Certified Translations
for Italian Citizenship
Which records need an Italian translation, what a certified translation must include, and how consulate and court rules differ.
Last updated: November 7, 2026
Short answer (as of November 2026)
Every U.S. birth, marriage and death record in your line needs an Italian translation, done by a professional translator who signs a statement that it is accurate and complete. Consulates set their own rules for how translations are certified and whether other records need one, so check your consulate's checklist first. For court cases, translations are usually sworn in Italy and arranged by your Italian lawyer.
- Always translated: birth, marriage, death and divorce records in the line
- Sometimes translated: naturalization records and other documents, depending on your consulate
- Order of work: certified copy, then apostille, then translation
- Machine or amateur translations are rejected
Which documents need a translation
| Document | Consulate route | Court route |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. birth, marriage, death and divorce records | Italian translation required | Italian translation required, usually sworn in Italy |
| Naturalization records and certificates of non-existence | Depends on your consulate’s checklist | Usually translated |
| Italian records (birth, marriage) | Already in Italian: no translation | Already in Italian: no translation |
| Name or date amendments, court orders | Translated with the record they correct | Translated |
Check the official checklist for your consulate before you pay for translations. Links to every U.S. consulate's page are in our documents checklist.
What a certified translation must include
- A complete Italian translation of the whole document, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes
- The translator's signed statement that the translation is complete and accurate
- The translator's name, contact details and, where available, professional credentials
- A clear link to the source document, usually attached behind the translation
Some consulates require more, for example a notarized translator statement or a specific declaration form. Your consulate's checklist says which.
The right order: certified copy, apostille, translation
- Order a certified copy from the vital records office, in the long form your consulate asks for.
- Get the apostille from the Secretary of State of the state that issued it. See apostilles for Italian citizenship.
- Translate last, so the translator works from the final document, apostille included, if your consulate wants the apostille translated too.
Consulate vs court translations
For the consulate route, a professional translator in the United States can usually do the work, following your consulate's rules. For the court route, translations are usually sworn (asseverate) before an Italian court office or certified in the way the court requires. If you go to court with Citizenship Italia, your Italian lawyer's team arranges this.
What translations cost
| Option | Typical cost | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Professional translator in the U.S. (one vital record) | $20 to $50 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Citizenship Italia | $80 per document, up to 4 pages | Prepared with your file |
| Sworn translation in Italy (court cases) | €50 to €150 per document | 2 to 4 weeks |
A typical family file has two records per generation, so a four-generation consulate case usually needs 6 to 10 translations. See every fee on our pricing page.
Not sure which documents to translate?
We match your file to your consulate's current checklist before anything is translated.
Sources
- Italian Foreign Ministry: citizenship
- Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles: citizenship by descent
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and consulate practice change; check the official sources or ask us before acting.
Questions about certified translations
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Documents
Documents Checklist 2026
Every document you need, by route, with official consulate links.