Sworn translations, known in Italian as traduzioni asseverate or giurate, are translations sworn before the Court, before a civil-status official in the presence of an official translator, or before a notary, who formalises the oath.
In Italy the procedure colloquially called "sworn translation" is legally defined as asseverazione. Unlike in Germany, for example, it is not the translator who is "sworn" but each individual translation. Translators in Italy do not yet constitute a legally recognised professional category comparable to doctors, accountants or lawyers.
The oath is taken before a public official, generally the court registrar of the Court competent for the translator's place of residence. The source text, in original or certified copy, and the translation must be bound together to form a single, inseparable file. The last page of the file is the oath record, whose wording should be obtained from the competent Court. A revenue stamp is required every four sheets of the translation and one on the record.
Sworn translations must not be confused with legalised translations, although the terms are often wrongly used as synonyms. Legalisation, or Apostille, is a procedure carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the Prefecture on sworn translations or on original documents so that they are recognised abroad. A foreign document translated and sworn into Italian for use in Italy cannot be legalised or apostilled.
A sworn translation becomes effective only when the documents are prepared in the correct form. Depending on the procedure, the original or a certified copy is required and, for foreign documents, legalisation or an Apostille from the country of origin. The guide on preparing your documents sets out the cases for citizenship, marriage, driving licences and deeds, while the guide on the sworn translation procedure explains how the oath is taken before the Court of Rome.