In brief
For citizenship, marriage and study in Italy, Russian documents need an apostille and a translation into Italian. Prefectures accept a translation sworn (asseverazione) at an Italian court, a translation certified by the Italian consulate, or a translation made in Russia with an apostille on the notary’s signature. A criminal record certificate for citizenship must be no more than 6 months old. We obtain the documents without you travelling, apostille them, translate them in the required form and send the originals to Italy.
Which Russian documents are most often needed in Italy
- Criminal record certificate — for citizenship by residence and by marriage.
- Civil registry (ZAGS) certificates — birth, marriage, divorce and change of name; for citizenship, marriage and registering children.
- Certificate of no marriage record — to get married in Italy.
- School-leaving certificate, diploma, academic transcript — for study and work, usually together with a Dichiarazione di Valore.
Apostille
Italy and Russia are both parties to the 1961 Hague Convention, so a Russian document gets an apostille instead of consular legalisation. Only a Russian authority can issue it: the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) for a criminal record certificate, the civil registry office (ZAGS) of the region that issued the document for a civil registry certificate, and the education authority for a diploma. We do this for you.
Translation into Italian
For citizenship, the prefecture accepts a translation in one of four forms (see the questions below for details). We offer:
- a translation made in Russia by a translator whose signature is notarised, with an apostille on the notarisation — the document is fully ready to submit when it reaches you;
- a translation certified at the Consulate of Italy in Moscow — by a translator accredited at the Consulate of Italy;
- a translation with asseverazione in Italy — by an Italian translator who swears the translation at a court.
Which form suits you better depends on the procedure and on your comune or prefecture. We will advise you before you order.
How long documents remain valid
| Document | Purpose | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record certificate | Citizenship by residence | no more than 6 months old on the date you apply |
| Birth certificate | Citizenship | no time limit |
| Criminal record certificate | Residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) | not required |
Prices
- Criminal record certificate with apostille: from €115 — turnaround times and prices.
- Duplicate ZAGS certificate: from €65; apostille from the Moscow ZAGS: €60.
- Translation certified at the Italian consulate or with asseverazione: from €60 for a standard one-page document.
- Apostille on a diploma or school-leaving certificate: €95.
The state fee for the apostille is included in the price. Delivery of the originals to Italy is charged at the courier’s rate. Euro prices are based on the Bank of Russia exchange rate on 22.10.2026.
Documents from other former USSR countries
If your document was issued in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus or another former Soviet republic, the apostille is issued in that country. We obtain duplicates and apostilles there too — find out more.
Reviews from our team’s clients (in Russian)
Хочу поблагодарить Даяну Перич за четкость и незамедлительность ответов при выполнении работы по получению, легализации и переводу справки о несудимости и отправки в Италию. Однозначно рекомендую эту компанию тем, кому надо легализовать какие-то документы, находясь за пределами РФ.
Благодарю, Даяна.
Я живу в Италии и для гражданства мне нужны были срочно документы с легализацией и апостилем, никак не могла выбраться сама из-за работы и нашла это агентство! Мне сразу же в этот же вечер ответила менеджер Юлия и проинструктировала по поводу каждого вопроса, быстро понятно и эффективно. Взялась за работу в этот же момент и сегодня, спустя короткое время, все документы уже готовы! Я успела по срокам! Я безмерно благодарна Юлие за поддержку и такую качетвенную и быструю работу, это очень редко и ценно!!
Отличная компания! Перевод аттестата на итальянский, апостиль и Dichiarazione di Valore сделали быстро и в срок, без личного присутствия и лишних хлопот. Все четко, профессионально и без нервов. Рекомендую!
Reviews left on Google Maps by clients of our team whose orders we completed. The texts are quoted unchanged; names are shortened.
Frequently asked questions
Which translation will the prefecture accept for citizenship?
The prefecture’s guidance note lists four options: a translation certified by the Italian consulate in the country of issue; a translation made in Russia under local rules, with an apostille on the notary’s signature; a translation made at the consulate of the issuing country in Italy; a sworn translation (asseverazione) at an Italian court. Applicants cannot translate their own documents for asseverazione.
Do I need a criminal record certificate for a residence permit in Italy?
According to the European Migration Network (January 2026), a foreign certificate is not required for a permesso di soggiorno: Italy checks its own databases. The certificate is required for citizenship — from your country of origin and no more than 6 months old on the date you apply.
What is a Dichiarazione di Valore and do I need one?
It is a statement issued by the Italian consulate about your diploma or school-leaving certificate. It is not the same as recognition of the diploma, but universities and employers often ask for it. To get one, you need an apostille on the original education document and a translation into Italian.
Sources
- Prefettura — Avvertenze sulla documentazione per la cittadinanza per residenza (PDF) — checked 22.10.2026
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Traduzione e legalizzazione documenti — checked 22.10.2026
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Riconoscimento titoli di studio (Dichiarazione di Valore) — checked 22.10.2026
- EMN Ad-Hoc Query 2025.68 — Criminal record certificates (January 2026) — checked 22.10.2026
- HCCH — Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention — checked 22.10.2026
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements may differ between authorities: please confirm them before you submit your documents. Legal notice