Italy Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale for Ecuador Residency Visa

Italy's official criminal records document is called the Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale. It is issued by the Procura della Repubblica (Public Prosecutor's Office), which sits at the local Tribunale (Court) in each judicial district. The certificate reports any final criminal convictions on record against the named individual under Italian jurisdiction.

For Ecuador residency visa purposes, you should be aware that Italian law distinguishes between two related — but separate — documents:

1. Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale — lists final criminal convictions (judicial records).
2. Certificato dei Carichi Pendenti — lists pending criminal charges (cases that are not yet closed or where no final judgment has been issued).

Many Ecuador consulates and visa officers will accept a single document — sometimes called the "certificato generale" (general certificate) — that combines both the judicial records and the pending charges. When applying through the Procura della Repubblica or the online certificatipenali.giustizia.it portal, you can request the "certificato generale," which is the most comprehensive option and the safest choice for a residency visa application.

If you request only the Casellario Giudiziale without the Carichi Pendenti, some Ecuadorian missions or the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (MREMH) may ask for the missing Carichi Pendenti certificate separately. To avoid delays and a second trip to the Procura, request the general certificate (certificato generale) from the start.

The certificate must be: - Issued by the Procura della Repubblica (or generated via the official online portal) - Apostilled under the Hague Convention (Italy is a member) - Translated into Spanish by a sworn translator - Issued within 180 days before your Ecuador visa application submission date

Important: Ecuador's 180-day validity window pauses while your visa application is under review. The clock does not run during Ecuador's processing — it only counts the days between the certificate's issue date and the day you submit your application, plus any time after a final decision if your file is reopened. Plan your timing relative to your submission date, not your anticipated approval date.

The Casellario Giudiziale is administered by the Italian Ministero della Giustizia (Ministry of Justice) and issued through the Procura della Repubblica offices located at each Tribunale (Court) throughout Italy.

There are two issuance channels:

1. In-person at any Procura della Repubblica — The Casellario office (Ufficio del Casellario or Ufficio Certificati) inside the Procura issues the certificate to applicants who attend in person. Under current Italian rules, you can request your certificate at any Procura in Italy — not only the one in your municipality of residence. This is helpful if you are traveling, working, or temporarily living away from your registered address (residenza).

1. Online via [certificatipenali.giustizia.it](https://certificatipenali.giustizia.it) — The Ministero della Giustizia operates a national online portal where Italian residents with digital identity credentials (SPID, CIE — Carta d'Identità Elettronica — or CNS — Carta Nazionale dei Servizi) can request and download the certificate without visiting an office. The portal returns a digitally signed PDF.

For Italian citizens residing outside Italy: You can request the certificate through the competent Italian Consulate in your country of residence, or you can use a delegate (delega) with a notarized power of attorney to request it on your behalf at a Procura in Italy. Some consulates can also assist with apostille requests for the document afterward — confirm directly with the consulate that handles your jurisdiction.

Note that the certificate must be requested by — or on behalf of — the named individual. Family members other than a legally authorized delegate cannot request the certificate for someone else.

There are three practical routes for obtaining your Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale. Choose the one that fits your situation.

Route A: In-Person at a Procura della Repubblica (Recommended if you are in Italy)

Step 1 — Identify the nearest Procura della Repubblica Each Tribunale in Italy has an associated Procura della Repubblica. You can apply at any Procura, regardless of your residence. Search "Procura della Repubblica" + your city to find the address and opening hours of the Ufficio Casellario (or Ufficio Certificati Penali).

Step 2 — Purchase a marca da bollo at a tabaccheria You must bring a marca da bollo da €16,00 (a €16 revenue stamp). This is purchased in cash or by card at any tabaccheria (licensed tobacco shop) — it is not sold at the Procura. Ask for a *marca da bollo da sedici euro*. Hold onto the stamp; you will hand it in with your request form.

