This section contains a list of the most frequently asked questions and answers about:
- A.I.R.E.
- Passports
- ID cards
- Marriage
- Civil status
- Citizenship
- Apostille stamps
- Driving license replacement
- Study abroad: Statement of equal value (Dichiarazione di valore)
- Lawyers
- Consular fees and online payments
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1. A.I.R.E.
- What is A.I.R.E.?
- Who needs to register in A.I.R.E.?
- What happens if you don’t register with AIRE?
- Who does not need to register in A.I.R.E.?
- How to apply if residing in Norway
- How to apply if residing in Iceland
- Change of address
- What is A.I.R.E.?
A.I.R.E. is the acronym for Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero, Registry of Italians Residing Abroad.
It is an online registry jointly maintained by the Italian diplomatic missions abroad (Embassies/Consulates) and the Italian Municipality (Comune) where Italian citizens (or their ancestors, for those who have never lived in Italy) were registered before moving abroad.
Registration on A.I.R.E is mandatory for Italian citizens who move to Norway and Iceland for a period over 12 months. To register an A.I.R.E. an application form and all the required documentation shall be submitted to the Consular Office of the Embassy.
Registration in A.I.R.E. is necessary if you need a consular service provided by the Consular Office (documents, certificates, certificated statements, notarial acts etc…) as well as if you wish to exercise the right to vote abroad.
Pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 470 of 27 October 1988, paragraphs 6 and 9, the Consular Office will automatically register Italian citizens residing abroad when requesting a consular service if they are not already registered in the AIRE Registry.
- Who needs to register in A.I.R.E.?
- Italian citizens who will reside abroad for more than 12 months;
- Italian citizens who were born abroad and have acquired Italian citizenship by birth;
- Italian citizens who have acquired Italian citizenship abroad.
The applicant should send an application to register in the A.I.R.E. also for the other members, if any, of the family (spouse or minor children). Members of the family who have reached the age of majority must apply individually.
- What happens if you don’t register with AIRE?
With Law 30 December 2023, n.213 (art. 1, paragraph 242), a financial penalty was introduced in case of failure to register with AIRE. For further information, click here: https://www.esteri.it/it/servizi-consolari-e-visti/italiani-all-estero/aire_0/
- Who is not required to register in A.I.R.E.?
Italian citizens who will reside abroad for less than 12 months.
- How to apply? If residing in Norway
- through the FastIt portal or
- by submitting the application form to the Consular Office, with the following documents attached:
- a copy of a valid passport or identity card
(passport: pages with photographs, details of the residence, signature. Identity card: recto / verso);
- a copy of the REGISTRERINGSBEVIS, the registration certificate issued by the Norwegian Police after the appointment requested through the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) portal. Alternatively, for thosewho have a Norwegian personnummer (ID-number), a copy of the BOSTEDSATTEST(residence certificate).
- How to apply? If residing in Iceland
- Through the FastIt portal or
- by submitting the application form to the Consular Office, with the following documents attached:
- a copy of a valid passport or identity card
(passport: pages with photographs, details of the residence, signature. Identity card: recto / verso);
2.a copy of the residence certificate (Registers Iceland)
- How to change address?
Italian citizens who reside in Norway and Iceland must inform the Consular Office about any change in their personal data (civil status, citizenship, name, family composition, address). This is necessary to enable the Italian Municipality (Comune) to update their databases.
In particular, notify the Consulate Office as soon as possible of any change of address. To inform of the change, you can fill out the application form, attach a copy of your identity document (passport: pages with photographs, details of the residence, signature. Identity card: recto / verso) and forward then either via email to consolato.oslo@esteri.it or by regular mail.
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2. Passports
- How do I get a new passport?
- I have lost my passport, what should I do?
- I would like my children to travel to and from Italy with their grandparents. What documents / authorizations do I need?
PLEASE NOTE: The issue of a passport and of an identity card is subject to the transcription of all civil status documents in Italy (birth, marriage and divorce). Should you have any doubt, please check with the Consular Office or with your local Municipality in Italy.
MINORS: To travel abroad, minors also need to have their own passport or ID card (even if they are still mentioned in their parent’s passport)
- How do I get a new passport?
