What is legalization and what is it for?
Consular legalizations are an essential step for using in Italy documents issued by the authorities of the countries within the consular jurisdiction of the Embassy of Italy in Abidjan (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone). Through legalization, the Embassy confirms that the signature affixed to the document by a local authority is authentic and that the issuing body is officially recognized. It is therefore not a verification of the content of the document, but a formal check that allows the document to be legally valid in Italy.
Such acts and documents—except those drafted on multilingual forms provided for by international conventions—must also be translated into Italian. Translations must bear the stamp “per traduzione conforme” (“certified translation”). In countries where the figure of the sworn/official translator exists, conformity may be certified by the translator, whose signature is then legalized by the consular office. In countries where such a figure does not exist under local law, conformity must necessarily be certified by the consular office.
The Apostille
In countries that have signed the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 abolishing the legalization of foreign public documents, the requirement for consular legalization is replaced by another formality: the apostille.
Therefore, a person from a country that has adhered to this Convention does not need to go to the consular representation to request legalization, but may instead contact the competent national authority designated by each State—listed in the instrument of accession to the Convention (usually the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)—to obtain the apostille. Once apostilled, the document is recognized in Italy.
The updated list of countries that have ratified the Hague Convention and the competent authorities for issuing apostilles is available on the website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law: http://www.hcch.net/. To date, the only country within the consular jurisdiction of this Embassy that has adhered to the Hague Convention is Liberia.
How and where to submit a legalization request
To submit a legalization request, applicants must independently book an appointment through the official portal of VFS Global Côte d’Ivoire – Italy: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/civ/fr/ita
Booking an appointment is always free of charge. Users are strongly encouraged to promptly report any attempt to sell, mediate, or request payment for appointments, and to refrain from paying any money, as such practices may constitute fraud.
Once the appointment has been booked, the application must be submitted in person at the premises of VFS Global – Côte d’Ivoire, located at Rue des Carrossiers, Treichville zone 3, Centre commercial HLM, ground floor, Abidjan (Abidjan Application Centre), presenting the original documents already legalized by the competent authorities of the issuing country and by the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Italian citizens (and their immediate family members) and students may instead submit their legalization request directly at the Embassy, located at Rue de la Canebière n. 16, Cocody Danga, Abidjan, by appointment, to be requested via email at consolare.abidjan@esteri.it.
The Consular Office receives the public at the following times:
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 09:00 – 12:00
- Wednesday: 14:00 – 16:30
Processing times for legalization
The Embassy is competent for documents issued in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger and Sierra Leone—documents from Liberia are subject to the apostille procedure. Once the completeness of the documentation has been verified, legalization is generally issued within 2 to 4 weeks, except in cases requiring additional checks.
In duly documented urgent cases, it is possible to obtain legalized documents within 24 hours, upon payment of the urgency fees provided for in the consular fee schedule attached to Legislative Decree 71/2011.
Cost of legalization
Legalization of documents is subject to the payment of the fees established by the current consular tariff.
What is translation conformity certification?
Translation conformity certification is a service through which the Embassy of Italy attests that a translation into Italian faithfully corresponds to the original document drafted in a foreign language. This certification is often required when a foreign document must be submitted in Italy for administrative, academic or professional purposes, either together with consular legalization or when the document has been apostilled.
How and where to request translation conformity certification
Translation conformity certification is requested together with the legalization of the relevant document; therefore, no separate appointment is required. To obtain the certification, applicants must present the original document (already legalized by local authorities, if required) along with its Italian translation. The translation may be prepared by the applicant or by a professional translator.
Processing times for translation conformity certification
The Embassy’s territorial competence covers documents issued in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone. Average processing times are 2 to 4 weeks, as the certification is handled together with the consular legalization request.
Cost of translation conformity certification
The cost of certification varies depending on the number of pages, in accordance with Article 72 of the consular fees.