Step 3 — Complete the request form (Modulo di Richiesta) At the Procura's Casellario office, you will be given a Modulo di Richiesta del Certificato. The form asks for: - Cognome (surname) and Nome (given names) - Date and place of birth (Comune, Provincia, Stato) - Codice fiscale (Italian tax code) - Current address - Type of certificate requested (tick "Generale" for the combined Casellario + Carichi Pendenti) - Use case (for foreign visa applications, indicate "uso estero" — for foreign use)

Forms can usually be downloaded in advance from the Procura's website or the Ministero della Giustizia portal so you can pre-fill before arriving.

Step 4 — Submit your request and pay Present your completed form, your marca da bollo da €16, your government-issued ID (carta d'identità or passport), and pay the administrative fee (€3,16 if requested for *uso urgente*/urgent or €3,54 for normal issuance — fee structure varies slightly by Procura). The clerk will give you a receipt (ricevuta) and tell you when to return.

Step 5 — Collect the certificate Many Procure issue the certificate the same day or the next business day. Larger Procure (e.g., Roma, Milano, Napoli) sometimes take 1–3 business days depending on volume. Bring your receipt and ID to collect.

Route B: Online via certificatipenali.giustizia.it (For SPID/CIE holders)

Step 1 — Access the portal Go to certificatipenali.giustizia.it. The Ministero della Giustizia operates this national portal for online certificate requests.

Step 2 — Authenticate with SPID, CIE, or CNS Log in using one of Italy's official digital identity systems: - SPID (Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale) — issued by various providers (Poste Italiane, InfoCert, Aruba, etc.) - CIE (Carta d'Identità Elettronica) — Italy's electronic ID card with a chip reader or NFC-equipped smartphone - CNS (Carta Nazionale dei Servizi) — health card with electronic functions

Step 3 — Select certificate type Choose "Certificato Generale" (general certificate, combining Casellario + Carichi Pendenti). Indicate "uso estero" (for foreign use) so the certificate is issued without restrictions on its international use.

Step 4 — Pay the fee Pay the fee online via the integrated pagoPA payment system. The total cost on the portal is approximately equivalent to the in-person fee (~€19,46 — covers both the marca da bollo equivalent and administrative charges).

Step 5 — Download the digitally signed PDF After processing (typically 1–5 business days), you can download a digitally signed PDF of the certificate from the portal. The certificate is signed with a qualified digital signature (firma digitale qualificata) and is legally valid for use in Italy without further authentication.

Important for Ecuador: The digital PDF still requires apostille for use abroad. The apostille process for digitally signed certificates is handled by the Procura della Repubblica that issued the digital signature — see the Apostille section below.

Route C: From Abroad via an Italian Consulate

Step 1 — Contact your local Italian Consulate If you are an Italian citizen residing outside Italy, contact the Italian Consulate (or Embassy Consular Section) with jurisdiction over your country of residence. Many consulates accept Casellario requests by appointment or by mail.

Step 2 — Provide ID and authorization You will need to present a valid Italian passport or carta d'identità, your codice fiscale, and complete the consulate's request form. Some consulates ask for a notarized power of attorney if a third party submits on your behalf.

Step 3 — Pay consular fees Consular fees follow a separate schedule (typically denominated in local currency based on the consular tariff) — confirm the current rate with your consulate.

Step 4 — Receive the certificate Consular processing is significantly slower than in-person at a Procura — allow 3–8 weeks. The consulate forwards your request to the relevant Procura in Italy, receives the document, and delivers it to you.

Alternative for those abroad: If a family member, friend, or attorney is in Italy, you can grant a notarized delega (power of attorney) authorizing them to request the certificate on your behalf at a Procura. This is often faster than going through the consulate. The delegate must present the notarized authorization along with copies of your ID.

Bring originals and the following items to your Procura della Repubblica appointment:

Mandatory: - Government-issued photo ID — your carta d'identità (Italian ID card) or passaporto (passport). Foreign nationals legally resident in Italy can present their foreign passport with their permesso di soggiorno. - Codice fiscale — your Italian tax code, either on the official tessera (card) or printed on a document where it appears. - Marca da bollo da €16,00 — purchased separately at a tabaccheria before your appointment. The marca da bollo is a paper revenue stamp; the clerk will attach or cancel it on your request form. - Modulo di Richiesta del Certificato — the request form, usually downloadable in advance from the Procura's website. If you cannot pre-fill, blank forms are available at the office. - Cash or card for the administrative fee (~€3,16–€3,54).

