The sequence matters. Apostille before translation. Italian certificates before UK ones. Get the order wrong and you lose months.
The chain
Every UK-issued document in your application goes through the same chain. The consulate will reject documents that skip a step or arrive in the wrong order.
Obtain the original
1–3 weeksOrder from GRO (England & Wales), NRS (Scotland), or GRONI (Northern Ireland). Must be a full certified copy, not an extract.
FCDO apostille
2–5 working daysApply online at gov.uk/get-document-legalised. Post the original to the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. They return it with a bound apostille certificate.
Certified translation
3–7 daysA translator produces an English-to-Italian translation. The translation must cover both the document and the apostille. The translator signs a declaration.
Notary certification
Same day (by appointment)A UK notary public certifies the translator's signature. The notary does not check the translation — they verify the translator's identity.
Second FCDO apostille
2–5 working daysThe notarised translation goes back to the Legalisation Office for a second apostille. This apostille authenticates the notary's signature.
Total per document: approximately 3–6 weeks and £80–£120 including all fees.
What you need
A standard two-generation case (grandparent → parent → you) requires the following. Your specific case may need more or fewer documents depending on the family history.
Italian ancestor
Each person in the chain
You (the applicant)
Costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GRO birth/marriage/death certificate | £11.00 | Online order at gro.gov.uk |
| Scottish certificate (NRS) | £12.00 | Order at scotlandspeople.gov.uk |
| FCDO apostille | £45.00 | Per document, standard service |
| FCDO apostille (premium) | £75.00 | Same-day or next-day |
| Certified translation | £40–£80 | Per page, varies by translator |
| Notary certification | £30–£60 | Per document, varies by notary |
| Home Office naturalisation search | £54.00 | If ancestor naturalised in UK |
| Italian comune certificate | Free–€5 | Via ANPR or direct request to the comune |
| Consulate government fee | €600 | Paid at the oath ceremony |
Rough total for a standard case with 6 UK documents: £700–£1,200 in fees alone, before any professional service costs. The range depends on how many documents need translating and whether you use standard or premium apostille service.
Common mistakes
The translation must cover the apostille as well as the original document. If you translate first, the translator won't have the apostille to include. You'll need to pay for the translation again.
The consulate needs full certificates that show parents' names, not extracts or abbreviated versions. GRO's default online option is the full certificate, but some older certificates obtained in person may be short-form.
The notarised translation needs its own FCDO apostille. Some applicants assume the first apostille (on the original document) covers everything. It doesn't. Each document enters the consulate as a set: original + apostille + translation + notary cert + second apostille.
The consulate doesn't publish an approved list, but the translation must be certified (the translator signs a declaration that it's accurate) and the signature must be notarised by a UK notary public. A friend who speaks Italian won't satisfy this.
The consulate does not procure Italian certificates for you. Request them directly from the relevant comune or use the ANPR portal (available for most comuni). Processing times vary: some comuni respond in days, others take weeks.
This guide is for informational purposes. Pratica provides administrative services, not legal advice. For matters requiring court proceedings (including 1948 maternal line cases) consult a solicitor.
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