Notarial Services

A U.S. Consul acts as a Notary Public abroad, notarizing affidavits, powers of attorney, acknowledgments and other legal documents to be used in the U.S. only. The signature of a U.S. Consul is not recognized in Italy, and has no legal validity outside the United States, with the exception of the Nulla Osta for marriages (see the "Getting Married" webpage). Documents to be notarized must be written in English. You may have a lawyer prepare these documents for you or you may prepare them yourself, downloading the attached samples. If you decide to use one of these samples, please fill it out in advance, but do not sign it until you are in front of the American Consul. In addition, do not complete the bottom part related to the American Consul who will notarize the document.

If you need an affidavit or sworn statement under your signature to be notarized, you can download and use this model: Affidavit
If you need an affidavit of translation of another document, you can download and use this model: Affidavit of Translation
If you need a Power of Attorney, you can download and use this model: Power of Attorney
If you need a certified copy of your passport, bring in the passport and a photocopy of the biographic information page.

Please note that the U.S. Embassy and Consulates do not provide a service for certifying true copies of original documents including translations of academic credentials, college transcripts or diplomas.

NOTE: Adobe Reader software is required to view these items. You can download it from the Adobe website.

Notarial services are performed only by appointment.

To schedule a notarial appointment in Rome, click here
To schedule a notarial appointment in Naples, click here
To schedule a notarial appointment in Florence, click here
To schedule a notarial appointment in Milan, click here

Please be sure to make an individual appointment for each person signing documents.

Please bring:

A valid passport or any other for of ID issued by a government agency
$30.00 or the equivalent in Euro for the first signature/seal; $20.00 for each additional signature/seal provided at the same time in connection with the same transaction. Major credit cards are accepted.
If your document requires witnesses, please bring them at the time of signature.
Consular officers and staff are prohibited from witnessing documents.

HAGUE APOSTILLE CONVENTION OF 1961

Official documents that are issued in a Country and must be used abroad (e.g. an American birth certificate to be used in Italy) need to be legalized or "authenticated" by the appropriate authorities in the originating Country to prove that the document was issued by a competent official and that is genuine and not fraudulent.

Since the U.S. and Italy are part of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, both Countries will accept an Apostille stamp on the certificate or official document concerned, as proof of legalization.

Apostille stamps on documents originating in a U.S. State will be placed by the respective Secretary of State. To find the addresses of Secretaries of State and more detailed instructions on the procedure to follow, please click on the following useful links:

What is an Apostille Apostille
Where to get an Apostille in the U.S. Authentication
Where to get an Apostille from the Department of State Office of Authentication Apostille stamps on documents originating in Italy will be placed by:

Prefettura, Legalization Office for vital statistics records (i.e. Birth, Death, Marriage certificates) A complete list of Prefettura offices is available at Prefettura offices in Italy

OR

Procura della Repubblica (Tribunal), Legalization Office for judicial certificates and documents signed by an Italian notary public (i.e. criminal records, divorce decrees, last will and testaments) . A complete list of Procure della Repubblica offices is available at Procure della Repubblica presso I Tribunali.

Informazioni in lingua italiana

Se Lei ha un documento italiano da legalizzare per uso all'estero, ai sensi della Convenzione dell’Aja del 1961 che abolisce la legalizzazione di Atti Pubblici Stranieri, deve rivolgersi unicamente alle Autorità competenti per l'apposizione dell’Apostille.

Le Autorita’ Italiane competenti al rilascio della Apostille sono:

Prefettura, ufficio legalizzazioni per documenti Amministrativi (per certificati di nascita, morte, matrimonio etc.) Uffici delle Prefetture in Italia,.

oppure
Procura della Republlica - Tribunale, (per certificati penali, divorzio, atti notarili, testamenti, etc.) Uffici delle Procure della Repubblica presso i Tribunali in Italia.

Documenti italiani a cui e’ stato apposto il timbro dell’Apostille, da usare negli U.S.A., non necessitano di alcuna altra legalizzazione da parte del Console Americano. Onde evitare di dover tradurre I certificati in Inglese, si consiglia di richiedere detti certificati in versione plurilingue.

L’autorità americana competente ad apporre l’Apostille, su documenti emessi negli USA e da usare in Italia è l’ufficio del Secretario di Stato dello Stato dove il documento è stato emesso.