How to Obtain an Italian Birth Certificate

Obtaining a birth certificate from Italy is done through the Registrar of Vital Statistics in the city or town where the birth took place. Italy does not have a central office for the recording of births. All requests for birth certificates should be translated into Italian, as if they are not there will be a long delay before you are able to receive your certificate. In addition, be sure to state in your request that you need an "apostille" or consular legalization for your certificate if you wish to use it for identification purposes.

Instructions

1. Make a request for your birth certificate. Write down your full name at birth, where you were born, the date of your birth and your parents' names. Be sure to state that the certificate should contain both your mother's and your father's name. Translate the request into Italian.

2. Purchase international reply coupons from the post office to send with your request. This will allow the city or town in Italy to send you your birth certificate without having to pay for the shipping costs. Most towns will waive the processing fee for foreigners who need a copy of their birth certificate.

3. Mail your request and international reply coupons. If you were born in a large city, you should address your envelope:

   Ufficio dello Stato Civile
   Comune di (name of city)
   Italy

   If you were born in a small city, address your envelope in the following way:
   Comune di (name of city)
   Provincia di (name of province)
   Italy

References

• U.S. State Department: Italian Birth Certificates