Document Apostille
Apostille stamping on Russian documents for use abroad. 129 Hague Convention countries. State fee 2,500 RUB. Timeline — up to 5 business days. Full service: verification, submission, collection, delivery.
Get ConsultationWhat is an Apostille?
An apostille is a special stamp placed on official documents for their recognition in countries that are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention. As of July 2026, 129 states have ratified the Convention, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel, the USA, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, and most other countries worldwide.
The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, and authority of the official who issued the document. Without an apostille, a Russian official document has no legal force abroad — it will not be accepted by any government authority, notary, university, or bank.
Apostille in Russia is regulated by Federal Law No. 330-FZ of November 28, 2015 “On the Placement of Apostille on Russian Official Documents” (ConsultantPlus). The state fee for placing an apostille is 2,500 rubles per document (Tax Code Art. 333.33, ConsultantPlus).
The current list of 129 Hague Convention member states is in our complete guide.
What Documents Can Be Apostilled?
An apostille can be placed on virtually any official document issued by a Russian government authority:
- Civil registry documents — birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates, name change certificates
- Educational documents — diplomas, certificates, academic transcripts, supplements
- Notarized documents — powers of attorney, consents, wills, notarized copies
- Police clearance certificates — from the MVD of Russia
- Court documents — court decisions, rulings, determinations
- Commercial documents — articles of incorporation, EGRUL extracts, licenses
- Medical documents — medical certificates, reports (when notarized)
An apostille can be placed on the original document, a notarized copy, or a notarized translation. The choice depends on the requirements of the destination country — we will clarify which format is needed.
Which Authority Places Apostille in Russia?
In Russia, apostilles are placed by different competent authorities depending on the document type. This is regulated by Government Resolution No. 479 of May 30, 2016.
| Document type | Competent authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notarized documents, copies | Ministry of Justice (and territorial offices) | Document must be notarized |
| Civil registry certificates | ZAGS offices (at place of issuance) | Via EGR ZAGS — from any ZAGS in Russia |
| Police clearance certificates | MVD (Main Information Center) | Only on the original certificate |
| Diplomas, certificates | Ministry of Education (and regional authorities) | Document must be verified |
| Archival documents | Rosarhiv | Archival certificates, copies, extracts |
| MFA documents | MFA of Russia | Documents of consular institutions |
Important: Since January 1, 2025 (Federal Law No. 145-FZ of June 22, 2024), the MFA does NOT place apostilles on general documents. The MFA only performs consular legalization for non-Hague Convention countries. Apostilles are placed by the authorities listed in the table above.
Apostille Processing Procedure
-
Consultation and verification — send us a photo of your document via WhatsApp or Telegram. We determine if an apostille is possible, which authority will place it, and whether a duplicate is needed.
-
Document retrieval (if needed) — if the document is lost, laminated, or damaged, we obtain a duplicate from ZAGS, MVD, or an archive by notarized power of attorney.
-
Preparation — if necessary, we make a notarized copy or a notarized translation.
-
Submission — we submit the document to the Ministry of Justice, ZAGS, MVD, or Ministry of Education. We pay the 2,500 RUB state fee.
-
Collection — we collect the apostilled document from the competent authority.
-
Delivery — we ship the finished document via DHL or FedEx with tracking and insurance to anywhere in the world.
If you are abroad — the entire process is handled by notarized power of attorney. Your presence in Russia is not required.
Timelines and Costs
By law (FZ-330, Art. 9), the timeframe for placing an apostille is up to 5 business days from submission. The period can be extended by the competent authority to 30 business days.
| Service | Timeline | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard apostille | 3–5 business days | from 3,500 ₽ (incl. state fee 2,500 ₽) |
| Urgent apostille | 1–3 business days | from 6,000 ₽ (incl. state fee 2,500 ₽) |
| Civil registry apostille | 3–5 business days | from 3,500 ₽ |
| Educational document apostille | 5–10 business days | from 4,000 ₽ |
| Police clearance apostille | 3–5 business days | from 3,500 ₽ |
Included: state fee of 2,500 RUB, submission and collection services, pre-submission verification. Additional: notarized copy — 1,500 RUB, notarized translation — from 700 RUB/page.
Apostille or Consular Legalization?
The choice depends exclusively on the destination country:
-
Apostille — for 129 Hague Convention countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel, USA, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, etc.). One stamp, up to 5 business days, from 3,500 ₽.
-
Consular legalization — for non-Hague Convention countries (UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, etc.). Multi-stage process: Ministry of Justice → MFA → Consulate, 2–6 weeks, from 15,000 ₽.
Not sure what your country needs? Check the Hague Convention countries list or read more about consular legalization.
Important Information
- An apostille is placed on the original, a notarized copy, or a notarized translation — depending on destination country requirements
- The document must not be laminated — laminated documents are not accepted; a duplicate must be obtained
- The document must not contain corrections or unreadable seals
- An apostille is placed only in the territory of the country that issued the document — a Russian document can only be apostilled in Russia
- The apostille itself has no expiration date, but the underlying document may have a limited validity (e.g., police clearance certificate is valid for 3 months)
Useful Articles
- Hague Convention countries 2026 — current list of 129 countries
- New apostille rules 2026 — what changed in 2024–2026
- Electronic apostille in Russia — e-Apostille and digitalization
- Apostille on birth certificate — step-by-step guide
- Apostille on diploma — for educational documents
Sources and Links
- Federal Law No. 330-FZ of November 28, 2015 (apostille): ConsultantPlus
- Federal Law No. 145-FZ of June 22, 2024 (legalization): india.mid.ru
- Tax Code Art. 333.33 — state fee (2,500 RUB): ConsultantPlus
- Government Resolution No. 479 of May 30, 2016 (competent authorities): ConsultantPlus
- Ministry of Justice of Russia — apostille service: minjust.gov.ru
- HCCH — Status table (129 countries): hcch.net
- HCCH — Competent authorities in Russia (Art. 6): hcch.net
Need help with documents?
Contact us for a free consultation