Documents to Bring When You Move to Italy: The Complete Checklist
Moving to Italy means paperwork, and a lot of it has to come from home. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, school records: Italian offices will ask for them, often with official stamps and translations. Getting them while you're still in your home country is far easier than ordering them by mail from Italy.
This checklist covers the documents most people need, which ones need an apostille or a translation, and the order to do it all in so you don't pay twice.
A quick note: Exactly which documents you need depends on your situation (your visa, whether you're married, whether you have kids or pets). Use this list as your starting point, then check the requirements for your specific route.
The Checklist
Document | Who needs it? | Notes | Needs apostille? | Needs 🇮🇹 translation? |
Passport | Everyone | Minimum of 1 year validity left | No | No |
Birth certificate | Everyone | Long form version | Yes | Yes |
Marriage certificate | Anyone entering Italy as a married person | Birthdates need to be on the certificate | Yes | Yes |
Marriage license application | Anyone without birthdates listed on the marriage certificate | Unnecessary if birthdates are on the marriage certificate | Yes | Yes |
Divorce decree and statement of no appeal | Anyone who has ever been divorced | Yes | Yes | |
One and the Same (OATS) declaration | Anyone whose name has changed, e.g. after taking a spouse's name | Ties all your names together. Signed in front of a notary | Yes | Yes |
Adoption records | Anyone with an adoption not reflected on their birth certificate | Yes | Yes | |
Driver's license | Anyone with a driver's license | No | No | |
International driver's permit | Anyone with a driver's license not transferable to Italy | No | No | |
Immunization records | Everyone | No | No | |
Medical records | Anyone with ongoing medical conditions | No | No | |
Prescriptions | Anyone with recurring prescription medications | No | No | |
School completion certificates, diplomas or degrees | Anyone planning to attend any level of school or attain a job contract in Italy | No | No | |
School transcripts | Anyone planning to attend any level of school in Italy | No | No | |
Pet rabies records | Each pet | No | No | |
Pet health certificate | Each pet | No | No | |
Pet microchip records | Each pet | No | No | |
Italian language certificate | If you have passed an official Italian language exam | No | No | |
Federal and state background checks | Spouses of Italian citizens ready to apply for citizenship as soon as they arrive | Only get these before you move if you already have your B1 certificate and have been married long enough to apply. They must be dated within 6 months of applying. | Yes | Yes |
Tip: Get 2-3 certified copies of every important certificate. Italian offices sometimes keep the original, and you'll likely need it again.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an official certificate attached to a document that proves it's genuine, so another country will accept it. Italy, the US, the UK, Canada and Australia all belong to the treaty that created it (the 1961 Hague Convention), so an apostille is all you need, with no extra embassy stamps.
Who issues apostilles:
Country | Who issues it |
United States | State documents (birth, marriage, divorce certificates): the Secretary of State of the state that issued the document. Born in Ohio but living in Texas? It goes to Ohio. Federal documents (like the FBI background check): the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications |
United Kingdom | The Legalisation Office (part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). You apply online, then post your documents. Some documents must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary first |
Canada | Canada has issued apostilles only since January 2024. Documents from Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec or Saskatchewan: that province's own office. Federal documents and documents from the other provinces and territories: Global Affairs Canada |
Australia | The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through Australian Passport Offices in the capital cities |
Do you need translations?
Many documents need an Italian translation, and not just any translation: an Italian court approved translation. There are many companies online offering translations that are called "official" but only have an Italian notary (notaio) stamp. A notary stamp is not an approved translation. We wrote about the most common mistakes in Translation SCAM ALERT.
The order matters
Order certified copies of your certificates.
Get an apostille for each certificate.
Lastly, translate the document and its apostille together.
Translate first, and you'll pay twice: the apostille has to be translated too.
Want this checklist on your fridge?
Get our free printable Moving to Italy: Documents Checklist. It has a tick box for every step (in progress, received, apostille, translated), who issues apostilles in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and space for your notes.
Frequently asked questions
Does my passport need an apostille?
No. Passports are accepted as they are. Just make sure yours stays valid for your whole stay.
Can I get an apostille after I move to Italy?
Yes, but it has to come from the country that issued the document, so you'll be dealing with offices back home by mail. It's much easier to do before you go.
Does every document need a translation?
Most official certificates do. Your passport, driver's license, International Driving Permit, medical records and school records don't.
How far ahead should I start?
Ordering certificates and apostilles can take several weeks, so start a few months before your move.
Do I need my codice fiscale before I move?
Not always, but it helps. See What Is a Codice Fiscale and Why Do You Need One in Italy? and try our free codice fiscale calculator.
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