IMPORTANT: The issue of a passport and an identity card is subject to the registration of all civil status documents in Italy (birth, marriage and divorce). Therefore, in case of doubt, please check with the Consular Section of the Embassy or with your local Municipality in Italy.
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- Adult applicants (18 years of age and over):
To apply for a new passport you must fill out the application form and send it to the Consular Section with the required documents attached. Applicants with children under the age of 18 must submit an authorization that is also signed by the other parent, giving consent to the issue of the passport. If one of the parents is not Italian or EU citizen, their signature on the authorization must be notarized. This can be done, in Norway, by Embassy or an Honorary Vice Consulate or by the Norwegian Police; in Iceland, by the Honorary Consul in Reykjavík. A copy of the identity card and 2 identical passport-size photos must be attached to the application form.
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- Passport for minors (under the age of 18):
Parents must fill out and sign the application form for minors under the age of 18. Applicants with children under the age of 18 must submit an authorization with notarized signature of the other parent if this parent is not an EU citizen. In both cases, all the documentation must be sent via ordinary mail to the Consular Office. It is possible to anticipate by e-mail the documentation with all its attachments (authorization, copy of the identity document) to the Consular Section at the address consolato.oslo@esteri.it.
After having examined the application, the Consular Office will set up an appointment for fingerprints to be taken and for the passport to be issued.
To summarize, what it is needed is:
- The application form for the passport (OVER/UNDER 18 years of age).
- The authorization for children under 18.
- Copy of a valid identity document (of both the parents for children under 18).
- Only for children under the age of 12, who request the new passport to be send to their home address, the old passport.
- Two passport photos, 35×40, recent. Please note that for the issuance of passports for minors under the age of 12, the legalization of the photographs at the Consular Section or at the offices of the Honorary Vice Consuls is mandatory.
- If the passport is to be sent by post, a pre-franked envelope indicating the recipient’s address and with postage covering the cost of a shipment by registered mail to Norway (starting from about 200, – NOK).
Passport issuance is subject to a consular fee that varies slightly on a quarterly basis based on the fluctuation of the EUR / NOK exchange rate. Payment is to be made on the day of the appointment with a debit / credit card belonging to the Bank Axept circuit. In the event that it is necessary (only for children under 12 years) to send the passport, it is possible to make the payment by bank credit (contact the Consular Section).
- I have lost my passport, what should I do?
In order to obtain a new passport in case of loss or theft it is necessary to come personally to the Consular Section with a copy of the police report in which the details of the lost or stolen document must be stated.
After the Consular Section has examined the case, it will be possible to apply for a new passport.
- I would like my children to travel to and from Italy with their grandparents. What documents / authorizations do I need?
Italian minors who are under 14 years of age, holding an Italian passport or identity card, must travel with one of their parents or a person otherwise authorized to accompany them. Please see the indications provided on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ web site (in Italian).
When minors who are under 14 years of age need to travel from and to Italy with a third party (an airline assistant or any other person who is not the child’s parent (grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends), both parents or a person otherwise authorized must provide the third party with a declaration whereby they give written mutual consent.
The declaration of consent must be filled out with the name of the third entrusted person, institution or a transport company and must be sent to the Consular Office.
The minors must in any case hold their own travel document (passport/ID card).
The declaration must be undersigned by the interested parties and the competent authority (in Oslo the Consular Section) that will issue an appropriate travel certification.
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3. ID card
- How do I get a new ID card?
- Adult applicants (18 years of age and over):
To apply for a new ID card you must fill out the application form and send it to the Consular Section with the identity document attached.
Applicants with children under the age of 18 must submit an authorization that is also signed by the other parent, giving consent to the issue of the ID card.
If one of the parents is not Italian or EU citizen, their signature on the authorization must be notarized.
This can be done, in Norway, by the Embassy or an Honorary Vice Consulate or by the Norwegian Police; in Iceland, by the Honorary Consul in Reykjavík.
A copy of the identity document, the old ID card, and 4 identical passport-size photos must be attached to the application form.
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- ID card for minors (under the age of 18):
Parents must fill out and sign the application form for the new ID card for minors under the age of 18.
