Criminal Record Certificate for the Italy Working Holiday Visa

Written by Volare | May 20, 2026

If you are preparing your application for the Italy Working Holiday Visa, one of the fundamental requirements to ensure the security of your application is the accreditation of your conduct through the presentation of a criminal record certificate.

Is it mandatory to submit a criminal record certificate?

Yes, it is a strict requirement. The consular authorities of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation require the presentation of an official physical criminal record certificate, issued by the competent authorities of your country of origin.

This document is essential to verify that the applicant has no pending convictions or a history that would prevent their entry into Italian territory. The process for its international validity must follow two rigorous steps:

1. The Hague Apostille: The document must have the corresponding Apostille, which certifies the authenticity of the signature and seal of the authority that issued the document in your country.

2. Translation into Italian: The certificate must be mandatorily translated into Italian by a recognized sworn translator or an entity validated by the consulate where you will carry out the procedure.

It is important to remember that the certificate must be recent. We recommend that you process it well in advance to ensure it arrives in time for your consular appointment, avoiding any documentary errors that could delay the approval of your visa.

To ensure you have the appropriate support and the most detailed information at every step of your application, we recommend consulting the complete guide on Volare's Italy Working Holiday Visa (WHV).