Guidance only, updated November 2026. Always check the requirements with the receiving authority.
Anyone who has to present a foreign document hears about sworn, asseverated, legalised, official or certified translations. They are not the same thing, and asking for the wrong one can get a file rejected. Here is how to find your way between Italy and Morocco.
In Italy: “giurata” and “asseverata” are the same thing
In Italy, traduzione giurata, traduzione asseverata and, in everyday language, traduzione ufficiale all refer to the same procedure: the translator swears to the accuracy of the translation before the clerk of a judicial office (a court or justice of the peace) or before a notary. The oath is recorded in a statement (verbale) attached to the translation and the original document.
Asseverated translations in Italy are subject to stamp duty, under the rules set out by the courts.
Legalised: a translation ready for use abroad
A legalised translation is a sworn translation with an additional certification of the signature, needed when the document is to be used in another country:
- an Apostille, between countries that are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention, such as Italy and Morocco;
- consular legalisation, for countries that are not.
In Italy, the Apostille on asseverated translations is requested from the public prosecutor’s office (Procura della Repubblica) at the competent court.
Certified: useful, but not always enough
A certified translation comes with a statement from the translator or agency confirming its accuracy, without an oath before a public official. Some authorities accept it, but it does not replace a sworn translation when the authority expressly asks for one: always check first.
In Morocco: the sworn translator’s translation
In Morocco, the official translation is the one made by a sworn translator (ترجمان محلف, traducteur assermenté) registered with a Court of Appeal. The profession is now governed by Law No. 52-23, which replaced Law No. 50-00. The translation bears the sworn translator’s stamp and signature.
To use it in Italy, an Apostille is required: according to the Italian Embassy in Rabat, since 2016 Italian consular offices no longer legalise Moroccan public documents, and translations by sworn translators must also be apostilled by the Moroccan authorities.
In short
| Term | What it means | When it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Sworn / asseverated (Italy) | Oath before a court clerk or notary | Documents for Italian authorities; basis for use abroad |
| Legalised | Sworn translation + Apostille or legalisation | Use in another country |
| Certified | Translator’s statement, no oath | Only if the authority accepts it |
| Sworn translation (Morocco) | Sworn translator at a Court of Appeal, stamp and signature | Use in Morocco; in Italy with an Apostille |
Which one to choose
- Ask the receiving authority which type of translation it accepts and whether an Apostille is needed.
- If the document is Moroccan and needed in Italy, you can have it translated in Morocco by a sworn translator with an Apostille, or in Italy with asseverazione.
- If the document is already in Italy, asseverazione in Italy is often the simplest route.
Frequently asked questions
Are sworn and asseverated translations the same?
Yes, in Italy they are two names for the same procedure: the translator swears to the accuracy of the translation before a court clerk or a notary.
Is a certified translation as valid as a sworn one?
No. It is a translator’s statement without an oath: it only works if the receiving authority accepts it.
Is a translation by a Moroccan sworn translator valid in Italy?
According to the Italian Embassy in Rabat, translations by Moroccan sworn translators must carry an Apostille from the Moroccan authorities. Each authority may have its own requirements: always check them.
Sources
- Italian Prefecture – Asseverated translations (PDF)
- Court of Modena – Asseveration of expert reports and translations (PDF)
- Italian Embassy in Rabat – Translation and legalisation of documents
- Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco No. 7478 – Law No. 52-23
- HCCH – Competent authorities for the Apostille in Morocco
Tarjama24 offers both routes: sworn translation in Morocco with an Apostille or, for documents already in Italy, translation with asseverazione handled by a colleague translator in Italy. The first consultation is free.