Applicants with children under the age of 18 must submit an authorization with notarized signature of the other parent if this parent is not an EU citizen.
In both cases, all the documentation must be sent via ordinary mail to the Consular Section.
It is also possible to anticipate by e-mail the documentation with all its attachments (authorization, copy of the identity document) to the Consular Section at the address: consolato.oslo@esteri.it.
After having examined the application, the Consular Office will forward a request for authorization (nulla-osta) to the AIRE Municipality in Italy where the applicant is registered.
Once the nulla-osta is received by the Municipality, the Consular Section will set up an appointment with the applicant to issue the document.
To summarize, what it is needed is:
- The application form for the ID card (OVER/UNDER 18 years of age).
- The authorization (for children under 18).
- Copy of a valid identity document (of both the parents for children under 18).
- The old identity card.
- 4 identical passport-size photos.
Please note: the issuance of the identity card is always subordinate:
- The authorization from the Italian municipality of registration AIRE;
- The transcription of the birth certificate in Italy.
It is always possible to request an identity card in Italy from your AIRE registration municipality.
The electronic identity card is not – for the moment – issued abroad.
Identity cards issuance is subject to a consular fee that varies slightly on a quarterly basis based on the fluctuation of the EUR / NOK exchange rate. Payment is to be made on the day of the appointment with a debit / credit card belonging to the Bank Axept circuit. In the event that it is necessary (only for children under 12 years) to send the document, it is possible to make the payment by bank credit (contact the Consular Section).
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4. Marriage
- I got married in Norway / Iceland. How can I register my marriage in Italy?
- I want to get married in Norway. What should I do?
- I want to get married in Italy. What should I do?
- I am married to an Italian national. How can I become an Italian citizen?
- I got married in Norway / Iceland. How can I register my marriage in Italy?
- Norway:
To request that a marriage solemnized in Norway be registered in Italy, it is necessary to send or deliver personally to the Consular Office the following documentation:
- the application form filled out and signed by both spouses;
- the original marriage certificate legalized with APOSTILLE stamp (to be obtained from the County Governor Office (Fylkesmannen, http://www.fylkesmannen.no/ )
- a copy of the identity document of both spouses.
The Consular Office will translate and transmit the marriage certificate to the Italian Municipality or Municipalities (Comune) where the spouses are registered.
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- Iceland:
If the marriage was solemnized in Iceland, you shall contact the Honorary Consul General in Reykjavik who will receive the application and eventually translate the marriage certificate into Italian. The Consul will then contact the Consular Office in Oslo in order to submit the documents to the Italian Municipalities.
A marriage solemnized in Norway or Iceland between persons of the same gender, is registered in Italy as a civil partnership.
- I want to get married in Norway. What should I do?
The Italian national who is registered on AIRE and intends to marry in Norway can apply to this Embassy for a certificate of non-impediment to contract marriage (Erklæring om at det ikke foreligger hindringer for å inngå ekteskap) to be presented to the local authorities. To this end, the following documentation must be presented:
- selv-certification completed and signed by the parties;
- substitutive declaration for marriage (signed by the future spouses also in case one of the two is a foreign national);
- copy of the identity document of both.
The self-certification form and the substitutive declaration are available at this page “Modulistica”.
The Consular Office will then request a civil status certificate from the AIRE Municipality or the city of birth of the applicants certifying the absence of impediments. The Consular Office will issue a certificate of no impediment to marriage only if the control procedure is completed successfully.
After the Consular Office has received confirmation from the Italian Municipality, it will be possible to collect the certificate (valid for 6 months) at this Office upon payment of the applicable fee.
The fees applicable for the consular services are listed in the consular fees table available in the Useful Information section.
- I want to get married in Italy. What should I do?
Italian nationals registered on AIRE who want to get married in Italy must notify their intention to marry in order to post banns at this Consular Office. To do this they will need to present the following documentation:
- Self-certification filled out and signed by both spouses.
- Substitutive declaration for marriage (valid only for Italian nationals).
- Copy of the identity document of both.
The self-certification form and the substitutive declaration are available (in Italian) on the page “Modulistica”.
- What documents are needed for marriage banns?
