Italian criminal record certificate: request and timelines
Casellario giudiziale and pending charges: when they are required, how online handling works and what to provide when requesting support.
February 15, 2026 · 4 min
The Italian criminal record certificate is one of the most requested Italian documents abroad—and one of the most misunderstood. It does not attest vague “morality”: it is an official act reporting, under law, entries in the register or their absence. It is often paired with the pending charges certificate and, for international use, with apostille and translation.
What the criminal register is
The criminal register is kept by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Appeal. The certificate attests its content—general or pending—at the time of request. Different types exist (general certificate, certificate for abroad, certificates for specific purposes): the requesting body should indicate which version is needed.
The pending charges certificate concerns criminal proceedings not yet concluded with final judgment. Many countries and employers request both documents for immigration, adoption, or regulated employment.
When it is required
- Employment in Italy or abroad, especially healthcare, schools, care services, security
- Visas and residence permits in countries requiring an Italian criminal record
- Adoptions and national or international fostering
- Enrolment in professional orders, public competitions, structured volunteering
- Citizenship or naturalisation in other states accepting Italian certificates
- Rentals or guarantees, in cases selected by the landlord (less common)
If you are preparing a move, check the document list well in advance: issuance times and certificate validity (often a few months) can affect visa deadlines.
How the online request works
The request can be submitted in person at competent Prosecutor’s Office counters (based on residence or current criteria), through official portals where provided, or by delegation as allowed by law. Personal data must match registered records: errors in name, date, or place of birth are a frequent cause of rejection or delay.
What to prepare
- Valid identity document
- Codice fiscale
- Indication of the certificate type requested
- Power of attorney if requesting on behalf of someone else with title
- For abroad: check whether apostille and sworn translation are also needed
ItaloDocs support: what we do (and do not)
Many clients contact us from abroad because they do not know which certificate is needed, which Prosecutor’s Office is competent, or how to meet tight visa deadlines. Our role is organisational and informative: we collect data, check consistency with the procedure, follow the request through to issuance and, if needed, coordinate apostille and translation.
The certificate is always issued by the Prosecutor’s Office / offices provided by law. Timelines depend on office workload and certificate type: we do not promise impossible speeds, but we avoid errors that restart the procedure from zero.
Distinctions that cause confusion
The criminal register must not be confused with a criminal record certificate issued in other countries under different procedures, nor with registry certificates that only attest residence or citizenship. If an employer asks for an “Italian criminal background check”, they usually mean the criminal register certificate (and often pending charges)—but always ask in writing which type they accept.
Those who moved abroad years ago may still have anagrafe residence in Italy or AIRE registration: which Prosecutor’s Office is competent and which data to declare depend on registry status. Errors here are among the most frequent causes of refusal or postponement.
After issuance: validity and use abroad
The certificate expires: check the call or destination letter for how many days it must remain “fresh” (often three or six months). For Hague Convention countries, an apostille is usually the next step; then translation into the required language. Presenting an expired certificate is like having none: plan the document chain backwards from visa or contract deadline.
Need the criminal register or pending charges for work, a visa, or citizenship? Describe your procedure and destination country: we will point you to the straightest documentary path, without confusion between public and private roles.
