The Dichiarazione di Valore is an official document issued by the Italian Consulate (or Embassy) that confirms the value of a foreign academic qualification within the Italian education system. It is required for enrolment at Italian universities, professional recognition, and certain work and residency procedures.
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Italian Consulate · Dichiarazione di Valore
Italian Declaration of Value for UK Degrees
Applying to an Italian university or seeking recognition of your UK qualification in Italy? The Italian Consulate’s Dichiarazione di Valore requires more than a standard apostille — your degree must be verified directly with the awarding university and notarised with specific wording. Continental Visa is a UK specialist for exactly this process.
- Verified with the Awarding University
- FCDO Apostille Included
- UK Notary Public — Consulate-Compliant Wording
Overview
What Is the Italian Declaration of Value?
The Dichiarazione di Valore in Loco — commonly translated as the Italian Declaration of Value — is an official document issued by the Italian Consulate (or Embassy) in the country where your qualification was awarded. It confirms the level, scope and academic standing of your foreign qualification within the Italian education system.
You will be asked for a Declaration of Value when:
- Enrolling on an undergraduate, master’s or PhD programme at an Italian university
- Applying for professional recognition of your UK qualification in Italy (healthcare, engineering, architecture and other regulated professions)
- Going through certain work-permit, residency or registration procedures in Italy that require evidence of your academic background
The Italian Consulate does not issue the Declaration of Value from a plain copy of your degree. The consulate requires that your UK qualification has been verified directly with the awarding institution, and that the supporting notarial certificate confirms that verification in writing.
This is where most applicants get stuck. A standard solicitor’s “true copy” certification, even when apostilled by the FCDO, does not include the verification wording the Italian Consulate requires — and applications submitted on that basis are typically rejected.
Why Standard Apostille Isn’t Enough
Why UK Degrees Need Specialist Notarisation for Italy
The standard UK legalisation chain — solicitor true-copy certification followed by an FCDO apostille — works for many countries and many document types. For the Italian Declaration of Value, it does not.
The Italian Consulate requires that the notarial certificate confirms four specific points:
Verified with the University
The degree certificate has been verified directly with the awarding university or institution.
Document Is Authentic
The document itself is authentic — not just that a copy has been compared to an original.
True Copy of the Original
The attached copy is a true copy of the original document presented to the Notary Public.
Award & Authenticity Confirmed
The university has confirmed the award and the authenticity of the qualification in writing.
A UK Notary Public can only issue this certificate after the university verification has actually taken place. That extra verification step is the whole reason this service exists as a specialism rather than as a standard apostille.
Our Process
Our 3-Step Verification & Legalisation Process
We manage the full chain on your behalf — from the moment we receive your documents, through to delivery of your verified, notarised and apostilled certificate ready for submission to the Italian Consulate.
1
Degree Verification
We contact your awarding university directly to confirm your qualification, dates of attendance and classification. Verification is received in writing, either by post or via secure systems such as HEDD.
2
Notarisation by UK Notary Public
Once verification is received, our UK Notary Public certifies your degree using the wording required by the Italian Consulate — covering verification, authenticity, true-copy and university confirmation.
3
FCDO Apostille
We submit the notarised certificate to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for the apostille, completing the legalisation chain required by the Italian Consulate.
Need it fast? Where your university responds quickly, the notarisation and apostille can be completed in just a few working days — ask about our Next-Day Apostille Service when you enquire.
Documents We Prepare
Documents We Can Prepare for the Italian Consulate
We prepare the full set of UK academic documents that the Italian Consulate may require for your Declaration of Value application.
Degree Certificate
Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree certificates from UK universities — verified, notarised and apostilled.
Academic Transcript
Full academic transcripts and statements of marks — usually required alongside the degree certificate.
Professional Qualifications
Regulated professional certificates (medicine, engineering, architecture, accountancy and others) where Italian recognition is required.
School Certificates
A-Level certificates, school-leaving certificates and predecessor qualifications where requested by the Italian Consulate or university.
Letters of Confirmation
University-issued letters confirming dates of attendance, programme of study and award — useful supporting evidence.
Sworn Italian Translation
Optional add-on: sworn or certified Italian translation of your documents where required by the consulate or destination university.
Fees & Timelines
Italian Declaration of Value — Fees
Our fees are transparent and quoted per service component. The total cost depends on the number of documents you need legalised and whether the awarding university charges its own verification fee. Below is the full breakdown.
Step 1
Degree Verification
£75
Direct verification of your degree with the awarding university or institution.
Note: any verification fee charged by the university itself is payable separately and is added to the quote at cost — with no markup.
Step 2
UK Notary Public Certification
£150
£50
Notarisation by a UK Notary Public with the specific wording required by the Italian Consulate for the Declaration of Value.
Add additional documents (transcripts, professional qualifications) at £50 each when they relate to the same applicant.
Step 3
Next-Day Apostille
£85
FCDO apostille on the notarised certificate — the final step that makes the document accepted by the Italian Consulate.
Our Next-Day Apostille turnaround means once verification and notarisation are done, the apostille adds just one working day.
Example: Complete Single-Document Cost
For a single degree certificate, the typical complete cost is:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Degree Verification | £75 |
| UK Notary Public Certification (first document) | £150 |
| Next-Day FCDO Apostille | £85 |
| Total (plus any university verification fee) | £310 |
Example: Degree + Transcript Bundle
For a degree certificate plus academic transcript (same applicant), the typical complete cost is:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Degree Verification | £75 |
| UK Notary Public Certification (first document) | £150 |
| UK Notary Public Certification (additional document) | £50 |
| Next-Day FCDO Apostille | £85 |
| Total (plus any university verification fee) | £360 |
Typical Timeline
The largest variable is how quickly your awarding university responds to the verification request — typically 3 to 10 working days. Once verification is received, notarisation and the Next-Day Apostille typically complete within a further 2 to 3 working days. Tell us your Italian Consulate deadline when you enquire and we’ll confirm whether your timing is realistic before you commit.
