Official Document Translation & Legalisation Map

Interactive index of country-specific requirements for certified translations, sworn translations, apostilles, and consular legalization for official submissions worldwide.

Simple World Map Author: Al MacDonald Editor: Fritz Lekschas License: CC BY-SA 3.0 ID: ISO 3166-1 or "_[a-zA-Z]" if an ISO code is not available

Translation Standard

Sworn Translator
Certified Translation
Notarised Translation
Not mapped yet

Russia

Notarised translation standard

Requirements Summary

Apostille required
Required for foreign public documents unless exempt by treaty
Who can translate
Any competent translator whose signature can be notarised
Accepted languages
Russian
Legalization agency
Ministry of Justice / Ministry of Foreign Affairs (apostille)
Important: In Russia, the legal validity of a translation derives from the notarisation of the translator’s signature — not from translator licensing.

Detailed Guidelines

Who can translate

Russia does not operate a court-sworn or licensed translator system. Any competent translator may prepare a translation. However, for official use, the translator’s signature must be certified by a Russian notary.

What makes a translation official

A notarised translation in Russia typically includes:
  • The original document
  • The full translation into Russian
  • A notarial certificate confirming the authenticity of the translator’s signature
  • The notary does not verify translation quality — only the identity of the translator and authenticity of their signature.

    Where can I find a notary?

    Official notaries in Russia are registered with Rosreestr (Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography). You can search by region using the official notary portal: Official Notary Search (Rosreestr) .

    Documents from abroad

    Foreign public documents intended for use in Russia must:
  • Be apostilled or legalised in the country of origin (unless treaty exemptions apply)
  • Be translated into Russian
  • Have the translation notarised by a Russian notary
  • Legal basis

    Notarial activities in Russia are governed by the Fundamentals of Notarial Legislation of the Russian Federation. Apostilles are issued by competent regional authorities in accordance with the Hague Apostille Convention.