All the personal facts and qualifications that are not included in the Italian public registry and that are therefore not self-certifiable (see the list of self-certifiable information in the “Self-certification” section), but that are nevertheless of direct knowledge to the person making the declaration, can be certified through a sworn declaration in accordance with the art.47 of the law 445/2000.
The sworn declaration can also concern other persons of which the person making the declaration has direct knowledge; it can also be used to witness the declaration of a document’s conformity with the original.
In a sworn declaration the person concerned can declare personal facts and qualifications directly known before an official authorised to accept and file documentation, or before a notary, clerk, municipal secretary or any other official authorized by the mayor.
When the public administration deems it necessary to check the validity of a declaration concerning facts and qualifications certifiable or ascertainable by another government office, it has 15 days from when declaration is made to request the necessary documentation.
Validity of the sworn declaration:
- A sworn declaration has the same validity as the document it replaces.
- Normally these certificates are valid for six months from the date on which they are issued, except when laws or regulations have allowed a longer period of validity.
- The validity of civil registry data is extendable if the person concerned declares that the data contained in the certificate has not been modified, and signs this declaration.
- Sworn declarations attesting to personal states and facts not subject to modification (birth and death certificates, educational qualifications, etc.) have unlimited validity.
Sworn declarations can be used in dealings with the public administration and with those bodies authorised to provide public services.
They cannot, however, be used in dealings between private individuals, except if the latter agree to it, or officially before a judicial authority acting in its jurisdictional capacity.