Diploma translation and recognition in Russia
How a foreign diploma is used in Russia for study and work: when recognition is needed, apostille or legalization, and the notarized translation of the diploma and transcript.
A foreign diploma or school certificate is needed in Russia for two things: continuing your education and working in a profession that requires a qualification. In both cases the institution or employer needs a notarized Russian translation, and sometimes a formal recognition of the foreign education.
Is recognition needed?
Russia recognizes foreign education in one of two ways:
- automatically, when the diploma comes from a country with which Russia has an agreement on mutual recognition, or from a university on the government's list of recognized foreign institutions;
- through a recognition procedure (often called nostrification), run by the federal education supervision service (Rosobrnadzor) through its expert centre, in all other cases.
Universities often check the diploma themselves at admission. For work, recognition is needed when the job legally requires a specific qualification — for example in medicine, teaching or law. Check with the university or employer which they need before you start the procedure.
Apostille or legalization
The diploma and its transcript need:
- an apostille, if the issuing country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention;
- consular legalization, if it is not;
- neither, for some CIS countries.
In many countries the apostille on an education document is issued by the education ministry or another designated authority, after the university confirms the diploma. Plan for this step — it can take longer than the translation.
What to translate
| Order | What is translated |
|---|---|
| Diploma without transcript | diploma page, seals, signatures and apostille |
| Diploma or school certificate with transcript | diploma plus every page of grades, hours and credits |
For admission and for recognition you will almost always need the transcript (supplement) as well: it lists the subjects, hours and grades that the expert centre compares with Russian programmes.
We keep the names of subjects consistent across all pages, give grades and credits exactly as in the original and translate the apostille in full. Your name follows the spelling of your passport translation.
What we need
Scans of the diploma, every page of the transcript and the apostille. The notarized translation is ready in 1 business day; long transcripts may take longer — we tell you the exact time with the price.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; check the current list with your migration office before filing.