PLEASE NOTE – As of January 11, 2024, the Hague Convention on the Apostille comes into effect in Canada. Canadian Authorities will change the procedures for authenticating Canadian certificates and documents to be used abroad. In many cases, the double step (Global Affairs Canada or Provincial Service authentication and Consulate legalization) will no longer be necessary; instead, the Apostille issued by the relevant Canadian offices will suffice.
As of January 1, 2025, the Consulate will no longer legalise Canadian vital records. All Canadian vital records must be apostilled by the relevant Canadian Authorities.
APPLICATION ADMISSIBILITY
In the Italian legal system, a name or surname change is of an exceptional nature.
Therefore, requests may be admitted only in the presence of objectively relevant situations, supported by adequate documentation and solid and significant reasons : surnames or names that are ridiculous or shameful or reveal natural origins.
Under no circumstances may surnames of historical importance or otherwise such as to mislead about the applicant’s membership in illustrious or particularly well-known families in the place where the applicant’s birth record is registered or in the place of his or her residence be requested.
WOMEN’S LAST NAME
A married Italian woman retains by law her maiden name in her passport and other documents pertaining to her. She may (but is not required to), request that her maiden name be added to her married name with an annotation on page 4 of the Italian passport.
Therefore, requests may be admitted only in the presence of objectively relevant situations, supported by adequate documentation and solid and significant reasons : surnames or names that are ridiculous or shameful or reveal natural origins.
APPLY TO CHANGE ONE’S NAME AND/OR SURNAME
Any citizen who wishes to change his or her surname/first name or add another to his or her own must be authorized by the Minister of the Interior, following an application to be forwarded to the “Prefetto” territorially competent according to the applicant’s residence.
The Prefetto assesses the application and forwards it to the Ministry of the Interior with their opinion.
If the application appears worthy of consideration, the applicant shall be authorized, by decree of the Minister of the Interior, to have a notice posted on the public notice board of the municipality of birth and the municipality of current residence, containing the summary of the application. The posting shall be for thirty consecutive days and shall be evidenced by the report of the person in charge made at the foot of the notice.
If the person concerned is born and resident abroad, the posting shall be made only on the notice board of the Consular office in whose district the applicant resides.
If the interested party is resident abroad, but born in Italy, the posting must be made not only on the notice board of the consular office, but also on the notice board of the municipality of birth.
Finally, if the person concerned is born abroad but resident in Italy, the posting must be made only on the notice board of the Italian municipality of residence.
In the decree authorizing the postings, it may be prescribed that the applicant notify certain persons (possibly interested in the requested change) of the summary of the application.
Any person who believes he or she has an interest may object to the application not later than thirty days from the date of the last posting or notification. Opposition shall be made by notice served on the Minister of the Interior.
After this period of thirty days has elapsed without opposition being proposed, the applicant shall submit to the relevant Prefecture for subsequent forwarding to the Ministry:
- a copy of the notice with the report certifying the executed posting and its duration;
- proof of the executed notifications when these have been prescribed.
The Minister, having ascertained the regularity of the postings and screened any objections, shall issue the decree granting the change of name/surname requested.
The decree of concession, in cases where there has been opposition, shall be served by the applicant on the opponents.
WHO CAN APPLY
Applications for this service may be submitted only by Italian citizens.
The request may be submitted directly by the person concerned or by another person with a proxy and a photocopy of an identification document of the person concerned.
Requests must be forwarded to the competent Prefetto. It should be noted that in cases of applications submitted by citizens residing abroad, these will be forwarded through the Consular authority to the Prefetto of the place of last residence in Italy, namely the municipality of AIRE registration.
If the applicant has never resided in Italy because he/she was born abroad, the Prefetto of the province in which the municipality of AIRE enrollment of the person concerned is located will be competent to receive the application.
MANDATORY DOCUMENTS AND HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CONSULATE
The documentation to be produced varies according to the type of request made.
Surname and first name change for adults
Documentation required (forms are available at the bottom of the page)
1. Application duly filled out in Italian (see “Forms” section below”. If the application is filled out in English, it must be translated by a certified ATIO translator and it is subject to the payment of art. 69 of the consular fees);
2. statement in lieu of certification, signed by the applicant, stating place and date of birth, residence, family status and citizenship; alternatively, relevant certificates;
3. extract of the birth certificate issued by the municipality where the certificate was transcribed;
4. Canadian birth certificate (Certified copy of registration of Birth) with amendment for name/surname change apostilled by the relevant Canadian Authority. If the birth certificate is issued by a Third Country, it must be translated and apostilled or legalized according to the instructions provided by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the originating Country.
5. Translation of the Canadian birth certificate by an ATIO translator registered with this Consulate General to be apostilled by Canadian Authorities or legalized by this Consulate General (Consular legalization subject to the payment of art. 69 of the consular fees);
6. Certificate of Change of name apostilled by the relevant Canadian Authority;
7. Translation of Change of Name made by an ATIO translator registered with this Consulate General to be apostilled by Canadian Authorities or legalized by this Consulate General (Consular legalization subject to the payment of art. 69 of the consular fees);
8. Any other useful documents to corroborate the request (the reasons for the request must be included also in the statement in lieu);
9. photocopy of an identity document.
Once you have gathered all the documents above, kindly send them as email attachments to the email address toronto.anagrafe@esteri.it. The relevant office will review the documents and provide you with an in-person appointment to submit your application.
If the change of name and/or surname is authorized, the applicant will be contacted and asked to pay also the stamp (imposta di bollo), which must be affixed to the decree.
In case of requests related to minors, please contact toronto.anagrafe@esteri.it.
FEES
For information regarding costs (consular fees, legalizations), please contact toronto.anagrafe@esteri.it.
REGULATORY REFERENCES
Presidential Decree No. 396 of November 3, 2000, Art. 84 et seq.