I've had our birth certificates, my two marriage certificates and my decree absolute for my divorce from my first marriage apostilled in Milton Keynes, I then contacted the Italian Consulate to get these documents translated and legalized in order to apply for residency when we arrive in Italy. I thought I'd got all this sussed, but apparently not! The consulate have advised that I need additional documentation.....

"Please find herewith attached the various application forms.
You said that all the documents have the Apostille therefore the cost will be of £50 per each certificate and 90 for the translation of the various documents of divorce: Decree Nisi, Decree Nisi Absolute, Arrangement for children.
Art 39 must be stamped by the Court and the other divorce certificates must be in original."


Boff! I have no arrangement for my child ( who is 20 and is in RAF and isn't coming with us!) Art 39 ??? What on earth is that about? Hmmmm I don't have it anyways! Do they really need the decree nisi as well?
This just sounds like overkill to me, what do you think?

There is free movement in the EU. Sort it out after you get to Italy. There are so many rules and older rules are not revoked when new ones come in. Much depends on who you deal with. The rules can be interpreted to allow you or to deny you almost anything

how true just smile and work yourself through the maze with the help of somone italian

The Consulates know less than the police. An apostille is not a legalisation. If you are from the UK you do not need an apostille. You need legalisation. I can tell you legion tales of imbeciles in Italian consulates the world over. Get everything legalised and then if necessary get it translated when you are here.

Aren't they the same thing? I had my marriage certificate legalised by the FCO and they provided an apostille attached to the original certificate. I then had the combined document translated here in Italy. It's called a 'traduzione giurata' which needs to be done in Italy because the translation has to be authorised by an Italian court. It cost about €50.

#what are you trying to do? If you are looking to do residency... do it here at the local commune and any documents needed can be done by the British Embassy in Rome/Milan etc.

To get residence in Italy, you don't need any of these documents.

If you are an EU national take your passport, codice fiscale (get this from agenzia delle entrate when you arrive it's quite straight forward), copy of your rental contract (hospitality declaration from landlord if paying cash or mortgage info if buying), employment contract or if you are not working a copy of your bank statement which says you have enough money to live in Italy more than 3 months.

If you are a non EU citizen you will need the above documents plus your permesso di soggiorno (the slip you get when you apply for the pds is enough for some comune). You will need at least two photocopies of all the documents as well as the originals.

Hope this helps.

Actually lady P you might, as they require a stato di famiglia - and that can be a autodichiarazione or all the docs the OP has above - and each comune decides by itself.

Thanks v much for your replies, we are British citizens, we already have our codice fiscale and have a property in the comune we intend to live in, we are moving to Sardinia and our comune definitely requires translated and legalised birth and marriage certificates for residency, so I've sent these off to the Consulate.
As for all the divorce papers well I've never heard of anyone needing these, so I'll trot off to the comune with the documents that I do have and keep my finger crossed!
Thanks once again for taking the time to reply x