ACRO Police Certificate for Italian citizenship: Apostille and translation into Italian
Which ACRO certificate London asks for, signature, paper Apostille and sworn translation into Italian — it does not replace other countries.
October 12, 2026 · 4 min
If you are preparing Italian citizenship by marriage from the UK, one of the pieces that most often stalls is the British criminal-record certificate. It is not “any criminal record”: the Consulate General of Italy in London specifies a precise type, an Apostille and a translation straight into Italian.
Which ACRO certificate is the right one
Under London’s current instructions, the British criminal-record certificate is the “Police certificate for immigration purposes”, requested from ACRO. GOV.UK distinguishes several extracts from the British criminal record: they are not interchangeable. For this file, start from what the Consulate writes, not a generic “DBS” or a certificate meant for another recipient.
If the document is issued unsigned, London says to ask for the signature of an ACRO public official: that signature must then be capable of legalisation. A sheet without a suitable signature can stall at the Legalisation Office.
How it is used in citizenship by marriage
ACRO goes into the file when the competent authority asks for the United Kingdom criminal-record certificate: typically if you hold British citizenship, were born there, or have lived within the perimeter that post sets. For London, the thresholds on third countries of residence (from age 14, stays of more than six months, with exceptions) are explained in foreign criminal records for citizenship by marriage.
Caution
ACRO does not automatically replace certificates from the country of origin, other citizenships or third countries of residence. Anyone who has also lived in Venezuela, Spain, Argentina or the United States must check the perimeter of their own post, not assume that “the UK is enough”.
Apostille: paper, not e-Apostille for England & Wales
London requires the ACRO to be apostilled by the Legalisation Office (FCDO). GOV.UK currently excludes ACRO police certificates for England and Wales from the e-Apostille service. Those documents follow the paper route.
We do not extend that exclusion automatically to every British document, nor to Scotland and Northern Ireland if the issuer and the product differ. Check the signing authority on the sheet and the current FCDO instructions.
| Step | Who does it | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issue of the Police certificate for immigration purposes | ACRO | Check type and signature |
| Apostille | Legalisation Office (FCDO) | Paper for ACRO E&W, according to GOV.UK |
| Translation into Italian | A route the post accepts (in Italy: asseveration) | Direct from English, not via a bridge language |
Direct translation into Italian
London requires the translation to be always direct from the language of the certificate into Italian. For an English-language ACRO, that means English → Italian. Asseveration in Italy before the courts, a Giudice di Pace or a notary is one of the methods London accepts. ItaloDocs offers only this sworn translation, once you already have the original and, if required, the Apostille.
The certificate must be an original and, for London, issued no more than six months before the application — that deadline is non-negotiable. Translating a record already close to expiry can force you to redo the piece. The Apostille → translation order is in document, apostille and translation.
How ItaloDocs can help
- You already have the ACRO, with a suitable signature and an Apostille if required
- You request a quote for the sworn translation into Italian
- If you also have a UK birth certificate or other criminal records, list them on the same form
Request a quote to translate the ACRO into Italian.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a DBS instead of ACRO?
London’s instructions specify ACRO’s Police certificate for immigration purposes. We do not claim that another British extract is equivalent: check the current consular page.
Is the e-Apostille acceptable?
For England & Wales ACRO certificates, GOV.UK currently excludes e-Apostille. Use the paper Apostille.
Do I also need to translate the Apostille?
It depends on what the recipient asks for. The order and the cases in which the Apostille belongs in the translated file are in the guide on the order of the pieces.
