Foreign marriage and divorce certificates in Russia

How to use a marriage or divorce certificate issued abroad in Russia — for a residence permit, citizenship or a new marriage: apostille, legalization and the notarized Russian translation.

A marriage certificate issued abroad is valid in Russia, but Russian authorities can only read it once it is legalized and translated. The same applies to a divorce certificate or court decision and to a death certificate of a former spouse.

When you need it

• a temporary residence permit (RVP) without a quota on the ground of marriage to a Russian citizen;
• Russian citizenship in the simplified procedure for spouses of Russian citizens;
• marrying in Russia if you were married before — the registry office (ZAGS) needs proof that the previous marriage has ended;
• registering a child born in Russia with the father's details from the marriage;
• confirming a change of surname after marriage.

Marriage in Russia vs abroad

If you married in Russia, you already have a Russian certificate — no translation needed. If you married abroad, the foreign certificate is used in Russia with legalization and a translation; there is no separate procedure to "register" a foreign marriage in Russia for a foreign citizen.

Apostille or legalization

The certificate needs:

• 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.

The apostille is issued in the country where the marriage was registered. For a divorce by a court decision, the apostille goes on the court decision or on the divorce certificate, depending on what the country issues.

What the translation contains

• every field: names before and after the marriage, dates and places of birth, date and place of the marriage, registration number;
• notes in the margins — a later divorce or a change of name recorded on the certificate;
• the apostille and every seal and stamp.

Names follow the spelling of each spouse's passport translation. If the surname changed after the marriage, the translation shows both forms, as in the original — this is how the migration office links your old and new documents.

What we need

A scan or clear photo of the certificate with the apostille, and the passport translations of both spouses if they were made elsewhere. The notarized translation is ready in 1 business day.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; check the current list with your migration office before filing.