Autocertificazione

SELF-CERTIFICATION (AFFIDAVIT)

The self-certification (also called an "auto-certification") is a declaration made by a citizen regarding his or her own interests, about facts or personal qualities necessary for the public administration or a public employee to know about. In dealings with a private entity, the use of self-certifications is left to the discretion of said private entity.

Beginning 1 January 2012, law 183 of 12/11/2011 came into effect. Beginning from said date, certificates will be only valid between private individuals; while the public administration cannot ask for or accept certificates, which must always be replaced by self-certifications.

The self-certification option is available only to Italian and European Union citizens.
The right to avail oneself of personal sworn declarations has also been extended to non-EU citizens legally staying in Italy, but only for those matters which can be verified or certified by the Italian public authorities.


Self-certification can be used to verify the following data:

– date and place of birth, domicile and citizenship;
– enjoyment of political rights;
- marital status 

- birth of a child, death of a spouse, ancestor or descendant;
– enrollment in associations or lists required by the public administration;
– all the information directly known by the person concerned which figure in the public register of births, marriages and deaths, proof of being alive, vital records;
– academic qualifications or professional qualifications, state and university exams completed, postgraduate qualifications, other recognised competencies/qualifications, training course qualifications, refresher course qualifications, technical qualifications (only for academic qualifications or professional qualifications obtained in Italy);
– income or financial status provided for the purpose of obtaining benefits and advantages of whatever type foreseen by specific laws;
– dispensation from specific tax obligations, with an indication of the amount;
– tax code or VAT number, any information contained in tax register;
– unemployment status, pensioner status and category of pension, student status, housewife 
   status;
– status as legal representative of physical or legal persons, guardian, trustee and similar;
– membership in social groups or associations of whatever type;
– fulfilment, or not, of military obligations, including those in art. 77 of D.P.R. n. 237/64 as modified 
   by art. 22 of law 958/86;
– lack of criminal record;
– all the information directly known by the person concerned which figure in the public register of 
   births, marriages and deaths;
– status of dependent
– certificates, diplomas, or statements for the enrollment in schools of any kind or level and 
   universities that need to be exhibited to the Vehicle Licencing Office;
– certificates and statements from the register of vital records, or the demographic records required by the Municipality within procedures of their competency.

There is no fee for an auto-certification when the use of the equivalent certificate would have been exempt from such under the law.

Requests and declarations presented to the Public Administration may also be sent via fax or e-mail.

2. Declaration in Lieu of Affidavit (art. 37 DPR 445/2000)

Citizens may uses declarations in lieu of affidavits for all facts and personal qualities of which they are directly aware and which cannot be certified by the public administration.

Such declarations can also regard the circumstances of other individuals or subjects of which the declarant is directly aware. Additionally, the following types of documents can also be replaced with declarations: certified copies of acts or documents registered or issued by a public administration, copies of publications, of degrees, or of financial documents which a private party is obliged to retain.

Self-certification is NEVER allowed for the following kinds of certification:
- medical;
- hospital-related;
- veterinarian;
- of nation origin;
- EU conformity;
- trademarks;
- patents.

If the public administration doubts the truth of the self-certification, it is obliged to make the necessary investigations.

Incorrect statements, falsified documents and use of false documents are punishable according to the penal code and laws concerning the matter    (art. 45 DPR 445/2000).
Moreover, the person making the statement forfeits any benefits granted as a result of the provisions based on his/her untrue statements.