Italian birth certificate: how to request it in Italy

You need an Italian birth certificate and do not know how to request it.

No worries, in this guide we will explain, step-by-step, how to obtain a birth certificate in Italy.

Before we begin, let’s get a clear understanding of what it is and what information is included in this document. The Italian birth certificate is a document that declares the birth of a person on Italian territory.

In Italy, various forms of birth certificates can be provided, as is explained below:

• Italian birth certificate, includes basic information like: name, surname, date of birth and place of birth;
• extract of birth, besides the information included in a simple birth certificate, this includes the names of the parents and any annotations, like marital status;
• multilingual extract of Italian birth certificate, it is an extract of birth translated in 10 languages, provided in accordance with the 1976 Hague Convention of Vienna;
• long copy or act of Italian birth certificate, it is the most complete document, because it an integral copy of the entry of the birth registry.

What information do you need to request an Italian birth certificate in Italy?

The name and surname of the person, the city of birth and the date of birth. Often people only know the year of birth, especially for certificates dated late ‘800 or early ‘900. In such cases, the name of the parents is fundamental in the search for the birth certificate.

Where do you request an Italian birth certificate?

Birth certificates in Italy are provided by the municipal registrar’s office of the city where the person was born and/or where the birth was registered. If you do not know the city of birth and/or where the birth was registered, it is basically impossible to find it.

What form should an Italian birth certificate have to be deemed valid in a foreign country? 

For countries that have adhered to the 1976 Hague Convention of Vienna, the Italian birth certificate needs to be in multilingual form, it must be signed and sealed. It must be a paper certified copy. Digital copies are not accepted. 

For countries that adhered to the 1961 Hague Convention. the Italian birth certificate, provided by the registrar’s office, must be apostilled by the Prefecture office, which is located in the major cities of each province. The document must be a paper certified copy in this case as well. Digital copies are not accepted.

In all other cases, the Italian birth certificates must be legalised, following ordinary procedure.

How long does it take to receive an Italian birth certificate?

Usually within 30 days, except for certificates dating late ‘800, which usually take a bit longer.

The largest problem when requesting a birth certificate in Italy is that it is not always possible to have the documents mailed to foreign countries.

Important: Italian birth registries usually only go back to 1871. If you are not able to find the birth certificate, you can try to find a certificate of baptism.

Now that you have a clear idea, you can begin your search.

If you have any doubts or need help with more complicated searches of Italian birth certificate, please contact us to receive a consultation from an Italian lawyer specialised in Italian citizenship.