Criminal Record Certificate Italy

The Italian criminal record certificate (Casellario Giudiziale) is the national register containing data on judicial and administrative measures relating to individuals. Issued by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Court (Procura della Repubblica), it is regulated by Art. 24 of DPR 313/2002 and is one of the most frequently requested documents for visa applications, Italian citizenship procedures, employment background checks, and adoption processes. 

This guide explains the four types of criminal certificates in Italy, who can request them, how to apply, costs, validity, and what to do when the certificate needs to be used abroad. 

The four types of Italian criminal record certificate 

Italian law provides for four distinct types of criminal certificates, each with a different scope and use case. Choosing the wrong one is a common cause of delays in visa and citizenship applications. 

1. General Criminal Records Certificate (Certificato Generale del Casellario Giudiziale) 

The most comprehensive certificate. It contains all irrevocable judicial actions across criminal, civil, and administrative matters. It is typically required for: 

• Visa and immigration applications (including Italian citizenship by descent, marriage and residency) 
• International adoption procedures 
• Employment in sensitive roles (teaching, healthcare, security) 
• Administrative and public tender purposes 

Important legislative update: following Legislative Decree No. 122/2018 (in force from 2019), the former Certificato Penale and Certificato Civile were merged into the general criminal record certificate. As of today, the Certificato Generale also includes an extract from the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) for Italian citizens, covering convictions issued across all EU member states (with the exception of Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Greece). 

2. Criminal Certificate (Certificato Penale del Casellario Giudiziale) 

Contains all irrevocable criminal judgments only (not civil or administrative matters). It is used for: 

• Employment background checks requested by employers 
• Administrative procedures that specifically require only the criminal component 

Note: since the D.Lgs 122/2018 reform, this certificate is now issued as part of the general certificate when requested for personal use. A separate Certificato Penale can still be requested specifically by an employer (certificato penale richiesto dal datore di lavoro), which has a narrower scope than the general certificate. 

3. Civil Certificate of Good Conduct (Certificato Civile) 

Contains all irrevocable judgments aimed at limiting the civil capacity of a person: disqualifications, deprivation of civil rights, declarations of bankruptcy, and expulsion measures. Also merged into the general certificate since 2019. 

4. Pending Charges Certificate (Certificato dei Carichi Pendenti) 

Lists all pending criminal proceedings — cases where the judge has not yet issued an irrevocable decision. This is a separate document from the criminal record and is frequently required alongside the general certificate for: 

• US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand visa and immigration applications 
• Italian citizenship applications, where specifically required by the competent authority
• Complex employment vetting procedures 

The Visura delle Iscrizioni — the complete registry extract 

A fifth document worth knowing is the Visura del Casellario Giudiziale (ordinary report or complete registry extract). This is not an official certificate — it has no certification value — but it shows all registrations in the judicial register, including entries that may have been expunged from the official certificates due to rehabilitation, pardons, or time limits. 

Applicants intending to use the Visura for immigration or visa procedures abroad should verify whether this document is required by the competent foreign authority. 

Who can request the Italian criminal record certificate? 

Both Italian nationals and foreign citizens who live or have resided in Italy can apply for Italian criminal certificates to prove their criminal record history in the country. 

The request can be made by: 

• The applicant personally, with a valid identity document 
• A delegate or proxy specifically authorised to act on behalf of the applicant (particularly useful for applicants residing abroad) 
• An employer, when requesting the specific Certificato Penale for employment purposes 

Where to apply for the criminal record certificate in Italy 

All certificates are issued by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Court (Ufficio Locale del Casellario presso la Procura della Repubblica). 

Embassies and consulates cannot issue or request criminal certificates on behalf of applicants. Some Procure della Repubblica accept postal applications for applicants residing abroad — check with the specific office. 

How to apply: online booking and in-person collection 

The Italian Ministry of Justice offers an online booking service for criminal certificates at: certificaticasellario.giustizia.it. Not all offices and certificate types are available online — availability depends on the specific court. 

In-person application (without booking) 

Applicants can also appear directly at the Prosecutor’s Office with: 

• Completed application form (downloadable from the Ministry of Justice website) 
• Valid identity document 
• Payment receipts for applicable fees 

Delegated collection 

If collecting on behalf of another person, the delegate must present: 

• Their own valid identity document 
• The completed application form (including proxy section) 
• The applicant’s identity document details 
• If the delegate is authorised for “affirmative deeds”, they can collect a certificate that contains positive entries (convictions, pending charges) 

Cost and validity 

Fees 

Free-of-charge cases: in specific circumstances, the certificate is issued at no cost, including for adoption procedures, work-related legal controversies, mandatory welfare and social assistance, and other cases specified by law. 

Validity 

Italian criminal record certificates are generally valid for six months from the date of issue under Italian law. However, foreign authorities may establish different requirements regarding the date of issue. Applicants should therefore verify the specific requirements of the receiving authority before requesting the certificate.

Using the Italian criminal record certificate abroad 

The process for using the certificate outside Italy differs depending on whether the destination is an EU or non-EU country. 

For EU countries 

Italian citizens who need to prove their criminal record status to EU institutions can attach a multilingual standard form to their certificate. This form is available at online-forms.e-justice.europa.eu or from the competent court office (where the officer will date, sign, and stamp it). The form must be in the official language of the destination country. 

The EU criminal record certificate (ECRIS extract) certifies sentences issued across all EU member states (excluding Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Greece) to Italian citizens. Non-Italian EU citizens may require a separate Legal Information on Final Criminal Convictions (informazione con valore legale) document. 

