U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy

Overview

Notarial services are for all nationalities and are by appointment only. Normally the document to be notarized is for use within the United States, although there may be exceptions. If you have multiple documents to be notarized, you should only make one appointment. You will pay $50 USD, at the Embassy or Consulate on your day of appointment, for each notary seal required.

On the day of your appointment, you must:

• Bring the complete, unsigned documents to be notarized. Even if there are pages that do not require signature or seals, you must present the entire packet.
• Present a valid government-issued ID such as a passport or driver’s license. The name on the documents must be the same as the name on your ID.
• Pay $50 USD per notary seal.
• For notarials at the Embassy in Rome: The Embassy is suspending in-person payments at the consular cashier. On the day of your appointment, staff will direct you to pay via the government’s website using a debit or credit card (physical or digital).
• For notarials at the Consulates in Milan, Florence, or Naples: in person payment is accepted at the consular cashier.
• Be of sound mind and understand the document you want notarized. Consular staff is not permitted to explain contents to you.
• If your notary service requires a witness, you must arrange for your own witnesses. Consular staff cannot witness your documents.

Examples of Notarial Services Performed At No Charge

DS-3053: To notarize a DS-3053 Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport To a Minor Under Age 16 (PDF, 345K), please review the instructions listed on the form, the information fields that must be completed, and bring your original, valid, government-issued photo ID as well as a photocopy of both sides. As the U.S. Department of State requires that this form be notarized, this service is performed free of charge.

Power of Attorney (in conjunction with U.S. passport applications): When both parents are unable to be personally present to apply for a minor’s U.S. passport, and they wish to designate a third party to do so, they may sign a power of attorney (POA) before a notary public. This POA must contain specific data fields; see a sample.  Note that photocopies of both sides of each parents’ original, valid, government-issued photo ID must be included with the POA. As the U.S. Department of State requires that this form be notarized, this service is performed free of charge.

At the Direct Request of a U.S. Municipal, State or Federal Entity

At the Direct Request of a Foreign Government

A U.S. Consul acts as a Notary Public abroad for documents presented in the United States, notarizing affidavits, powers of attorney, acknowledgments and other legal documents to be used in the U.S. only. With the exception of the Nulla Osta for marriages (see the Getting Married in Italy? webpage) a U.S. notary has no affect in Italy. Documents to be notarized must be written in English. You may have a lawyer prepare these documents for you or you may prepare them yourself by downloading samples available on-line. Do not sign any document until you are in front of the American Consul. In addition, do not complete the bottom part related to the American Consul who will notarize the document.

• If you need an affidavit or sworn statement under your signature to be notarized, you can download and use this model: Affidavit (.pdf)
• If you need an affidavit of translation of another document, you can download and use this model: Affidavit of Translation (.pdf)
• If you need a Power of Attorney, you can download and use this model: Power of Attorney (.pdf)
• If you need a certified copy of your passport, bring in the passport and a photocopy of the biographic information page.

Please note:

• The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit does not provide a service for certifying true copies of original documents including translations of academic credentials, college transcripts or diplomas.
• The ACS Unit cannot assemble your documents for you or provide legal advice on their use.   Please bring your documents fully assembled and ready for notarization.
• The ACS Unit staff cannot serve as witnesses, so if your document requires witnesses, please ensure that you come to your appointment with your own (along with their proof of identity). Please send an e-mail to the appropriate office in your consular district with the names (first and last) of any individuals who will accompany you as your witnesses.
• The ACS Unit cannot translate documents or certify the correctness of a translation.
• If you intend to notarize a document in your corporate capacity (e.g., as President, Treasurer, etc. of a company), please bring proof of your authorization to sign on behalf of a corporate entity.
• U. S. consular officers are not authorized to provide a signature guarantee/medallion guarantee service.  Only a financial institution participating in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) medallion signature program is authorized to affix a medallion imprint. No other form of signature verification can be accepted to transfer securities.  For further details, please see http://www.sec.gov/answers/sigguar.htm

Notarial services are performed only by appointment.

• Schedule a notarial appointment in Rome.
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Florence.
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Naples.
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Milan.
• Schedule a notarial appointment in Genoa.

Please bring:

• A valid passport or any other form of ID issued by a government agency
• $50.00 or the equivalent in Euro for each signature/seal; Major credit cards are accepted.

Documents requiring Hague Apostils

Official documents that are issued in a Country and must be used abroad (e.g. an American birth certificate to be used in Italy) need to be legalized or “authenticated” by the appropriate authorities in the originating Country to prove that the document was issued by a competent official and that is genuine and not fraudulent.

Since the U.S. and Italy are part of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, both Countries will accept an Apostille stamp on the certificate or official document concerned, as proof of legalization.

Apostille stamps on documents originating in a U.S. State will be placed by the respective Secretary of State. To find the addresses of Secretaries of State and more detailed instructions on the procedure to follow, please click on the following useful links:

• What is an Apostille
• Where to get an Apostille stamp in the U.S.
• Where to get an Apostille from the Department of State

Apostille stamps on documents originating in Italy will be placed by:

• Prefettura, Legalization Office for vital statistics records (i.e. Birth, Death, Marriage certificates) A complete list of Prefettura offices is available at Prefettura offices in Italy

or

• Procura della Repubblica (Tribunal), Legalization Office for judicial certificates and documents signed by an Italian notary public (i.e. criminal records, divorce decrees, last will and testaments). A complete list of Procure della Repubblica offices is available at Procure della Repubblica Presso i Tribunali