your documents apostilled for Italy hassle-free.
Contact us today to start your apostille process or fill out our inquiry form with your complete document details.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What if my passport name and other documents’ names do not match?
In case of major differences in name, we recommend that the name be made consistent with your passport. You can either change the name in your documents or update your passport, whichever is faster, to avoid any delays or issues. The shortest and most convenient solution for Italy is to obtain a “One and the Same Name Certificate” and have it apostilled by ND Universal. This certificate officially confirms that all your documents and passport belong to the same individual.