Getting Married in Russia

US citizens who plan to marry Russian citizens should read this information handout.

Please note that these procedures are subject to change without notice and that the information provided is merely a guideline you may find helpful. Furthermore, the procedures listed below may not apply to US citizens who intend marry other Americans or third-country nationals in Russia.

REGISTER YOUR VISA WITH YOUR RUSSIAN SPONSOR

Every foreigner is required by Russian law to have his visa registered by his sponsor through either the local or central UVIR (Office of Foreign Visa Registration). For more information about registering your visa, please request a copy of our "A How-to Guide for the Russian Visa" handout.

PREPARE A MARRIAGE LETTER AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY

US citizens who intend to marry in Russia must complete the attached standard affidavit form (svidetel'stvo) in which they state their current marital status. The attached form must be completed in Russian and notarized before a US Consul. The transliteration of your name should be identical to that on your Russian visa. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Embassy offers notarial services Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the cost is $55 or the equivalent in rubles. Green card holders and other legal permanent residents are not entitled to this service.

HAVE THE MARRIAGE LETTER AUTHENTICATED AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

This service is performed by the Department of Legalization of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Neopalimovskiy pereulok, dom 12a, approximately a twelve minute walk from Smolenskaya Metro (on the dark blue line). The hours of operation are from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (until 4:30 p.m. on Friday). Monday through Friday; telephone 244-3797. The procedure costs around 100 rubles for a five-day return. There is no next day or otherwise expeditious service available. All fees can be paid at the Sberkassa located in the waiting room of the Department of Legalization.

OBTAIN AN OFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF THE INFORMATION PAGE OF YOUR PASSPORT

GET MARRIED AT THE CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE (ZAGS)

After completing the first four steps, you must contact the ZAGS (Zapis Aktov Grazhdanskogo Sostoyaniya) office where your fiancee is registered and submit your documents for inspection. ZAGS officials generally will demand that you submit apostilled* copies of all pertinent US civil documents (i.e., divorce certificates, annulments) for their inspection. ZAGS will then schedule the civil service wedding 32 days from the date of registration. You do not have to stay in Russia for this period, but rather be present to submit the application and appear on the 32nd day in order to get your marriage license. If your fiancée/fiancé is a Muscovite, you must submit the documents you have prepared, your passport, and Russian visa to the Civil Registry Office at the following address: Palace of Weddings, 17 Butyrskaya St. Telephone 285-1960, 285-7988.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Once you are married, you may contact the Call Center for information about obtaining immigrant visas for your spouse and his/her dependents. This new service offers callers immediate access to a wide range of visa-related information and the possibility to speak to live operators from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Moscow time.

* Please note that the US Embassy in Moscow can neither translate nor legalize US documents for use in Russia. Certified copies of US documents must also bear an Apostille stamp to be valid in Russia - these stamps are only available in the US. For more information please contavt apostille.us 1-212-233-7061


related to preparation of Documents Required for a Marriages Abroad for submission in foreign countries.

We will:

Prepare or Retrieval the necessary Documentsfor Marriages Abroad

Obtain an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or Embassy Legalization (for non-Hague countries)

Translate the Documents into the target language

Have the Marriages Abroad authenticated by the Consulate or Embassy of the target country

To ensure that you receive an accurate record for your request and that your request is filled with all due speed, please complete and submit our Online Application