Italian Translation of U.S. Documents for Italian Citizenship
Birth, marriage, death and naturalization records: apostille, Italian translation and what the consulate certifies
In short: Italian consulates in the U.S. want U.S. vital records apostilled by the issuing state and translated into Italian. The Italian Consulate General in Chicago says the translation can be made by anyone who writes correct Italian, that the consulate certifies it, and that the apostille itself should not be translated. We prepare complete Italian translations and apostille Illinois records.
First: check you are still eligible
Italy changed its citizenship law in 2025. Law 74/2025, in force since May 24, 2025, says a person born abroad who holds another citizenship is generally considered never to have acquired Italian citizenship, with exceptions. The Chicago consulate lists three: an application or confirmed appointment dated on or before March 27, 2025; a parent or grandparent who holds, or held at death, only Italian citizenship; or a parent who lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years after becoming Italian and before the child's birth or adoption. Confirm your case with your consulate or an Italian-citizenship lawyer before you pay for apostilles and translations.
Which documents usually need translating
- U.S. birth certificates for each person in the line after the Italian ancestor
- Marriage certificates, and divorce decrees where they apply
- Death certificates
- Naturalization records, or proof that the ancestor never naturalized
Consulates want originals or certified copies; the Chicago consulate says photocopies are not accepted. Your consulate's own checklist is the final word.
What the consulate says about translations
The Italian Consulate General in Chicago states that for U.S. vital records the translation “can be done by anyone who can correctly write in Italian,” and that the consulate certifies the translation's conformity with the original. It must be complete and accurate; if it isn't, the consulate can't certify it. The consulate does not translate documents itself. Other Italian consulates in the U.S. may word this differently, so check yours.
Apostille first, and the apostille is not translated
Each U.S. record is apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state that issued it. The Chicago consulate's guidance is that the apostille should not be translated, only the record. We apostille Illinois-issued records through our Illinois apostille service. Records from other states are apostilled by that state; we can still translate them.
How we handle a citizenship file
- Send scans of every record. We quote the whole file at once.
- We apostille your Illinois records if you need them done.
- We translate each record into Italian, checking every name, date and place against the original, because a single spelling difference can stall a file.
- You receive a bound set per record with our certificate, ready for the consulate.
Why people choose Efficient Biometrics for documents going abroad
- Translation, notary and apostille in one order. We translate, have our certificate signed before an Illinois notary, and take it to the Illinois Secretary of State for the apostille. One order, one point of contact.
- Certificates anyone can verify. Every Certificate of Translation Accuracy carries a QR code and a unique reference and code. Scanning it opens our verification page, which confirms the certificate is genuine and how many pages it covers, without showing any personal details.
- Tamper-evident paper sets. Certificate, source copy and translation are bound together, initialled on every page and sealed with a serial-numbered tamper-evident sticker.
- Honest answers on sworn translations. If your country only accepts its own sworn translators, we tell you up front rather than sell you a translation that will be refused.
- A real office. 682 Illinois Route 59, Naperville, with an in-house notary and our own apostille service. Call or text 847-436-5222 before walking in.
- Careful with your documents. Uploads are encrypted, never sent by email, and deleted 90 days after delivery.
Get a quote
Upload a clear scan or phone photo through our secure quote form and tell us the destination country. We confirm what that country needs and quote before any work begins. Certified translation starts from $45 per page, including our signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy. A page is up to about 250 words; dense or technical documents may be quoted higher. Standard turnaround is 48 hours, with rush as quick as 12 hours. Notarization, Illinois apostille and sworn translations are quoted with your order. Questions? Call or text 847-436-5222.
Requirements change and can differ by consulate, office and purpose. This guide reflects what official sources said when we last reviewed it (October 2026); always confirm with the office that will receive your documents. Our certificate attests to the accuracy of the translation, not to the authenticity of the original document. This is general information, not legal advice.
Related guides
- Can a U.S. translation be used abroad? Requirements by country
- Apostille before or after translation?
- Certified vs. notarized vs. sworn translation
- Can a translation be apostilled?
- Do I need to translate the apostille?
- Certified translation service
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can translate U.S. records for an Italian citizenship application?
The Italian Consulate General in Chicago says U.S. vital records can be translated by anyone who can correctly write in Italian, and the consulate certifies the translation. Other consulates may differ, so check yours.
Do I translate the apostille for Italy?
According to the Italian Consulate General in Chicago, no. The apostille should not be translated, only the record itself.
Am I still eligible for Italian citizenship by descent after the 2025 law?
Possibly. Law 74/2025, in force since May 24, 2025, restricts citizenship for people born abroad who hold another citizenship, with exceptions such as applications filed by March 27, 2025. Confirm your case with your consulate or a lawyer before ordering documents.
Can you apostille records from another state?
No. Each state apostilles its own records. We apostille Illinois records and can translate records from any state.