In brief
The legal assistance treaty between Estonia and Russia ended on 18 March 2025. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Russian civil registry certificates and court decisions now need an apostille, including those issued earlier. Since 1 January 2026, a criminal record certificate no more than 6 months old is required for residence permits and visas. In Estonia, official translations are done by sworn translators. We obtain the documents in Russia without you travelling, apostille them and arrange the translation.
Which Russian documents are most often needed in Estonia
- Criminal record certificate — since 2026, for residence permits and visas.
- Civil registry (ZAGS) certificates — birth, marriage, divorce, death; duplicates to replace old forms.
- Court decisions — for example, divorce judgments.
Apostille
Since 18 March 2025, Russian civil registry certificates and court decisions for Estonia need an apostille — this is what the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states. On the date we checked, the website of the Estonian Ministry of the Interior still showed the former exemption rule in places; we follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement and arrange the apostille. Only a Russian authority can issue the apostille — we do this for you.
Translation
Since 2020, official translations in Estonia have been done only by sworn translators (vandetõlk), with a signature and seal or with a digital signature. We arrange a translation into Estonian by a sworn translator. A Russian document usually does not need translating for a civil registry office.
How long documents remain valid
| Document | Purpose | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record certificate | Residence permits and visas (from 01.01.2026) | 6 months from the date of issue |
Prices
- Criminal record certificate with apostille: from €115 — turnaround times and prices.
- Duplicate ZAGS certificate: from €65; apostille from the Moscow ZAGS: €60.
- Translation into Estonian: €15 per translation page; certification by a sworn translator is quoted separately.
The state fee for the apostille is included in the price. Delivery to Estonia is charged at the courier’s rate. Euro prices are based on the Bank of Russia exchange rate on 22.10.2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does an old birth certificate need an apostille?
Yes. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that, since the treaty ended, documents issued before 18 March 2025 also need an apostille. If your certificate is an old-style form that cannot be apostilled, we will obtain a duplicate certificate and apostille that.
Does a Russian certificate need to be translated for a civil registry office in Estonia?
Civil registry offices accept documents in Estonian, English or Russian, so a Russian certificate in Russian usually does not need translating. It still needs an apostille. For the police (residence permits), documents are translated into Estonian or English.
From what age is a criminal record certificate required for a residence permit?
The rule has applied since 1 January 2026. You submit a certificate from your country of citizenship and from every country where you have lived; it is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Check age conditions and exceptions with the Police and Border Guard Board or with us.
Sources
- Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Estonia's legal assistance agreement with Russia expires in a month (14.02.2025) — checked 22.10.2026
- e-Justice — Public documents: Estonia (sworn translators) — checked 22.10.2026
- Siseministeerium — Foreign documents (document languages for civil registry offices) — checked 22.10.2026
- PPA — Before applying for a residence permit — checked 22.10.2026
- EMN Ad-Hoc Query 2025.68 — Criminal record certificates (January 2026) — checked 22.10.2026
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements may differ between authorities: please confirm them before you submit your documents. Legal notice