Apostille, document legalization and certificate for return to Russia preparation

If the document is in a foreign language, it is additionally necessary to make a notarized translation into Russian.

How complex, expensive and time-consuming this procedure will be depends on the type of document and the country in which it was obtained.

If you do not have a valid passport, for urgent entry into the territory of Russia you can obtain a certificate for return to Russia.

If a Russian citizen who is abroad has never had his own foreign passport, he/she cannot obtain a certificate for return. In this case, you will need to apply for a foreign passport.

A certificate for return can, for example, be issued on an internal passport of the Russian Federation or an affidavit of two other citizens of the Russian Federation confirming your identity. If you do not have both valid passports and witnesses, you may need to first go through a procedure to verify your Russian citizenship.

To submit an application, the prior registration at the consulate is not required.

The processing time is from 2 to 27 days, the document is valid for 14 days.

The certificate for return does not replace a foreign passport and is intended exclusively for a single entry into the territory of Russia.

If there are no direct flights to the Russian Federation from the country of the consulate, it is recommended to check with the airline in advance whether they will allow you on the flight with this document.

Within 3 days after arrival to Russia, the certificate must be submitted to the territorial body of the Federal Migration Service at your place of residence.