Type of Translations

1. A regular translation is an unofficial translation which does not have legal value, signatures or stamps. Regular translations are accepted by a consulate if the language of the original document is the same as the one spoken officially in the country where the consulate is located. Consulates usually accept simple translations and if they are accurate, they certify them by stamping them. Most individuals applying in the U.S.A., for example, only need simple translations.

2. Certified translations have a separate page stating that the translation was carried out by a professional translator who declared that the translation is accurate.

3. Apostilled translations are certified translations which bear an Apostille seal and thus are officially recognized by any Italian authority abroad. The translations are attached to a written statement – an oath that the translator signs before a Notary stating that he/she is legally responsible for the accuracy of the translation. The certification will be both in English and Italian, and it will be signed by the translator and bear the notary’s stamp, which allows the document to be legalized with an Apostille. Some Italian consulates – such as the one in New York- require the translation of court records to be certified. On the other hand, the consulate in Boston requires an Apostille on all the translations of the vital records submitted.

4. As mentioned above, some consulates can also certify translations. The process of legalizing a translation varies from consulate to consulate; the information regarding the consulate’s policy with regard to translating vital records can be found on the consulate’s website. The consulate’s cost for the service varies every three months. If you need the consulate to certify the translation of your records you will need to provide the documents together with a self-addressed stamped envelope. The consulate will staple the translation to the original record and affix a stamp on it. Translations which are legalized by a consulate are usually accepted by the Municipality of Rome, for instance. It is worth pointing out that when you submit documents issued by a foreign country, you will also need to provide the Italian authority processing your application with the consulate’s legalized translations unless that country which issued the vital record is a signatory of The Hague convention. It is advisable to check the requirements regarding translations on the website of the consulate to which you are applying. Some consulates, for instance, will only legalize a translation if you use a translator from their list, or someone who is located in the country from which you retrieved the record.

5. Translations can also be certified in court in Italy. The translator needs to appear before the court and swear that the translation is accurate and that it reflects the original content. A revenue stamp must be affixed every four pages. If you have a 1948 case, it is customary to provide the court to which you are applying with translations which were sworn before a court official (in the court where the translator usually operates). Alternatively, a translator can appear before an Italian notary and swear that the translation is faithful and accurate. Due to the number of revenue stamps that might be needed to certify the translations, this method may be rather costly.
On a side note, a translator might also be able to swear that a translation is accurate before a clerk in the municipality where an individual is applying.