No surprises. Your quote is fixed before any work begins. Any university verification fee is added at cost and shown separately. You will not be asked for additional payments mid-process.
How to Start
How to Start Your Application
Getting started is straightforward. Here’s exactly what happens from the moment you contact us.
1
Submit Your Enquiry
Complete the enquiry form at the top of this page — or call 0203 916 5786 — with your awarding university, the documents you need legalised, and any consulate deadline.
2
Receive Your Fixed Quote
Within one working day we’ll send a fixed-fee quote and an indicative timeline. We’ll also flag any consulate-specific quirks (e.g. translation requirements) we spot from your details.
3
Post Your Documents
Once approved, post your original degree certificate (and transcript, if applicable) to our London office by tracked, insured post. We’ll confirm receipt the same day.
From there, we handle every stage — verification, notarisation, FCDO apostille, return delivery — and update you at each step.
Why Continental Visa
Why UK Graduates Choose Continental Visa
The Declaration of Value is a specialist process. Getting it wrong — submitting the wrong wording, missing the verification step, applying late — can mean weeks of delay and missed university or work deadlines in Italy.
Italian Consulate Specialism
We prepare documents specifically to the Italian Consulate’s Declaration of Value requirements — not generic apostille work.
UK Notary Public Network
We work with UK Notaries Public who routinely issue certificates with the exact wording required by Italian authorities.
University Verification, Handled
We contact your awarding university directly — including via HEDD where available — so verification isn’t left to you.
Deadline-Aware
Tell us your consulate deadline; we’ll be honest about whether it’s realistic and flag the next-day apostille option if needed.
Fixed-Quote Pricing
Your fee is confirmed before any work begins — including any university verification charges.
ICO Registered & Established
UK-registered consultancy (Companies House No. 16149984) and ICO Registered (ZC091062) — trusted with sensitive original documents.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions — Declaration of Value
The most common questions we’re asked about preparing UK degrees for the Italian Consulate. For case-specific guidance, please contact us directly.
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What is the Italian Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore)?
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Why is a standard FCDO apostille not enough for a UK degree going to Italy?
For the Declaration of Value, the Italian Consulate requires that the notarial certificate confirms the document is authentic, that the awarding university has been contacted to verify the qualification, and that the attached copy is a true copy of the original. A plain FCDO apostille on a solicitor’s simple true-copy certification does not include this verification wording and is typically rejected.
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What does the notarial wording need to confirm?
Our UK Notary Public certifies that:
- The degree certificate has been verified directly with the awarding university or institution
- The document is authentic
- The attached copy is a true copy of the original document
- The university has confirmed the award and authenticity of the qualification
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How does the university verification step work?
We contact your awarding university directly and request written confirmation of your qualification, dates of attendance and classification. The university responds either by post or via a secure verification system (such as HEDD for UK universities). Once verification is received, the Notary Public can issue the certificate with the wording required by the Italian Consulate.
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How long does the full process take?
Total turnaround depends on how quickly your university responds to the verification request — usually 3 to 10 working days. Once verification is received, notarisation and the FCDO apostille typically take a further 5 to 7 working days, or sooner with our Next-Day Apostille Service.
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How much does the service cost?
Our fees are transparent and quoted per service component: £75 for degree verification, £150 for UK Notary Public certification on the first document (£50 per additional document for the same applicant), and £85 for the Next-Day FCDO apostille. A typical single-degree certificate complete service costs £310 in total, plus any verification fee the university itself charges (added at cost, no markup). See the Fees section for full examples and breakdowns.
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Do I need an Italian translation as well?
The Italian Consulate may require a sworn Italian translation of your documents in addition to the notarised and apostilled originals — usually for the Declaration of Value process at consulates in countries where the documents are not already in Italian. We can arrange certified or sworn translation as an add-on to the legalisation service if required.
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Can you legalise my degree and academic transcript together?
Yes. We routinely prepare degree certificates, academic transcripts and professional qualifications together for the Declaration of Value, verified, notarised and apostilled as a single bundle — which saves time and reduces fees overall.
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What if my university won’t respond to the verification request?
UK universities are generally responsive to verification requests from a Notary Public, particularly when accompanied by a signed consent form from you. Where a university uses HEDD or a similar verification platform, the process is fast. If your university is slow to respond, we follow up persistently and keep you updated throughout.
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Do I need to send my original degree certificate?
Yes. The UK Notary Public must sight the original degree certificate to certify the attached copy as a true copy of the original. We accept documents by tracked and insured post, and return them by the same method once legalisation is complete.
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Is this service only for university enrolment, or also for work?
The Declaration of Value is required for university enrolment, recognition of professional qualifications (such as healthcare, engineering and architecture), and certain Italian work and residency procedures. The same legalisation chain applies in each case.
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Are you affiliated with the Italian Consulate or the FCDO?
No. Continental Visa is a private UK consultancy (Companies House No. 16149984; ICO Registration ZC091062) providing professional document preparation, verification and legalisation support. The Declaration of Value itself is issued by the Italian Consulate; we prepare the UK side of the documentation to the consulate’s stated requirements.
Get Your UK Degree Ready for the Italian Consulate
Send us your degree certificate and we’ll prepare a fixed quote covering university verification, notarisation with the correct Italian Consulate wording, and the FCDO apostille — ready for your Dichiarazione di Valore application.
Request Your Fixed Quote