How a Florida diploma or transcript is used in Italy
To enroll at an Italian university or have a profession recognized, Italian institutions want to know what a U.S. degree is worth. That usually means a Dichiarazione di Valore issued by the Italian consulate, or a comparability statement from CIMEA, which many universities now accept. The consulate route works from the diploma and transcript with an apostille and an Italian translation. For Florida public schools and universities, the registrar must sign before a notary when the document is issued, with a complete notarial certificate; a copy notarized later won't be apostilled.
Translation for Italy
Italian offices need an official Italian translation of English records, and the Miami consulate states that it does not translate documents. Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a separate Florida notary and apostilled; ask the consulate whether it accepts that format or certifies translations itself. Courts and some comuni in Italy may instead require a translation sworn before an Italian court (asseverata). Translate after the apostille, including the apostille page.
What your Florida diploma or transcript must look like
A school document is apostilled through a notarized copy: the registrar (or another school official) signs a statement that the copy is true, and a Florida notary notarizes that signature with a complete notarial certificate. The Department of State then apostilles the notary's signature. An original diploma, an unsigned transcript or a copy you notarize yourself cannot be apostilled. Ask the school for its apostille procedure first — most Florida universities and school districts have one — and send us the notarized copy, not the original.
Step by step: diploma or transcript apostille for Italy
- Order online — pick "Diploma or transcript" and "Italy" on the order form; $220 per document, $380 for two, $160 each for three or more.
- Send a photo — reply to the confirmation email with a picture of the document. We check the certification before anything ships, so a defect is caught before it costs you a round trip.
- Drop it at FedEx — after approval, FedEx emails you a prepaid QR code; show it at any FedEx Office or Ship Center, no printer or label needed.
- Filed in person in Tallahassee — we walk the document into the Florida Department of State and ship the apostilled original back by FedEx within 5–7 business days of receipt — to your U.S. address, or to Italy with international return shipping (+$100).
One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs for Italy. Whatever the office there asks for after that — a translation, a filing deadline — is covered above.