For Italian citizens residing in Norway:
- Cumulative or contextual certificate for marriage to be requested from your AIRE municipality in Italy.
- Copy of your passport.
For Norwegian citizens:
- Extract of the birth certificate (Fødselsattest) legalized with Apostille stamp and translated into Italian.
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage issued by the Norwegian National Register Office legalized with Apostille stamp and translated into Italian.
- Copy of your passport.
For foreign citizens residing in Norway:
- Certificate “Utskrift av opplysninger registret i det sentrale folkeregister” to be requested from the Norwegian National Register Office.
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage or certificate of free status issued by your Consulate / Embassy in Norway.
- Copy of your passport.
For foreign citizens not resident in Norway:
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage issued by the registry of the country of origin translated into Italian and legalized / certified by the Italian Consulate in the country of origin.
- Copy of your passport.
Marriage banns are made at the Italian Embassy in Oslo, by appointment only, and are mandatory for Italian citizens registered in AIRE who intend to marry in Italy or in the Embassy. After the banns have been posted on the Consular Office Notice Board for 8 working days the Consular Office will issue a certificate related to the posting of the banns and the power of attorney to the Italian municipality where the marriage is to be solemnized.
N.B. Italian citizens residing abroad who intend to marry in a Norwegian municipality do not need to post marriage banns. To obtain information about the procedure and the documents needed, please contact the Norwegian National Register Office (from Norway: toll-free number 800 80000; from abroad number 004 722077000, selecting option 2).
- I am married to an Italian citizen. How can I acquire Italian citizenship?
The application for the acquisition of Italian citizenship by marriage is handled by the Italian Minstry of Interior. A specific portal has been created for this purpose (in Italian).
After having registered and sent the application on line, it will be possible to book an appointment and present yourself personally at the Embassy in order to deliver the original documentation required by the application procedure.
Please note that the documentation must have been already accepted electronically.
In you have doubt or questions on the above information please contact the Consular Office of the Embassy.
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5. Civil status
- My name / surname on the Italian identity document does not match my name / surname indicated on a foreign document. What can I do?
- Can my child also take his / her maternal surname when transcribing the birth certificate?
- I need a civil status certificate issued by the Italian municipality (birth, marriage, etc.).
- Does the consular chancery issue consular registry certificates?
- My name / surname on the Italian identity document does not match my name / surname indicated on a foreign document. What can I do?
In some cases it is possible that there is a discrepancy between the name / surname indicated on an Italian identity document compared to one (or more) foreign documents. In this case, public administrations require a Certificate of One and The Same Person, which declares that the documents certify the identity of the same person, despite the difference in general information.
To obtain a Certificate of One and The Same Person it is necessary to go in person, by appointment, to the Consular Chancery in Oslo or send the following documents to this Consular office by ordinary mail (not by e-mail):
- Request on paper written and signed by the interested party.
- Photocopy of the Italian or foreign identity documents with different personal data.
- Postage-paid return envelope with the address of the person concerned (for those interested in the return shipment by ordinary mail).
This service this service involves the payment of a fee.
Maternal surname attribution
Parents, by mutual agreement, can decide to pass on to the child, at the time of birth, also the maternal surname in addition to the paternal one.
Foreign birth certificates of children of both exclusively Italian parents, presented for transcription in Italy, which already bear the maternal surname IN ADDITION to the paternal one, are therefore accepted by the Embassy and the Italian Municipality.
- I need a civil status certificate issued by the Italian municipality (birth, marriage, etc.).
No. Embassies cannot issue certificates of civil status: birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. These certificates, often necessary abroad for handling various types of paperwork, must be requested directly by the interested parties from the Italian Municipality where they are registered.
For practical reasons, it is advisable to always request international or “multilingual” certificates.
Please note that for Italian certificates (birth / marriage / divorce / death certificate) to be valid in Norway, it is always necessary to have an apostille (the apostille in Italy is issued by the Prefecture of the Province where the certificate was issued) and, if they are not accepted in English, they must be translated into Norwegian by a certified translator.
In any case, it is recommended to visit the Municipality website for more precise information about the procedure for requesting civil status certificates from abroad.
- Does the Consular Office issue consular registry certificates?
