Do I need to transcribe the birth certificate if I am a foreign national resident in Italy?

Not always. For many administrative procedures in Italy it is sufficient to present the original apostilled and translated birth certificate without formal transcription. Transcription in the Italian registry becomes necessary when applying for Italian citizenship, marrying in Italy, or registering children in the Italian registry.

My child was born abroad to Italian parents. How do I register them in the Italian registry?

Submit the apostilled and translated birth certificate to the Italian Consulate in the country of birth within 90 days of birth (for foreign birth declaration) or directly to the Italian Municipality where the parents are registered. Italian citizenship is transmitted automatically (iure sanguinis) and only needs to be formalised with transcription.

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Transcription of a foreign birth certificate in Italy

Italian citizens born abroad and foreign nationals who apply for Italian documents (citizenship, marriage, etc.) often need to have their foreign birth certificate transcribed in the Italian Civil Registry records. Transcription can be done through the Italian Consulate in the country of birth or directly at the municipality of residence in Italy.

Authority

Comune di competenza — Ufficio Stato Civile / Consolato italiano

Time

30 min

Updated

May 2026

What you need

✓Original birth certificate from the foreign country
✓Apostille (for countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention) or consular legalisation
✓Sworn translation into Italian (by a sworn translator or Court Registry)
✓Passport or identity document of the applicant
✓Any extract from the Italian municipal birth record (for children of Italians abroad)

Step-by-step procedure

Check if you need an apostille or consular legalisation

Countries party to the Hague Convention (apostille): most European countries, USA, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and many others. The apostille is affixed by the authority of the issuing country (in Italy: the Prefecture). Non-party countries (consular legalisation): the document must first be stamped by the Foreign Ministry of the issuing country, then by the Italian Consulate in that country. Check the updated list of party countries on hcch.net.

Some countries have bilateral agreements with Italy that exempt from the apostille: check case by case.

Obtain a sworn translation

The document must be translated into Italian by: a sworn translator registered with the Court registry, or directly by the Court Registry itself (for certain languages and upon request). The sworn (asseverated) translation is stamped and signed by the Court. Some Italian Consulates abroad offer translation services for certain countries.

Request transcription: via consulate or municipality

Via Consulate (if you are abroad or the document belongs to an Italian citizen born abroad): submit the apostilled and translated document to the Italian Consulate in the country of origin. The Consulate will forward the request to the Municipality where the citizen is registered (or to the Municipality of Rome for those without an Italian registry entry). Via Municipality in Italy: if already resident in Italy, submit the documentation to your Municipality's Civil Registry Office with a transcription request. Processing times range from 1 to 6 months.

Once transcribed, the birth certificate enters the Italian Civil Registry and you can request extracts and certificates like any Italian citizen.

📄

Ministero dell'Interno — Stato Civile

Comune di competenza — Ufficio Stato Civile

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Frequently asked questions

Responsible authority

Authority

Comune di competenza — Ufficio Stato Civile / Consolato italiano

Phone

Certified email

Website

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The information in this guide is for orientation only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always verify on the official portal of the responsible authority.