For applications via delega (power of attorney): - Notarized delega (delega autenticata) signed by the named individual - Photocopy of the named individual's ID and codice fiscale - The delegate's own ID and codice fiscale

For online portal requests: - Active SPID, CIE, or CNS credentials - A debit/credit card or bank account compatible with pagoPA

Note on residenza vs domicilio: You do not need to be a resident of the Procura's jurisdiction to apply — you can apply at any Procura in Italy. Your residenza (legal residence as registered with the Comune) does, however, determine which Italian Consulate handles requests from abroad.

Procura della Repubblica to certificate in hand: same day to a few business days.

Breakdown by route:

• In-person at a Procura della Repubblica: Often same day at smaller and mid-sized Procure. Larger urban Procure (Roma, Milano, Napoli, Torino) may take 1–3 business days depending on volume.
• Online via certificatipenali.giustizia.it: 1–5 business days from payment to PDF download.
• Through an Italian Consulate abroad: 3–8 weeks, with significant variation by consulate. Confirm timelines directly with the consulate that handles your jurisdiction.
• Via delega (power of attorney) in Italy: Same as in-person — typically same-day or 1–3 business days once the delegate visits the Procura.

Factors that cause delays: - High-volume periods at major urban Procure - Requesting at a Procura far from your municipality of residence in jurisdictions that conduct additional cross-checks - Consular workload and mail/diplomatic-pouch routing for requests from abroad - Italian public holidays and the agosto (August) closures, when many offices operate on reduced hours

Allow 1–2 weeks as a conservative planning buffer if you are in Italy, or 8–10 weeks if applying from abroad.

The total cost of obtaining the Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale (general certificate) is approximately €19,46 (about $21 USD at typical exchange rates).

Cost breakdown:

• Marca da bollo da €16,00 — the revenue stamp purchased at a tabaccheria
• Diritti di certificato (administrative fee):
• €3,54 for normal issuance, or
• €3,16 for urgent issuance (some Procure use a single uniform rate)

Online via the certificatipenali.giustizia.it portal: the same total fee structure applies and is paid via pagoPA.

There is no expedited "premium" channel — the certificate is issued under standard Italian administrative timelines regardless of fee.

Consular fees (from abroad): Italian consulates apply a separate consular tariff, typically denominated in local currency. The cost is generally comparable to the in-Italy fee but can vary. Confirm the current rate with your consulate.

Italy is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 1961, which means Italian public documents can be authenticated with an apostille for use in other Hague member states. Ecuador is also a Hague member and accepts apostilled documents.

Where to apostille a Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale:

For criminal records / judicial certificates issued by a Procura della Repubblica, the apostille is issued by the Procura della Repubblica itself — typically by the Ufficio Apostille or Ufficio Certificazioni at the same court complex (Palazzo di Giustizia) where the certificate was issued.

This is different from the apostille process for many other Italian public documents (such as civil status records — birth, marriage, death certificates — and academic documents), which are apostilled by the Prefettura (the prefecture, an arm of the Ministry of the Interior).

However, practice varies by region. In some jurisdictions, the Prefettura also accepts judicial certificates for apostille, especially when the certificate was issued by a Procura in a different region than where the applicant resides. Always verify with the Procura that issued your certificate whether the apostille is handled by their own office or by the Prefettura before you walk in. A quick phone call or check of the Procura's website is the fastest way to confirm.

Apostille Process at the Procura

Step 1 — Visit the Ufficio Apostille (or Ufficio Certificazioni) Bring your original Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale. The apostille office is usually located in the same building as the Procura that issued the certificate.

Step 2 — Submit the certificate The official confirms the signature of the issuing magistrate or clerk against the office's signature registry, then affixes the apostille stamp directly to the certificate (or to an attached page).

Step 3 — Pay (if applicable) Apostille of criminal records is free of charge in many Italian Procure. Some jurisdictions charge a small administrative fee (typically €0–€5). Cash is sometimes required for the marca da bollo associated with the apostille — confirm with the office before going.