The Embassy issues to citizens registered in its consular register (AIRE) and resident in Norway or Iceland the following consular registry certificates, valid only abroad or to be shown in Italy:
- Consular / family registration certificate
- Individual consular registration certificate
- Individual civil status certificate
- Individual Italian citizenship certificate
For an Individual Single Status Certificate, necessary for a marriage, please visit the specific section of the website.
Furthermore, the Embassy cannot issue AIRE registration certificates, family status certificates nor residence certificates.
Italian citizens registered in the Oslo consular register and registered with AIRE must request consular certificates possibly by e-mail to the following address: consolato.oslo@esteri.it
The Apostille is a certification required for international acceptance of (mostly) notarized documents. The Apostille is attached to an original document to verify that the document and its signature are legitimate and authentic. The Apostille is recognized by the all the States – including Norway and Iceland – part of the 1961 Hague Convention “Abolishing The Requirements Of Legalization For Foreign Public Documents”.
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6. Citizenship
- I wish to acquire Norwegian citizenship, in addition to the Italian one. What do I need to know?
- What is my situation?
- I wish to acquire Norwegian citizenship, in addition to the Italian one. What do I need to know?
From 1 January 2020, foreign nationals in Norway who wish to become Norwegian citizens no longer have to renounce their original citizenship. The change of rules allows Norwegian citizens to retain their citizenship, while becoming citizens of another country, and it allows foreign citizens, who fulfill the requirements for obtaining Norwegian citizenship, to become Norwegian citizens if their state of origin allows dual citizenship.
Italy allows dual citizenship, so Italian citizens who acquire Norwegian citizenship will be able to retain their Italian citizenship. They can become Italian-Norwegian citizens.
Pursuant to article 24, paragraph 1 of law no. 91 of 5 February 1992, Italian citizens residing in Norway, if they acquire or get back their Norwegian citizenship, shall inform the competent consular authority (which in Norway is the Italian Embassy in Oslo) of the new foreign citizenship. To do this, it is possible to fill in this self-certificate form (in Italian) and deliver it by hand or send it by post or e-mail to the Consular Section of the Embassy.
Italian citizens wishing to become Norwegian citizens must fulfill certain requirements. The procedure to follow in order to become Norwegian citizens is available on the website of the UDI, the Norwegian Immigration Directorate: https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/citizenship-for-people-who-have-used-the-registration-scheme-for-eueea-nationals/?c=ita
- What is my situation?
There is a new procedure for applying for Norwegian citizenship:
a) You are an Italian citizen who has not yet applied for Norwegian citizenship:
See the appropriate section on the UDI website for the procedure: https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/?resetguide=1
b) You are an Italian citizen who has already applied for Norwegian citizenship:
If the application was submitted by December 2019 and no answer has been received yet, the UDI could process the request already according to the new rules in force starting from 1 January 2020. Check with the UDI your position.
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7. Apostille stamps
- How do I apply an Apostille stamp?
The Apostille looks like a preprinted small form, usually stamped onto the reverse side of a page of the public document, having ten numbered items of information with blank fields to be filled in by the designated authority in the issuing country.
In Norway, the authority designated to issue the Apostille is Statsforvalteren, who appends the apostille on the original Norwegian certificates.
In Italy, it is possible to get an Apostille in the Prefecture of the Province of competence.
In Iceland, please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.government.is/ministries/ministry-for-foreign-affairs/.
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8. Driving license replacement
- How can I replace my driving license?
To replace a driving license with no obligation of passing theoretical and practical exams with a Norwegian license of the same category, an Italian citizen who resides in Norway must apply to the Norwegian authorities (Statens vegvesen, www.vegvesen.no/en/ and https://www.vegvesen.no/en/driving-licences/driving-licence-holders/foreign-driving-licences-in-norway/issued-in-the-eu-eea).
Once the new license has been issued, the Norwegian authorities will inform the Italian authorities (ACI – Italian Automobile Club) that the Italian driving license has been replaced with a Norwegian driving license. Once the new license is issued, the Italian one is revoked.
