Consular legalization of Russian documents

Prices and time

Prices are per document. The time does not include preparing the document (translation, notarized copy) or the time the consulate takes. Submission to a consulate in Saint Petersburg requires a notarial power of attorney. State duties are included. Consular fees are charged at the destination country's consulate rates; delivery at the chosen courier's rates.

How legalization works

1. Preparation. We make a notarized copy of the document or a notarized translation into the language of the destination country, depending on what the country requires.
2. Ministry of Justice of Russia certifies the notary's signature and seal.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia certifies the signature of the Ministry of Justice official.
4. Consulate of the destination country adds the final stamp. We submit to the consulate in Saint Petersburg or the embassy in Moscow, depending on where the country accepts documents.
5. Extra step for some countries. For the UAE, for example, the document is also certified by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the consulate. This is done in the Emirates, and we can help with it.

The final stages are often in Moscow, where our head office is. Documents move between our own two offices, not through intermediaries, which reduces the risk of errors and losses.

Countries that need legalization

Legalization is needed for countries that have not joined the 1961 Hague Convention. Among our clients' most frequent destinations:

The list of Convention members changes. China joined on 7 November 2023, Canada on 11 January 2024 and Vietnam on 11 September 2026, so documents for these countries now need only an apostille. Thailand has acceded too, but the Convention enters into force for it only on 28 February 2027. If you are not sure, send us the name of the country and the document.

Which documents we legalize

• Personal: civil registry certificates, diplomas and school certificates, criminal record certificates, powers of attorney, medical certificates.
• Corporate: articles of association, extracts from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, registration certificates, resolutions and minutes — through the Ministry of Justice and MFA.
• Commercial: contracts, invoices, certificates of origin — through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia.

If the document was issued in another region of Russia or has been lost, we may first need to obtain it or a duplicate.

How the work is done

If you are in Saint Petersburg

Bring the original to our office at 2 Alexander Nevsky Square, office 409, or send it by courier. For submission to a consulate in Saint Petersburg, you will need to sign a notarial power of attorney for our staff at any Saint Petersburg notary.

If you are abroad

1. Send us a scan and tell us the destination country.
2. Sign a power of attorney at a Russian consulate or with a local notary (with an apostille or legalization and a translation into Russian). We send you the wording.
3. Send us the original by courier, or we obtain a duplicate under the power of attorney.
4. We complete the legalization chain and send the documents back by courier.

Common mistakes

• Legalizing for a Convention country. China, Canada and, since September 2026, Vietnam need an apostille, not legalization.
• Translation into the wrong language. Some consulates accept only a translation into their official language; others accept English. Check before translating.
• Missing the final step in the destination country. For the UAE, the stamp of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a separate step after the consulate.
• Names spelled differently in the translation and in the passport. We use the spelling from your international passport.