Frequently asked question (FAQ)

Legalization is the official certification of the authenticity of a signature, the legal capacity of the signer, and the validity of deeds or certificates for use abroad. Without it, foreign documents cannot be legally recognized in Italy

It is required for documents issued by public authorities abroad if they are to be valid in Italy. Private documents, such as bank letters or company statements, usually need only a certified translation

An apostille is a simplified legalization procedure under the 1961 Hague Convention. It certifies the authenticity of a public document and is valid in all signatory countries, replacing consular legalization

All public authority documents, such as birth, marriage, or academic certificates, must undergo apostille or legalization. Private documents usually do not, unless explicitly required by law

In most cases, the competent local authority is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another designated authority in the country where the document was issued

Translations into Italian must be certified either by the Italian diplomatic or consular office abroad or by an officially recognized translator in the issuing country

No. All documents must be translated into Italian, even if English is an official language in your country. Only Italian translations certified by consular authorities or authorized translators are accepted

No. Bocconi University has no authority to override or bypass national or international legalization rules. Students must follow the procedures required by law

Yes. The legalization or apostille stamp must be affixed directly on every single document to be valid in Italy

Not always. Documents without handwritten signatures or official stamps may not be eligible for legalization/apostille, as authorities cannot verify their authenticity

You should request a new original version of the document containing a handwritten signature or official stamp. Only then can it undergo legalization or apostille

It must state the signer’s full name, the date and place, the certifying official’s name, title, and signature, plus the office stamp

Yes. Ensure the legalization or apostille stamp matches the internationally recognized model. Different stamps will not be considered valid

No. The only internationally recognized forms are legalization by consular authorities and the apostille procedure. Simple notarization (“notarization”) is not legally valid for the purposes of international document recognition.