Step 4 — Receive the apostilled document Processing is often same day or next business day at less busy Procure. Larger metropolitan Procure can take 1–3 weeks when the volume is high.

If You Used the Online Portal

If you obtained your certificate as a digitally signed PDF via certificatipenali.giustizia.it, you have two options:

1. Print and request apostille of the printed copy — Many Procure can apostille a printed copy of a digitally signed certificate by verifying the digital signature first. Confirm with the Procura.
2. Request a paper original — Visit a Procura in person to obtain a freshly issued paper certificate that can be apostilled in the same visit.

Total Apostille Timeline

From submitting your certificate for apostille to receiving the apostilled document: 1–3 weeks is typical, with same-day or next-day processing possible at less busy Procure. Plan for 3 weeks as a safety margin, especially in summer (August closures) and around Italian public holidays.

Ecuador requires all foreign-language documents submitted for visa applications to be translated into Spanish. The Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale is in Italian, so a certified Spanish translation is mandatory.

Requirements for the translation: - Performed by a sworn or certified translator (not a machine translation, not an informal bilingual friend) - The translation must accompany the apostilled original - Translator's certification, signature, and contact details must be present

Two routes for sworn translation:

1. In Italy — Traduzione Giurata via Tribunale Italian law recognizes a traduzione giurata (sworn translation), in which a qualified translator translates the document and then swears an oath (asseverazione) before a clerk at a Tribunale or before a Giudice di Pace or notary. The sworn translation is bound to the original document and stamped by the court. Each pair of pages typically requires a separate marca da bollo (additional €16 stamps for the translation). Sworn translators (traduttori giurati) are commonly listed in the Tribunale's register of CTU (Consulenti Tecnici d'Ufficio).

Note: A traduzione giurata in Italy may also require apostille of the translator's oath itself if Ecuador's MREMH or the receiving consulate requests it. Confirm in advance.

2. Through EcuadorTranslations.com (Streamlined for Ecuador Visa Applicants) EcuadorTranslations.com provides certified Spanish translations specifically designed for Ecuador immigration purposes. Translations are completed by professionals familiar with Ecuador's visa document requirements and the MREMH's preferred presentation standards. Typical cost: ~$150 USD per document. Turnaround: 2–5 business days.

For most applicants, EcuadorTranslations.com is the simpler and more cost-effective option because it avoids the additional Tribunale marca da bollo fees and the time required to schedule the asseverazione appointment in Italy.

Either route is acceptable to Ecuador, provided the translator is properly certified and the translation accompanies the apostilled original.

When submitting your Italian criminal records certificate as part of an Ecuador residency visa application, Ecuador's Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (MREMH) requires that the document be:

1. Issued within 180 days of the date you submit your visa application
2. Apostilled by the Procura della Repubblica (or Prefettura, depending on jurisdiction)
3. Translated into Spanish by a certified or sworn translator
4. Comprehensive — covering both judicial records (Casellario) and pending charges (Carichi Pendenti). Request the "certificato generale" to cover both in a single document.

Critical note on the 180-day validity window:

The 180-day clock measures from the certificate's issue date to the date you submit your visa application — not to the date Ecuador issues a decision. Ecuador's processing time does not count against the 180-day window. The clock pauses while Ecuador's MREMH or consulate is actively reviewing your application. You will not be penalized for Ecuador taking several weeks or months to process your file. Plan your certificate timing relative to your submission date, not your anticipated approval date.

Practical implication: Complete the apostille and Spanish translation before you submit your EcuaGo application. Do not request your certificate so early that it will be older than 180 days by the time you are ready to submit.

Use case — which Ecuador residency visas need this: - Pensioner visa (Pensionado) - Rentista visa (passive income) - Investor visa (Inversionista) - Professional visa (Profesional) - Permanent residency by Marriage (Permanente por Matrimonio) - Permanent residency by Family ties (Permanente por Lazos Familiares) - Permanent residency after the required temporary residency period

Tourist visa applicants from visa-required countries may also need a background check, though Italian passport holders are typically visa-exempt for short tourist stays in Ecuador.