Document Legalization

Obtaining validation of foreign documents for use in Russia is necessary for adherence to specific procedures. In the process of global interactions, foreign documents often need to be accepted as officially valid in Russia.

Diplomatic documents encompass numerous categories including identification papers, birth certificates and others, authenticated by official bodies of countries that are signatories to mutual recognition treaties on the reciprocal acceptance and protection of certificates.

First and foremost, it is essential to determine whether the country where the paper was issued has an contract with Russia on reciprocal acceptance of diplomas. Such contracts can simplify the process and accelerate the process substantially.

In case there is an contract, the paper needs to be endorsed by the official agency in the nation of origin. An endorsement is a special certification or authentication attached to a document to authenticate its originality. A list of states with apostille agreements is published on the website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

In states where there is no contract, the documents are acknowledged only after getting certified and stamped by the relevant foreign affairs authority or the Russian embassy start business in Russia the country of issuance. Once this step is completed, the paper is submitted for legalization at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Upon authentication and certification by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the document receives a diplomatic certification. However, for papers issued in states with endorsement contracts, the apostille itself a substitute for diplomatic certification.

To get a document authenticated in Russia, you typically need to present it along with a notarized authorization and the corresponding payment. You can send the documents via mail or through the post office, depending on the specific procedures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Validation of international papers for use in Russia can be quite complex due to multiple treaties and procedures involved. However, if you follow the steps and identify whether the country has an contract with Russia, the process can become significantly easier.