Procedure for Obtaining an Apostille in Russia
An apostille is an international certification that verifies the authenticity of an official document issued in one country for use in another. In the Russian Federation, the apostille is applied in accordance with the 1961 Hague Convention, which simplifies the process of recognizing the legal validity of documents abroad. This is particularly important for people planning to study, work, relocate, or get married abroad.
What documents can be apostilled?
An apostille can be placed on:
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Government-issued documents (e.g., birth certificates, marriage, divorce, name change, death certificates, and criminal record certificates).
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Educational institution documents (diplomas, certificates, transcripts).
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Notarized documents (powers of attorney, wills, certified copies of documents).
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Court decisions and documents from justice authorities.
Who is authorized to issue an apostille in Russia?
In Russia, an apostille can only be issued by the following government bodies:
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Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (for court and notarial documents).
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Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (for educational documents).
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Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (for criminal record certificates).
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (for all other official documents).
Procedure for obtaining an apostille
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Document preparation
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Before submitting a document for apostille, ensure that it qualifies for apostille and is properly prepared. For example, notarized documents must have a clearly legible notary’s signature and stamp.
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Submitting an application
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Documents for apostille can be submitted either in person or by an authorized representative. In some cases, electronic submission or mail services may be available. In many institutions, the authorized representative must have a notarized power of attorney (even for a lawyer).
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You must apply to the appropriate government authority depending on the type of document (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Internal Affairs, or Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
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Waiting for the result
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The apostille process typically takes 3-5 business days, though in some cases, it can be completed on the same day, for example, in registry offices or the Ministry of Justice.
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Receiving the apostilled document
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After the procedure is complete, you will receive the document with the apostille. The apostille is a special stamp containing information about the official who issued the document, their signature, and seal.
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Cost of the service
The state fee for issuing an apostille is 2,500 rubles. Additional fees may apply for mailing documents.
Important considerations
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Translation of the document: In some countries where the document will be used, it may need to be translated into the official language by a certified translator. It is recommended to complete the translation in the country where the apostilled document will be used.
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Document duplicates: If your document is damaged or does not meet the requirements for apostille, the service may be refused. In such cases, you will need to obtain a new copy of the document.
Apostille for electronic documents
Recently, the use of apostilles for electronic documents has gained popularity. These can be obtained through electronic systems, and the process is almost identical to the traditional one, but it requires submitting an electronic document with a digital signature. This can greatly simplify the process for citizens abroad. However, it is important to note that the country where you plan to use the apostilled document may not accept it in electronic form.
Conclusion
Obtaining an apostille is an essential step in legalizing documents for use abroad. To avoid mistakes and save time, especially if you are outside of Russia or unsure about the document preparation process, it is best to seek professional assistance.
Offer
If you need help with obtaining an apostille in Russia, you can use the services of Tatiana Tretiak's law office. We offer a full range of services for preparing, submitting, and processing documents for apostille, ensuring timely and accurate processing of your paperwork. Through us, you can also obtain duplicate certificates from registry offices, court rulings, police certificates, and more.
The cost is determined individually and depends on the scope of assistance required.