Checklist

Documents for getting married abroad

A foreign registry office or consulate almost always asks a Russian citizen for a single status certificate — the Russian certificate that no marriage is registered, known abroad as a certificate of no impediment to marriage — a birth certificate and an international passport. Where one of the future spouses has been married before, a divorce certificate or the death certificate of the former spouse is added.

Checked on 21 September 2026

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apostille or legalisation translation

Needed almost always

Single status certificate usually no more than 3–6 months old on the application date Order it last: most countries accept one no more than 3–6 months old Route
Birth certificate The apostille is affixed by the civil registry authority of the region where the birth was registered Route
International passport A passport is not apostilled; a notarised copy or translation of the data page is needed

Often requested

Certificate of dissolution of the previous marriage Needed where one of the future spouses has been married before Route
Death certificate of the former spouse Needed instead of a divorce certificate where the previous marriage ended with a death Route
Change-of-name certificate Needed where the name was changed other than through marriage or divorce Route
Medical certificate of freedom from infectious disease Required by some countries, including several US states and parts of Asia; the form and the tests are set by the local registry office

Sometimes needed

Notarised power of attorney to file at the registry office Needed where one of the future spouses cannot attend the filing in person Route
Notarised copy of the birth certificate Some registry offices keep a copy and return the original to the applicant Route

The validity of the single status certificate is what people forget. Russian law sets no limit, but foreign registry offices usually accept one no more than three to six months old, so it is worth ordering last, once the other documents already carry their apostilles. The second point: the apostille on the birth certificate and on the single status certificate is affixed only by the civil registry authority of the region that issued the document, not by any office where you happen to live.

The exact list, how recent documents must be and the translation requirements are set by the registry office or consulate of the country where the marriage is registered. What follows is a general set that needs confirming before you apply.

By country

Germany and most EU countries require a certificate of capacity to marry (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis or its equivalent) with an apostille and a sworn translation into the local language. Italy and Spain are among the countries with a treaty on legal assistance, yet local registry offices often ask for an apostille anyway: check with the particular comune or town hall in advance. In the UAE and other Gulf states, registering a marriage involving a foreign national usually requires consular legalisation rather than an apostille, plus permission from a religious judge for a Muslim marriage. Turkey accepts apostilled documents but may require the translation to be certified by a sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) rather than an ordinary notary.

Germany Italy Spain Türkiye UAE

Questions

Can we marry abroad without an apostille if Russia has a treaty on legal assistance with the country?

Formally an apostille is not required in that case, but registry offices and consulates in several treaty countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, ask for one anyway. It is safer to confirm with the specific registry office than to rely on the text of the treaty.

Is an apostille needed on a foreign marriage certificate for it to be recognised in Russia?

Yes. Where a foreign marriage certificate has to be produced in Russia, for instance to change a surname in a passport, it generally needs an apostille from the issuing country and a translation into Russian certified by a Russian notary.

Where is the apostille affixed to a no-impediment certificate if I am registered in one region and obtained it in another?

By the civil registry authority that issued the certificate, not the one where you are registered. If you obtained the certificate at the office where you applied in person, the apostille is affixed there.

How long does it take to collect the documents for a marriage abroad?

It varies widely: apostilles on the no-impediment and birth certificates are usually ready within five working days, while the translation and the appointment at the foreign registry office can take from several weeks to a couple of months. Allow a margin.

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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