Notarised copy for China, issued in Moscow: apostille step by step
The chain of steps with authorities, fees and timescales. Change the fields and the route is recalculated.
Notarised copy for China, issued in Moscow
One apostille stamp obtained in Russia is enough. No consulate is involved.
- What the apostille goes on
- On the original
- Second apostille on the translation
- Not required
- Translation
- A Russian notarised translation is accepted
- Under the treaty
- Legalisation is not required by treaty, but is asked for in practice
- 1
Check the notarised copy before you apply
The stamp is only affixed to an original of the established form and in good condition. A laminated document, a Soviet-era form or one with corrections will not be apostilled: you need a duplicate first.
Under the treaty no legalisation is required
The 1992 treaty between Russia and China on legal assistance in civil and criminal matters is in force between Russia and China: formally the document must be accepted without a stamp. In practice institutions in China ask for an apostille, and an apostille is always accepted. The route is therefore built with one; if the receiving institution confirms in writing that no stamp is needed, the apostille step can be skipped.
- 2
Have a notarised copy made
The notary certifies that the copy is a true copy. The apostille is then affixed by the Ministry of Justice to the notary's signature, so the original stays with you.
- 3
Have the notarised copy apostilled by the Ministry of Justice
The territorial body of the Ministry of Justice certifies the notary's signature. This is the only route for documents that cannot be apostilled directly, and for documents from another region where the destination country accepts an apostille on a copy.
Главное управление Минюста России по Москве, приём на апостильМосква, Смоленский бульвар, д. 3/5, стр. 1 · metro Смоленскаяdocuments accepted: Mon–Thu 10:00–13:00, Fri 10:00–13:00; collection of completed documents: Mon–Thu 14:00–17:00, Fri 14:00–16:00no appointment required, first come, first served+7 (495) 197-83-76Authority website- The registered address of the office is ул. Кржижановского, 13, корп. 1, but documents for an apostille are accepted at a different address, on Смоленский бульвар
- Documents are accepted and the completed apostille is collected at different times of the same day
- 4
Have the document translated into Chinese and notarised
The translation is bound to the document and the translator's signature is certified by a Russian notary. Such a translation is accepted in China.