If you are moving back to Italy permanently, it is possible to drive in Italy with a Norwegian license up to 12 months from the date of arrival. After one year, it is necessary to request that an Italian license replaces the Norwegian one. Further information at http://www.mit.gov.it/mit/site.php?p=cm&o=vd&id=308
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9. Study abroad: Statement of equal value (“Dichiarazione di valore”)
- I need to get recognition in Italy of my educational qualifications (obtained only in Norway and Iceland). What should I do?
- I need to get a declaration confirming single school years in Norway and Iceland. What should I do?
The Italian Embassy in Oslo can only issue “Dichiarazioni di Valore” for qualifications issued by public or officially recognized Norwegian and Icelandic educational institutions (schools, colleges and universities).
If you need a declaration confirming single school years in Norway and Iceland please contact the Consular Office: consolato.oslo@esteri.it.
The “Dichiarazione di valore” (“Statement of equal value”) is a document describing an educational qualification obtained in other countries than Italy. The “Statement of equal value” is a document of purely informative nature and does entail in itself any recognition, academic or professional, which is a prerogative of the competent authorities in Italy.
- I need to get recognition in Italy of my educational qualifications (obtained only in Norway and Iceland). What should I do?
Foreign educational qualifications are not automatically recognized by all Italian universities.
The Italian Embassy in Oslo issues the “Statement of equal value” exclusively for educational qualifications obtained in Norway and Iceland.
Required documents:
- A copy of the original diploma or degree (not a copy sent by mail), endorsed with the stamp of the school or university and signed by a school official, certified as authentic by the Notary Public (Tingretten in Norway) and legalized with an Apostille stamp affixed by the Governor’s Office (Statsforvalteren in Norway, the Ministery of Foreign Affairs in Iceland). Please include the Diploma Supplement/Transcript of Record.
- A copy of a valid ID or passport.
- The application form “Modello per la richiesta della dichiarazione di valore“, completed in its entirety and signed. You find this application form in the section “Modulistica”.
- If requested by the Italian university campus, a translation of the diploma to Italian. The translation must be carried out by an official translator and must be legalized with an Apostille stamp. Please note that if the diploma is in English, a translation to Italian is not necessary in order to obtain the “Dichiarazione di valore”.
If the Declaration of value is requested for the continuation of studies, it is free of charge. For professional or other purposes and if the applicant is Italian citizen, a consular fee applies.
The documentation can be delivered personally by the applicant at the Embassy (Inkognitogaten 7, Oslo) or be sent by mail to: Embassy of Italy, PO Box 4021 AMB, 0244 Oslo.
The “Dichiarazione di valore”, together with the diploma, can be collected personally or by a delegated person (by appointment only) at the Embassy, or be sent back to the applicant by postal mail (shipping costs are charged to the applicant).
- I need to get a declaration confirming single school years in Norway and Iceland. What should I do?
You only need to present to the Italian school an original copy of the certificate issued by the foreign school where the study was undertaken, together with a list of the subjects covered, preferably in English.
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10. Lawyers
On this site you will find a list of Italian-speaking lawyers working in Norway.
The list is to be considered open and not exhaustive.
The listed lawyers meet the following requirements:
- Knowledge of Italian and Norwegian language.
- Legal qualification for the practice of the profession in Norway and registration in the relevant register and/or professional order.
- Knowledge of local and Italian legislation in the specific field of activity, and/or association or collaboration with law firms in Italy.
The Embassy is not responsible for the professional ability and quality of service provided by the listed professionals nor for the rates charged. Inclusion in the list does not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Embassy.
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11. Consular fees and online payments
For payments online for passports or for other consular services, please use the following bank account:
Bank: Sparebank 1 Østlandet
Account number: 18132935676
Bank account holder: Ambasciata d’Italia
IBAN: NO8218132935676 – SWIFT/BIC: SHEDNO22
The payments shall be made in NOK. To identify the bank transfer please ensure that details of payment are clearly indicated (name, surname and the consular service for which the fee is due)
For postal shipments (for example in the case of passports issued to minors), the applicant must personally purchase the stamps and send a pre-stamped envelope to this Embassy, making sure that the stamps cover all postage costs. The pre-franked envelope must be of medium size (23×16 cm).
For more information, please contact the Consular Office.