In brief
For naturalisation, marriage and residence permits in France, Russian documents need an apostille and a French translation by an expert translator registered with a court of appeal (traducteur agréé). For marriage, the birth certificate must have been issued no more than 6 months before you submit your file. A criminal record certificate is required for naturalisation if you have lived in France for less than 10 years. We obtain the documents in Russia without you travelling, apostille them and arrange the translation.
Which Russian documents are most often needed in France
- Birth certificate — for marriage, naturalisation and registering children; a full copy, in the original.
- Criminal record certificate — for naturalisation if you have lived in France for less than 10 years, and for some types of residence permit.
- Marriage and divorce certificates, certificate of no marriage record.
Apostille
France and Russia are both parties to the Hague Convention, and there is no agreement between them waiving the apostille. The apostille is issued by a Russian authority: the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) for a criminal record certificate, the civil registry office (ZAGS) for certificates. We arrange this without you having to travel.
Translation into French
In France, certified translations are done by an expert translator on a court of appeal list (traducteur agréé, also called “assermenté”). We arrange this kind of translation: the translator works from scans and certifies the translation with their seal and signature. Translation: from €105 for a standard one-page document.
How long documents remain valid
| Document | Purpose | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Marriage in France | issued no more than 6 months before the file is submitted |
| Criminal record certificate | Naturalisation | no period stated in the rules — submit a recent one |
Prices
- Criminal record certificate with apostille: from €115 — turnaround times and prices.
- Duplicate ZAGS certificate: from €65; apostille from the Moscow ZAGS: €60.
- Translation by a traducteur agréé: from €105.
The state fee for the apostille is included in the price. Delivery to France 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
Why am I asked for a new birth certificate to get married?
Service-public states that a foreign birth certificate for marriage in France must have been issued no more than 6 months before the file is submitted to the town hall. So we obtain a duplicate certificate from the civil registry office (ZAGS) and apostille it.
Who can translate documents for naturalisation?
An expert translator on a French court of appeal list, or a translator authorised to work with the judicial or administrative authorities of another European country. We work with French expert translators.
Do I need a criminal record certificate for a residence permit in France?
According to the European Migration Network, it is only required for certain categories — for example, “talent – porteur de projet” and people starting a self-employed activity. For naturalisation, the certificate is required if you have lived in France for less than 10 years.
Sources
- Service-public — Naturalisation par décret (F2213) — checked 22.10.2026
- Service-public — Mariage en France (F930) — checked 22.10.2026
- e-Justice — Public documents: France (expert translators) — 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