Italian Pending Charges CertificateWhat It Is and How to Get It
Find out what the Italian pending charges certificate is, when you need it for work or a visa, and how to request it online in minutes.
If you need an Italian criminal background document, the pending charges certificate is one of the most requested — and least understood. It's asked for by employers, visa authorities, and public bodies, yet few people know exactly what it covers or how it differs from the criminal record certificate. This guide covers everything: what it is, when it's required, who can request it, and how to get it online, even from abroad, with no trips to an Italian courthouse.
What Is the Italian Pending Charges Certificate
The pending charges certificate (certificato dei carichi pendenti) is a document issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office at the competent Italian Court. It confirms whether there are any ongoing criminal proceedings against a person at that Court, as of the request date.
Unlike the criminal record certificate, which lists final convictions already on record, the pending charges certificate captures the current procedural status: investigations, indictments, or trials still open. You can request the Italian pending charges certificate directly through our online service.
Pending Charges vs. Criminal Record Certificate
This is the most common point of confusion, since both documents relate to criminal history:
- The pending charges certificate covers proceedings that are still open, not yet closed by a final judgment.
- The Italian criminal record certificate lists final convictions that have already become legally binding.
Many institutions — especially foreign employers and immigration offices — request both documents together, since they provide complementary information. We cover this second document in detail in our Italian criminal record certificate guide.
What the Pending Charges Certificate Is Used For
The most common reasons this document is requested include:
- employment purposes: companies, especially multinationals and public institutions, often request it during hiring or for positions of responsibility
- visa applications: many countries require it as part of the mandatory documentation for work, study, or residency visas
- public competitive exams and job postings
- adoption proceedings
- naturalization or citizenship applications abroad
- due diligence procedures for corporate or professional appointments
Who Can Request the Pending Charges Certificate
This certificate can be requested by:
- the person concerned, if of legal age
- a delegate with written power of attorney and valid ID
- employers or institutions, only with the explicit consent of the person concerned, where permitted by law
You don't need to reside within the jurisdiction of the competent Court: you can request it online from anywhere in the world.
How to Request the Pending Charges Certificate Online
With our service, you can obtain the certificate without visiting an Italian Prosecutor's Office in person:
- Enter the personal details of the person concerned (name, surname, date and place of birth)
- Indicate the competent Court based on residence or place of birth
- Choose to receive the document as a PDF by email or as a paper original by mail
We handle the request at the Prosecutor's Office and deliver the Italian pending charges certificate straight to you, with no lines and no appointments.
How to Request It From Abroad
If you live outside Italy and need the Italian pending charges certificate, there's no need to travel back or rely on relatives in Italy. Our service manages the entire process remotely, including the related steps that often cause delays:
- if the document needs international validation, we can arrange the apostille or consular legalization
- if the receiving authority requires the document in your local language, we also offer sworn translation
Validity and Expiry of the Pending Charges Certificate
Because the pending charges certificate reflects a specific point in time, it's generally considered valid for 6 months from the issue date, though many institutions require it to have been issued within the last 3 months. We always recommend checking the specific requirements of the requesting institution before applying, to avoid having to request it again.
Conclusion
The Italian pending charges certificate is an essential document for employment, visas, and international administrative procedures, and it's often requested together with the criminal record certificate. Getting it online, even from abroad, saves valuable time and avoids the typical delays of in-person requests at an Italian courthouse.
