Important Documents for Russia
From entry to registration: These papers you should always have at hand.
From entry to registration: These papers you should always have at hand.
Russia is a bureaucratic country. Correctly prepared documents, translations and apostilles are the key to a stress-free stay, whether you are traveling as a tourist or planning to relocate.
These documents you need for your trip and stay in Russia.
Your passport is the most important document. It must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry and have enough free pages.
For most stays you need a Russian visa. Tourist and business visas are the most common.
For short stays up to 16 days, citizens of many countries can apply for an electronic visa.
You receive this at the border. More important than the visa! Never lose it, collected upon departure.
Required within 7 business days after entry. Hotels do this automatically.
For official actions, German documents need an apostille. Must be obtained in Germany.
Ensure your passport is undamaged and has enough empty pages. Also check the validity of your driver's license.
For official actions (e.g., TRP application, marriage), German documents (birth, marriage) need an apostille. This must be obtained in Germany.
Have documents translated directly in Russia by a certified translator. German translations are often not accepted.
In Russia, copies and translations often need to be notarized. This is a standard process and usually done quickly.
Scan all important documents (front and back) and store them securely in a cloud you can access even without a phone.
Paper you receive at the border. More important than the visa! Never lose it. Collected again upon departure.
Must be done within 7 business days. Hotels do this automatically. For private stays, you must go to MFC or post office with your host.
In Russia there is an ID requirement. Always carry at least a copy of passport, visa, migration card and registration.
Never laminate official documents afterwards. This often makes them invalid as authenticity can no longer be verified.
| Service | Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Notary Certification | 10 – 20 EUR |
| Translation (per page) | 15 – 30 EUR |
| Passport Photos | 5 – 10 EUR |
| Service | Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Apostille (in DE) | 20 – 30 EUR |
| Visa Fee | from 40 EUR |
| Health Insurance | from 15 EUR/week |
Go to large, established translation agencies. These often have affiliated notaries, which saves time ("One-Stop-Shop").
Pay meticulous attention that your name is spelled exactly the same (in Cyrillic) in all Russian translations.
Always have a few current passport photos with you. You need them surprisingly often for various IDs or applications.
We help you with invitations, visas and translations.