Checklist

Documents to open a company or an account abroad

To open a company abroad, the local registrar or bank usually asks you to prove the founder's identity and address (international passport, criminal record certificate). Where a branch or a new company is being set up by an existing Russian legal entity rather than an individual, the entity's constitutional documents with an apostille are required. To open an account you will also need proof of the source of funds and sometimes of tax residence.

Checked on 21 September 2026

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apostille or legalisation translation

Needed almost always

International passport of the founder, director or beneficiary Not apostilled; a notarised copy or translation is needed
Criminal record certificate usually no more than 3–6 months old on the application date Required by almost every bank and registrar for the director and the company's beneficiaries Route
Constitutional documents of the existing legal entity (articles, register extract) Needed where the new company is set up by a Russian legal entity Route

Often requested

Proof of registered address (registration certificate, utility bill) The bank usually decides which form of proof it accepts
Proof of source of funds (income statement, tax return) Required by the bank for compliance checks
Notarised copy of the passport or other identity document Some banks keep a copy on file instead of the original Route
Educational diploma Sometimes required for a business visa or investor residence rather than for the company registration itself Route

Sometimes needed

Notarised power of attorney for a local agent or lawyer Needed where a representative handles the registration or the account opening without the founder present Route
Court judgment or other document confirming the absence of bankruptcy Requested by particular jurisdictions and banks under enhanced compliance Route

A common mistake is giving the bank or registrar a translation of the articles of association without an apostille on the original: most foreign banks and compliance teams want the apostilled original or a notarised copy, not just a translation. The second thing often missed is that a criminal record certificate is usually needed not only for the director but for the ultimate beneficial owners, where the structure is not transparent to the bank.

The exact list, how recent documents must be and the form of legalisation are set by the registrar or the bank in the country concerned. What follows is a guide to check against that institution before you apply.

By country

The UAE and other Gulf states usually require consular legalisation of constitutional documents and the criminal record certificate rather than an apostille, plus separate certification of the translated documents by a local ministry. Cyprus and other EU countries generally accept an apostille on the articles and the certificate, but local banks may impose compliance requirements beyond the registrar's official list. The United States does not require an apostille for registering most company forms (LLC, corporation), yet banks almost always ask for a criminal record certificate and proof of address with a translation. Georgia and Serbia use simplified company registration and in practice ask for a full set of apostilled documents less often, though a certificate for the director is requested almost always.

UAE Cyprus United States Georgia Serbia

Questions

Is an apostille needed on the articles if we are opening an account rather than a new company?

Yes. Where the account is opened in the name of an existing legal entity, the bank normally asks for apostilled constitutional documents and a register extract to confirm the ownership structure and the signatory's authority.

Can one criminal record certificate be used to register companies in several countries?

Formally yes, while it is recent enough for both jurisdictions, but the apostille is affixed to one particular copy. For parallel applications it is safer to order several copies and apostille each.

Do foreign banks require translation by a local sworn translator rather than a Russian notary?

In many EU countries — Germany, Austria, Spain — banks and registrars accept translations only from a translator accredited in that country, and a translation certified by a Russian notary will not do. Check before ordering the translation.

Is a criminal record certificate needed for all shareholders or only the director?

It depends on the bank and the registrar: usually for the director and beneficiaries with a substantial holding, often from 25 per cent, but the threshold and the list of people are set by the institution.

Checked on 21 September 2026

We can prepare the whole set

Translation, copies, apostille and legalisation for every document on the list, with courier delivery across Russia.

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