No trip to Russia needed
Russian documents when you live abroad: step by step
You do not need to travel to Russia to get a document from Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast or Northwest Russia. The usual chain is: power of attorney → retrieval of the document or a duplicate → apostille or legalization → translation → courier delivery. For example, a duplicate birth certificate costs from 5 850 ₽ and an apostille on it 6 000 ₽; translation and delivery are added depending on the language and country.
The five steps
1. Power of attorney
We need a power of attorney when we act on your behalf: requesting a duplicate or certificate, or submitting documents to a consulate. You have two options:
- At a Russian consulate in your country. It is valid in Russia as it is; you then send us the original by courier.
- With a local notary. It then needs an apostille in your country (or legalization, if your country is not in the Hague Convention). We translate it into Russian and notarize the translation in Saint Petersburg.
We send you the wording so that it covers every step: obtaining the document, the apostille, the translation and submissions. A power of attorney that is too narrow is the most common reason for delays.
If you only need an apostille and a translation of a document you already have, you can skip this step and send us the original.
2. Retrieval
We request the document or a duplicate from the civil registry office, archive or state body. See Document retrieval for the list of documents and prices.
3. Apostille or legalization
- Country is a party to the Hague Convention — apostille.
- Country is not — consular legalization through the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the consulate.
4. Translation
We make a translation notarized in Saint Petersburg, or arrange a translation by a sworn or accredited translator if your country requires it. The translation usually covers both the document and the apostille.
5. Courier delivery
We send the documents by courier to your address: the courier's rate plus 500 ₽ for arranging it.
Typical cases
These are typical situations; the prices are our fees from the price list, state duties included.
| Situation | What we do | Our fees |
|---|---|---|
| You have your Saint Petersburg birth certificate and need it for a residence permit in a Hague Convention country | You send the original; we apostille it, translate and notarize | 6 000 ₽ + translation + 1 400 ₽ + delivery |
| The certificate is lost or on an old worn form | Power of attorney; we get a duplicate, apostille it, translate | from 5 850 ₽ + 6 000 ₽ + translation + delivery |
| You need a criminal record certificate with an apostille for a work visa | Power of attorney; we obtain the certificate with an apostille, translate | from 10 500 ₽ (35 days) to 50 000 ₽ (5 working days) + translation + delivery |
| Your marriage certificate is from Leningrad Oblast and is needed in the UAE | Power of attorney; notarized translation, Ministry of Justice, MFA, UAE Embassy in Moscow | 11 100 ₽ + translation + consular fee + delivery |
| You are a doctor registering abroad | Power of attorney; we obtain the Certificate of Good Standing from the Ministry of Health | 11 100 ₽ + delivery |
How long it takes
Add up the steps. For example, a duplicate civil registry certificate (from 5 working days) plus an apostille on a Saint Petersburg civil registry document (2–3 weeks), plus a day or two for translation and notarization, plus courier time. For a power of attorney from a local notary, allow time for the apostille in your country and for the courier to bring it to us.
What to prepare
- A scan of your passport (Russian or foreign) and international passport, if you have one.
- Scans of any documents you already have, even old or damaged ones.
- The name of the country and the authority that will receive the documents, and their requirements if you have them in writing.
- Your delivery address and phone number for the courier.
Send all of this to spb@legalizuem.ru, or by WhatsApp or Telegram to +7 (921) 880-01-67. We reply Mon–Fri 9:00–19:00 (Moscow time).
FAQ
Can I sign the power of attorney at a notary in my country?
Yes. A power of attorney from a foreign notary is valid in Russia if it has an apostille (or legalization, for non-Hague countries) and is translated into Russian with the translation notarized in Russia. We can do the translation. A power of attorney signed at a Russian consulate needs neither.
Can I send you the original document instead of a power of attorney?
Yes, if the original is in good condition and only needs an apostille and a translation. For duplicates, certificates and submissions to consulates, we usually need a power of attorney.
How do I pay?
The manager sends you a contract and an invoice. There is no online payment on the site; payment options from abroad are agreed individually.
Which courier do you use?
We arrange delivery with the courier service that serves your country. You pay the courier's rate plus 500 ₽ for arranging it; the manager tells you the rate before sending.
Related
- Legalizuem.ru price list, valid from 12 January 2026
- Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, 5 October 1961