Italian criminal record certificate

The criminal record certificate (certificato del casellario giudiziale) lists the final decisions recorded in the name of the person concerned. It is required, among other things, for employment abroad, for the issue of visas and residence permits, and in citizenship and adoption proceedings. The Firm requests it in Italy, including on behalf of persons resident abroad.

Certificates currently provided for

Since 26 October 2019 (Legislative Decree 122/2018), separate "criminal" and "civil" certificates are no longer issued. The certificates currently provided for are the following:

• Criminal record certificate (art. 24 D.P.R. 313/2002): a single certificate containing final decisions in criminal, civil and administrative matters. For Italian citizens it also includes information from the European criminal records system.
• Pending charges certificate: attests to criminal proceedings in progress. It is issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Procura della Repubblica) at the court of the place of residence and is often required together with the criminal record certificate.
• Certificate for work involving contact with minors (art. 25-bis): attests to the absence of convictions for sexual offences against minors. It is required for activities involving direct and regular contact with minors.

Entries not shown on the certificate

The certificate requested by the person concerned does not show all the entries in the criminal records system. It does not include, among other things:

• convictions for which the benefit of non-mention (non menzione) has been granted;
• convictions for minor offences punished by a fine only and for offences declared extinguished;
• decisions of the justice of the peace (giudice di pace);
• judgments imposing a sentence on application of the parties (patteggiamento) and criminal decrees of conviction, in the cases provided for by law;
• suspension of proceedings with probation (messa alla prova) successfully completed.

Purposes

The certificate is required for employment and professional engagements abroad (frequently, for example, for employment in Andorra or New Zealand), for the issue of visas and residence permits, and in citizenship, foster care and adoption proceedings.

Apostille and validity

The certificate is valid for six months. For use in States outside the European Union the apostille is required, affixed by the Public Prosecutor's Office that issued it; the Firm requests it together with the certificate. Between Member States of the Union, such as Spain, the apostille is not required (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191).

Documentation required

• Copy of the passport of the person to whom the certificate relates.
• Signature of two authorisations, sent by the Firm upon receipt of the passport.

Timescales

Digital copy in approximately seven working days; paper originals in approximately three weeks, with shipping worldwide.

Costs

The Firm issues a detailed, no-obligation quote, for the criminal record certificate alone or together with the pending charges certificate.

Certificates we handle

Sources: D.P.R. 313/2002, arts. 24, 25-bis, 27 · Legislative Decree 122/2018 · Ministry of Justice, criminal record certification service (page updated 04/03/2026) · Public Prosecutor's Office of Rome, apostille service · Regulation (EU) 2016/1191. Information only, updated September 2026.