Sworn Translation in Italy: How It Works and When You Need One

A sworn translation (traduzione giurata, or asseverata) is a translation whose author swears before an Italian court clerk, a justice of the peace or a notary that it faithfully reproduces the original; the official records the oath in a report (verbale di giuramento) that is bound to the translation and the source document. It is the only form of translation Italian public offices accept for foreign documents, and the form most foreign authorities accept for Italian documents, usually completed with an apostille. A simple certified translation, in which the translator signs a statement of accuracy without any public official, is not the same thing and is often refused in Italy.

Alfredo Esposito International Law Firm arranges sworn translations and legalisations for clients abroad as part of our apostille and document service. This guide explains how the procedure works, what it costs, and in which situations a sworn translation is required.

Three terms that are often confused

• Certified translation (traduzione certificata): the translator attaches a signed declaration of accuracy. No public official is involved. Accepted by many authorities in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada; generally not accepted by Italian courts, municipalities, notaries or the tax authority
• Sworn translation (traduzione giurata or asseverata): the translator swears the translation before a court clerk, a justice of the peace or a notary, who draws up the oath report. Required for foreign documents used in Italy, and accepted abroad
• Legalised translation (traduzione legalizzata): a sworn translation to which an apostille or consular legalisation has been added so that it can be used in another country. The apostille certifies the signature of the Italian official who received the oath

Who can make a sworn translation

Italy has no national register of sworn translators comparable to those of Spain or Germany. Any person with sufficient knowledge of both languages may swear a translation and takes personal criminal responsibility for its accuracy (article 483 of the Criminal Code on false declarations to a public official). Two limits apply in practice: the interested party cannot translate his or her own documents, and many courts require the translator to be enrolled in the court’s register of technical consultants or in the chamber of commerce roll of experts. The quality of a sworn translation therefore depends on the translator you choose, not on the oath itself, which is why we work with translators who specialise in legal and civil status documents.

The procedure

The translation is printed and bound together with the original document, or with a certified copy where the original cannot be given up, and with the oath report. The translator attends the asseverazioni office of the court, signs the report before the clerk and the clerk stamps and signs it. Stamp duty of 16 euro is due for every four pages of translation, counted on the translation and the report together, with exemptions for a few uses such as adoption procedures. Appointments at the larger courts may need to be booked some days in advance. Once sworn, the translation cannot be corrected; an error means repeating the whole procedure.

Two alternatives exist for documents produced abroad for Italy. Italian consulates can certify that a translation conforms to the original (traduzione conforme), which Italian authorities accept in the same way as a sworn translation, though consular timelines are long. And for several public documents circulating between EU member states, including birth, marriage, death and criminal record certificates, Regulation 2016/1191 allows a multilingual standard form to be attached that removes the need for any translation.

When a sworn translation is required

Foreign documents used in Italy

• Birth, marriage and death certificates for successions, marriages and citizenship applications
• Powers of attorney signed abroad and used before an Italian notary or court; see our guide to powers of attorney in Italy
• Foreign judgments and divorce decrees to be recognised or recorded in Italy
• Academic qualifications for recognition, and criminal record certificates from your country for residence permits or citizenship
• Company documents filed with the Registro delle Imprese
• Driving licences and vehicle documents in conversion procedures

Italian documents used abroad

• Criminal record certificates for immigration, work or citizenship applications: see our guide to the casellario and carichi pendenti certificates
• Civil status certificates, where the multilingual form is not accepted
• Notarial deeds, judgments and inheritance documents

Some foreign authorities accept a certified translation for Italian documents, including the United States immigration authorities, which require the translator’s certification of competence and accuracy. Many clients nevertheless choose a sworn and apostilled translation because it is accepted by every office without discussion.

Apostille: on the document, on the translation, or both

The apostille certifies a signature, so it must be placed on each document bearing an Italian official signature. An Italian certificate for use abroad is apostilled at the Prefettura if it is an administrative document or at the Procura della Repubblica if it is a judicial or notarial one; the sworn translation, which bears the court clerk’s signature, is then apostilled at the Procura. The order matters: apostille the original first, then translate (so that the translation includes the apostille), then swear the translation, then apostille the translation. For a foreign document coming into Italy, the apostille is obtained in the country of origin before the translation is made, and the translation covers the apostille as well. Our guides on the apostille in Italy and on getting an apostille from abroad explain the two offices.

Costs and timing

A sworn translation is priced on the length of the text, plus the translator’s fee for attending the court and the stamp duty. In our experience a one or two page certificate from or into English or Spanish, sworn and ready for apostille, is completed in two to five working days; longer documents, rare languages and courts with long appointment waits add time. Where the translation also needs an apostille, allow a further few days at the Procura. Courier delivery abroad is added at cost.

Working from abroad

You send us a scan of the document; if the original is needed for the oath (it is for apostilled originals), it is sent by courier or, for Italian documents, obtained directly by our office. We select the translator, handle the oath and the apostille, and send the bound set to you or directly to the receiving office. If you are unsure whether the authority you are dealing with wants a sworn translation, a certified one or the multilingual form, send us their instructions and we will tell you, so you do not pay for a step you do not need. Contact us, book a 15-minute call or write on WhatsApp.