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How much does it cost to apostille a document in Italy?

Apostilling a document at an Italian prefecture often costs EUR 16 for the duty stamp when the document is subject to stamp duty; exempt documents can cost EUR 0.

Verifiable answer

Apostilling a document at an Italian prefecture often costs EUR 16 for the duty stamp when the document is subject to stamp duty; exempt documents can cost EUR 0.

Question
How much does it cost to apostille a document in Italy?
Average cost
€16 / document
Price range
€0 – €16
Area
Italy
Last verified
27 August 2026
Confidence
Confidence: High
What is included
Apostille or legalisation at the competent prefecture; Administrative check of the document presented at the counter; EUR 16 duty stamp where the procedure requires it
What is not included
Sworn translation of the document; Certified copy or prior authentication; Notarial or consular fees; Shipping and agency services; Apostilles for judicial acts handled by a prosecutor's office rather than a prefecture
What the price depends on
Exempt or stamp-duty document; Authority that issued the document; Competent prefecture or prosecutor's office; Need for translation, certified copy or notary work; Collection in person or shipping
Sources and methodology
3 sources

Official price versus real cost

Official price

€0

/ document

Difference+€16 (+0%)

Real cost

€16

€0 – €16

The administrative procedure does not publish a separate service fee, so the official cost of the act itself can be EUR 0. The typical real cost becomes EUR 16 when a duty stamp is required, which is the item many people mistake for an apostille fee.

Short answer

There is no single fee to add to every apostille: the practical cost mainly depends on the document type and on whether a EUR 16 duty stamp is required.

An apostille allows an Italian document to be used abroad in countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention. It is common for municipal certificates, study documents, notarial deeds, company papers and international family procedures. The price question is confusing because people often mix the administrative apostille with sworn translations, certified copies or private agencies. The prefecture procedure itself is mostly about stamp duty. The prefecture pages checked for this guide refer to a EUR 16 duty stamp for documents issued under stamp duty or for specific categories, while also identifying exempt documents. For that reason the minimum cost is EUR 0, the typical amount to budget is EUR 16, and the maximum for the administrative step covered here remains EUR 16. If you first need a certified copy, a sworn translation or a notary, that is a separate cost and should not be hidden inside the apostille price.

What is included

  • Apostille or legalisation at the competent prefecture
  • Administrative check of the document presented at the counter
  • EUR 16 duty stamp where the procedure requires it

What is not included

  • Sworn translation of the document
  • Certified copy or prior authentication
  • Notarial or consular fees
  • Shipping and agency services
  • Apostilles for judicial acts handled by a prosecutor's office rather than a prefecture

How the price breaks down

How the price breaks down: Apostilling a document in Italy
ItemTypeFrequencyTypical
Apostille at the prefectureThe prefecture does not publish a separate service fee for applying an apostille or legalisation.Compulsoryone-off€0
Duty stampRequired for documents issued under stamp duty or for specific categories, while some certificates are exempt.Optionalone-off€16

What the price depends on

  • Exempt or stamp-duty document
  • Authority that issued the document
  • Competent prefecture or prosecutor's office
  • Need for translation, certified copy or notary work
  • Collection in person or shipping

Hidden costs

  • Going to the wrong office, because competence changes by document type.
  • Finding out that a certified copy or translation is needed before the apostille.
  • Buying a duty stamp for an exempt document, or arriving without one when it is required.
  • Appointment and collection time, especially when the document must be sent abroad.

Three realistic scenarios

Exempt

€0

Document for which the prefecture recognises a stamp-duty exemption and charges no separate service fee.

Typical

€16

Certificate or document requiring a EUR 16 duty stamp, submitted directly to the prefecture.

With duty stamp

€16

Consular act or stamp-duty document for which the EUR 16 stamp must be presented at the counter.

How to spend less

  1. Check whether the document is exempt from stamp duty before buying the EUR 16 stamp.
  2. Verify the competent office, because prefectures and prosecutor's offices handle different document types.
  3. Do not pay an agency for a simple case if you can submit the document directly.
  4. If a translation is needed, ask whether it must be done before or after the apostille, because the wrong order can make you repeat the work.
  5. Bring the original document, any required stamp and ID in the same visit to avoid a second appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Does an apostille always cost EUR 16?

No. EUR 16 is the duty stamp required for stamp-duty documents or for specific cases identified by prefectures, not a universal apostille fee. Some documents are exempt and can be apostilled without buying the stamp. Before going to the counter, check the page of the competent prefecture for your document type.

What is the difference between apostille and legalisation?

An apostille is used for countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention and replaces diplomatic or consular legalisation. Legalisation is still needed for other countries or different cases. From a cost point of view both can involve the same duty stamp, but the correct route depends on the country where the document will be used.

Is translation included in the price?

No. A sworn translation is a separate service and often costs much more than the apostille duty stamp. In some cases the translation must be done before the apostille, in others after, depending on the destination country and receiving authority. This guide therefore excludes translations, notary work, certified copies and agencies from the main price.

Sources and methodology

How we worked it out

We checked official pages from the prefectures of Arezzo, Udine and Turin on 27 August 2026. The sources do not publish a separate service fee for an apostille at the prefecture, but they do identify a EUR 16 duty stamp for stamp-duty documents and specific cases, with exemptions for some certificates. The guide therefore avoids inventing a market average: EUR 16 is used as the typical real cost when the stamp is required, and EUR 0 as the minimum where the document is exempt. Sworn translation, certified copies, postage, notary work and agencies are excluded.

Why this confidence level

Confidence is High because the EUR 16 duty stamp is confirmed by multiple official prefecture pages. It is not absolute because exemptions depend on the document and intended use, so the specific case still needs to be checked with the competent office.

  1. EUR 16 duty stamp for legalisation or apostille of stamp-duty documents

    Legalizzazione documenti - Prefettura di Arezzo (opens in a new tab)

    Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo di Arezzo · Public authority · Verified on 27 August 2026

    Official prefecture source used for the cost: the page distinguishes exempt documents from documents requiring a EUR 16 duty stamp.

    Authority5/5

  2. Independent confirmation of the EUR 16 duty stamp for stamp-duty documents

    Legalizzazione documenti - Prefettura di Udine (opens in a new tab)

    Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo di Udine · Public authority · Verified on 27 August 2026

    A second prefecture was checked to confirm that the amount was not an isolated local practice.

    Authority5/5

  3. EUR 16 duty stamp always required for the consular acts identified by the prefecture

    Legalizzazione documenti - Prefettura di Torino (opens in a new tab)

    Prefettura - Ufficio Territoriale del Governo di Torino · Public authority · Verified on 27 August 2026

    Used to explain one case where the duty stamp is not merely possible but required by the procedure.

    Authority5/5

Read the methodology

Revision history

First published on 2026-08-27 after checking three Italian prefecture sources.

Published on
27 August 2026
Last verified
27 August 2026
Next review
27 November 2026

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