Italy Guide
Apostille & Notary Certification Translation
The apostille and the notary certification are the two basic steps that give Turkish official documents international validity for Italy. This page explains how the apostille/notary certification combines with the sworn translation, and the correct order.
2 min read Updated: 19.07.2026
What are the apostille and the notary certification?
The apostille is the annotation that certifies the authenticity of an official document between countries party to the Hague Convention; Italy is a party. The notary certification is the certification of the document/translation before a notary. Together, they make the document officially accepted in Italy.
Why are they needed in Italian procedures?
Italian universities, consulates and official authorities generally want Turkish documents together with an apostille and a sworn translation. The apostille secures the document’s source, the sworn translation the accuracy of the content; the notary certification lends the translation officiality.
Where and how do you get them?
The apostille authority varies by document: the Governorate/District Governorate for registry/administrative documents, the courthouse (Justice Commission/Prosecutor’s Office) for judicial documents, and the relevant District/Provincial Governorate for notary documents. Identifying the right authority is the process’s most critical step.
The apostille and sworn-translation process
The correct order is generally this: take the document, have it apostilled, then have the notarised sworn Italian translation made from the apostilled version. So the apostille annotation is included in the translation too. Some procedures can want a second certification after the translation; confirm the applying authority’s order preference.
What to watch in the sworn translation
The most common mistakes are choosing the wrong apostille authority (taking a judicial document to the governorate, say) and confusing the order of apostille and translation. The right authority and order by document type must be planned from the start.
Our Ankara Kızılay-based office runs the apostille tracking and the notarised sworn Italian translation of your document end to end — no need to visit the office, by courier and e-document. For an exact price, take a free quote from the box on the right.
Frequently asked questions
Apostille first, or translation first?
In most Italian procedures the apostille comes first, then the sworn translation from the apostilled version — so the apostille annotation is included in the translation.
Where do I get the apostille?
It varies by document type: administrative/registry documents at the Governorate/District Governorate, judicial documents at the courthouse, notary documents at the District/Provincial Governorate.
Are notary certification and apostille the same thing?
No; the notary certification certifies the document/translation before a notary, while the apostille is a separate annotation giving the document international validity.
Document formats, apostille/certification authorities and application requirements can change over time. Before starting the process, verify the relevant consulate’s or institution’s current requirements from the official source.