How long documents and translations stay valid in Russia
Which documents for the Russian migration service have a shelf life — police clearance, medical certificates, passport — and whether a notarized translation expires.
A good set of documents can still be returned because one of them is too old. Some documents have a fixed validity; for others the migration office applies an unwritten but consistent rule. Here is what to watch.
Typical periods
| Document | Usual requirement |
|---|---|
| Police clearance certificate | issued no more than 3 months before filing |
| Russian medical certificates (HIV, drugs, infectious diseases) | valid for 3 months from issue |
| Certificate of Russian language, history and law | valid for a set period after the exam — check the date on it |
| Passport | valid for the whole period the status is issued for, with a margin; check your case |
| Birth and marriage certificates | no expiry, unless the authority asks for a recently issued copy |
| Diploma | no expiry |
These are typical rules, not a guarantee. Check the requirements for your procedure with the migration office or on Gosuslugi before you file.
Count from the issue date
For a police clearance the clock starts on the date the certificate itself was issued — not the date of the apostille and not the date of the translation. An apostille obtained two months later does not make the certificate fresher.
Does a notarized translation expire?
No. A notarized translation has no expiry date of its own. It stays valid as long as:
- the original document is still valid and accepted;
- the original has not changed — no new visas, stamps or notes in a passport, no new marks on a certificate;
- the authority does not ask for a translation made after a certain date.
In practice: a translation of a birth or marriage certificate can be used for years. A passport translation should be renewed when new visas and stamps appear, because the office checks your latest travel. A police clearance translation lives exactly as long as the certificate.
Plan backwards
- Book your filing date.
- Order the police clearance and apostille so they arrive about a month before it.
- Do medical checks within the three months before filing.
- Translate everything in the last weeks — it takes one business day.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; check the current list with your migration office before filing.