Obtaining a death certificate in Italy
The Italian death certificate is needed for repatriation and for many formalities abroad. We explain how it is issued and how to use it in your country.
Registration of the death
Every death in Italy is registered by the civil registry office of the municipality where it occurred, within 24 hours. If the death occurs in hospital, the hospital notifies the municipality.
In most cases the funeral director takes care of the registration on behalf of the family.
How it works
- a doctor certifies the death
- the death is reported to the municipality
- the civil registry office records it
- the certificate is issued on request
Where to request the certificate
The certificate is not issued automatically: it must be requested from the civil registry office of the municipality where the death occurred. The funeral director can request it for you.
The Italian certificate does not state the cause of death. The cause appears in separate medical documents.
Documents for use abroad
The death certificate can be requested in the multilingual format, which includes English. Within the European Union it is accepted without legalisation. For other countries an apostille may be required.
If a municipality issues the certificate only in Italian, an official translation may be needed in your country.
Formats available
- extract in Italian
- multilingual extract, which includes English
- apostille, for countries outside the EU that require it
- official translation, where requested
Family, consulate and funeral director
Family
Uses the certificate for the formalities in the home country, such as bank accounts and inheritance.
Consulate
Can register the death in the home country. For US citizens, the consulate issues the Report of Death Abroad.
Funeral director
Requests the certificate and uses it for the transport authorisations and the repatriation.
Repatriation and next steps
Repatriation
The death certificate is the first document for the repatriation. With it, the municipality issues the transport authorisations and the mortuary passport.
Formalities at home
In the UK the certificate is taken to the register office of the area of the funeral. In other countries the consulate tells you how to register the death.
Request a quote
Tell us where the death occurred and where the body or the urn needs to go. We will call you back as soon as possible to explain timing, documents and costs.
If it is urgent, call us now, at any time:
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions families ask us most often. For your specific situation, call us: we answer at any time.
Related guides
How many copies should I request?
Ask for a few copies: banks, insurers, consulates and offices in your country may each ask for one. We can request them for you.
Is the certificate available in English?
Yes, in the multilingual format, which includes English and other languages. If only the Italian version is available, an official translation may be needed.
How long does it take?
The registration happens within 24 hours of the death. The certificate is then usually issued by the municipality in a short time.
Does the certificate show the cause of death?
No. The cause of death appears in separate medical documents, which may be needed for repatriation.
Do I need an apostille?
Within the European Union, no. For other countries, such as the United States, an apostille may be required: ask the authority that will use the certificate.