For non-EU countries (apostille and legalisation) 

For certificates submitted to non-EU foreign authorities, the multilingual EU form does not apply. The certificate must be: 

1. Apostilled — if the destination country is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, or 
2. Legalised — via the foreign consulate or embassy in Italy, for countries not party to the Hague Convention 

In both cases, a sworn translation into the language of the destination country is generally also required. 

For more information on the legalisation process, see our dedicated guides: 

• Legalisation of Italian documents for use abroad 
• Document legalisation and apostille in Italy 
• Legalisation of foreign documents for use in Italy 

Common use cases: which certificates you need 

Italian citizenship applications (by descent, marriage or residency) 

The documentation required for Italian citizenship applications depends on the legal basis of the application.

For citizenship applications based on residence or marriage, applicants are generally required to provide criminal record certificates issued by the authorities of their country of origin and, where applicable, other countries of previous residence.

Italian Criminal Records Certificates and Pending Charges Certificates are not automatically required from every applicant. Applicants should refer to the official instructions provided by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the competent Prefettura or the relevant Italian consular authority.

For citizenship recognition by descent (iure sanguinis), the procedure primarily requires documentation proving Italian ancestry and the legal transmission of citizenship, rather than criminal record certificates. Applicants must comply with the applicable citizenship legislation and the documentary requirements of the competent Italian authority.

Certificates used for immigration purposes abroad  

Applicants who intend to use Italian criminal record documents for immigration or visa procedures abroad should verify the specific requirements established by the competent foreign authorities.

Depending on the country and type of application, different criminal record documents, apostille or legalisation procedures, translations or issuance time limits may apply. 

Employment background checks 

Italian employers carrying out vetting procedures may request the Certificato Penale richiesto dal datore di lavoro — a specific version of the criminal certificate with narrower disclosure than the general certificate. This can be requested by the employer directly, or by the applicant on behalf of the employer. 

Visa applications in Italy 

Non-EU nationals applying for Italian visas (work, study, family reunification, elective residence) are frequently required to submit a criminal record certificate from their home country, apostilled and translated. The Italian criminal certificate itself may also be required if the applicant has previously resided in Italy. 

Obtaining the Italian criminal certificate remotely 

For applicants residing abroad who cannot travel to Italy, the certificate can be obtained in two ways: 

• Via proxy: a trusted person in Italy collects the certificate on behalf of the applicant using a signed authorisation and the applicant’s identity document details 
• Via a professional service: specialist firms and law firms (including Arletti Partners) can obtain the certificate remotely, handle apostille and sworn translation, and ship the original documents worldwide 

Our consultants can support you to obtain your Italian criminal records remotely — whether for a visa application, Italian citizenship procedure, job application, or any other purpose. We also handle legalisation, apostille, and certified translations: Obtain your Italian Criminal Record Certificate 

Frequently asked questions 

How long does it take to get an Italian criminal record certificate? 

Standard processing takes a few working days from the moment the booking is placed and the application submitted. Urgent procedures reduce this significantly. If apostille or consular legalisation is also required, allow additional time — typically 1 to 2 weeks in total for a fully legalised and translated set of documents. 

Can I get an Italian criminal record certificate if I live abroad? 

Yes. Three of the four certificates (General, Criminal, Civil) can be requested from any court in Italy, regardless of where you live. The Pending Charges Certificate must be requested at the court where you hold official Italian residence. Applicants living abroad can use a proxy, or engage a professional service to handle the process remotely on their behalf. 

What is the difference between the Certificato Penale and the Carichi Pendenti? 

The Certificato Penale (general criminal record) shows finalised convictions — cases where an irrevocable judicial decision has been issued. The Certificato dei Carichi Pendenti shows ongoing proceedings — cases still before the courts where no final decision has been reached. Many foreign authorities require both documents together for a complete picture of an applicant’s judicial history. 

Does the Italian criminal certificate include EU convictions? 

Yes — since 2019, the Certificato Generale del Casellario Giudiziale for Italian citizens also includes an ECRIS extract covering criminal convictions from EU member states (with the exception of Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Greece). For a complete European criminal record picture, the Italian certificate together with the ECRIS extract provides comprehensive coverage. 

Is a self-declaration sufficient instead of an official certificate? 

When an Italian state authority is the requesting body, a self-certification (autocertificazione) has the same legal validity as an official certificate and costs nothing. However, when submitting to a foreign authority, a private employer, or an immigration office, an official certificate is required — self-certification is not accepted. 

How do I get the Italian criminal certificate apostilled for use abroad? 

The apostille or legalisation of Italian Criminal Records Certificates (Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale) and Pending Charges Certificates (Certificato dei Carichi Pendenti) is handled by the competent Public Prosecutor’s Office (Procura della Repubblica), rather than the Prefettura.

If the destination country is a party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 and an apostille is required, applicants must request it from the competent Procura della Repubblica.

For countries where an apostille is not applicable, legalisation procedures may be required, including consular legalisation where applicable.

Both procedures can be handled remotely through our services — see our guide on document legalisation and apostille. 

Related services and insights 

• Obtain your Italian Criminal Record Certificate 
• Book a consultation on the criminal record certificate 
• Sworn translations in Italy 
• Document legalisation and apostille 
• Legalisation of Italian documents for use abroad 
• Legalisation of foreign documents for use in Italy 
• Italian Embassy Legalisation 
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