Apostille by type of document
Which authority affixes it, what it costs, how long it takes, whether a copy will do and what to prepare in advance. 16 types of document, every figure with a link to its source.
Civil status certificates
Affixed by the civil registry authority of the region that issued the document. Another region will not accept the original.
Birth certificate
The apostille goes on the original certificate; a further copy or duplicate can be ordered through an MFC public services centre or Gosuslugi.
Read moreMarriage certificate
The apostille goes on the original; for use abroad a notarised translation is usually also required, with no apostille on the translation itself unless the country requires a double apostille.
Read moreDivorce certificate
If the divorce went through a court rather than the civil registry office, the certificate is still issued by the civil registry office on the basis of the court judgment, and the apostille goes on that certificate.
Read moreDeath certificate
Most often needed to settle an inheritance or a pension abroad.
Read moreChange-of-name certificate
Needed where a surname, forename or patronymic was changed otherwise than through marriage or divorce, for instance by personal choice.
Read moreCertificate of no record of marriage
Abroad this document is known as a certificate of no impediment to marriage or a single status affidavit; the Russian certificate states that no marriage record has been found.
Read moreEducational documents
Diplomas and school certificates are apostilled by regional education authorities, and you may apply in any region.
Higher or vocational education diploma
Once apostilled, the document is valid indefinitely and does not need a second apostille.
Read moreSchool leaving certificate
The certificate is apostilled separately from the transcript of marks only where the two are separate documents; check what the receiving university requires.
Read moreAcademic transcript
This is what distinguishes a transcript from a diploma or school certificate: the route runs through a notarised copy and the Ministry of Justice, not through the education authority.
Read morePolice certificates
A criminal record certificate is apostilled at the Information Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in any region.
Notarial and court documents
Powers of attorney, consents, copies and constitutional documents: the Ministry of Justice apostilles the notary's signature.
Notarised power of attorney
The duration is set by the notary in the text, often one to three years; the apostille does not affect it.
Read moreNotarised parental consent for a child's travel abroad
The apostille is affixed by the Ministry of Justice of the region where the certifying notary works.
Read moreNotarised copy of a document
This is the universal workaround for documents that cannot be apostilled themselves: the notarised copy is apostilled instead of the original.
Read moreConstitutional documents of a legal entity
The extract itself is treated as current for a limited time, usually no more than 30 days from issue; the apostille does not expire, but check that the data will still be current when used abroad.
Read moreCourt judgment
Either the court-certified original with the note of legal effect or a notarised copy of it can be apostilled; the choice determines the region where the apostille is obtained.
Read moreArchival documents
Archival statements and extracts are apostilled by the authorised regional archives.
Work out the route for your document
The document, the region where it was issued, the destination country. The step-by-step chain with authorities, fees and timescales appears at once.