Italy is one of the stricter destinations for cremated remains. Two U.S. documents must carry an apostille and an Italian translation before the consulate will issue the mortuary passport that lets the urn enter the country.
What the Italian consulate asks for
The list below follows the procedure published by the Italian Consulate General in Philadelphia. Other Italian consulates in the U.S. follow a similar pattern, but confirm with the one that covers the state where the death occurred.
| Document | Notarized | Apostille | Italian translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death certificate (two certified copies) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cremation certificate (one certified copy) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Funeral home sworn statement | Yes | No | No |
| Information sheet naming the Italian cemetery, town and province | No | No | No |
| Passport of the person who died (original if an Italian citizen, copy otherwise) | No | No | No |
| Family letter naming the funeral home or the person carrying the urn | Yes | No | No |
The consulate also charges a fee of roughly $90, paid by postal money order. The amount moves with the euro exchange rate.
How the process runs
- Choose the cemetery in Italy. The consulate needs its exact name, town and province, because the local Comune must authorize the burial.
- Order certified copies of the death certificate and get the cremation certificate from the crematory.
- Have both apostilled by the Secretary of State where the death occurred.
- Have both translated into Italian.
- Submit the full package to the consulate. It requests authorization from the Italian authorities.
- Once the Comune’s authorization arrives, the consulate takes about five working days to issue the mortuary passport.
Where families lose time
The cremation certificate is the usual problem. It is a private document from the crematory, so it must be notarized under your state’s rules before the Secretary of State can issue an apostille for it. Families often get an apostille for the death certificate, then learn at the consulate that the second document is missing its apostille.
The other delay is the Comune. Its authorization is outside the consulate’s control, so have your apostilles finished before you start waiting on Italy.
How we can help
We handle both apostilles in a single order, in any state. Our service starts at $195. Standard processing takes about 10 business days, and same-day or next-day service is available for qualifying Oregon, Washington, Texas and Virginia documents. We ship completed documents internationally, and we quote the shipping cost once you provide the delivery address. Call Apostille Authentications at (971) 514-3743 or request a quote.
Requirements change. Confirm the current checklist with your Italian consulate before you travel. See our main guide to taking ashes abroad for the general process.