In brief
For the Standesamt, professional recognition (Anerkennung), marriage and naturalisation, Russian documents need an apostille and a German translation by a sworn translator (beeidigter Übersetzer). A foreign criminal record certificate is usually not required for a residence permit, but for Anerkennung in medicine and care it must be no more than 3 months old. We obtain the documents in Russia without you travelling, apostille them, arrange the translation and send the originals to Germany.
Which Russian documents are most often needed in Germany
- Civil registry (ZAGS) certificates — birth, marriage, divorce; for the Standesamt, marriage, naturalisation and pensions. Duplicate certificates are often needed to replace old Soviet forms.
- Criminal record certificate — for professional recognition (Anerkennung), work with children and certain procedures.
- Diplomas and diploma supplements — for Anerkennung and study.
- Social Fund of Russia (SFR) pension certificates — for pension matters.
Apostille
Germany and Russia are both parties to the Hague Convention, and there is no agreement between them abolishing the apostille. The apostille is issued by a Russian authority: the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), the civil registry office (ZAGS) or the education authority. Documents that cannot be apostilled in the original (for example, SFR certificates) are apostilled on a notarised copy. We arrange this for you.
Translation into German
German authorities may require a translation by a sworn translator (öffentlich bestellter oder beeidigter Übersetzer); the joint database of these translators is justiz-dolmetscher.de. Our translations are done by a translator sworn in Germany. Translation: from €90 for a standard one-page document.
How long documents remain valid
| Document | Purpose | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record certificate | Anerkennung (medicine, care) | no more than 3 months old on the date you apply |
| Criminal record certificate | Residence permit | not required |
For naturalisation, the requirements depend on the federal state (Land) — check with your local authority.
Prices
- Criminal record certificate with apostille: from €115 — turnaround times and prices.
- Duplicate ZAGS certificate: from €65; apostille from the Moscow ZAGS: €60.
- Apostille on a diploma: €95.
- Sworn translation into German: from €90.
The state fee for the apostille is included in the price. Delivery to Germany is charged at the courier’s rate. Euro prices are based on the Bank of Russia exchange rate on 22.10.2026.
Reviews from our team’s clients (in Russian)
Заказывала справку о несудимости с апостилем, находясь в Германии. Всё оформление прошло удалённо, готовую справку отправили почтой. Весь процесс занял около полутора месяцев, но для меня сроки не были критичными, поэтому всё устроило. Отдельно отмечу очень выгодную цену по сравнению с другими предложениями на рынке. Осталась довольна услугой.
Reviews left on Google Maps by clients of our team whose orders we completed. The texts are quoted unchanged; names are shortened.
Frequently asked questions
Will a translation made outside Germany be accepted?
German authorities may require a translation made or certified by a sworn translator (§ 23 VwVfG). For recognition of nursing and care qualifications, translations by sworn translators from abroad are also accepted, but if in doubt the authority may ask for confirmation. The safest option is a translation by a translator sworn in Germany, and that is what we provide.
Do I need a criminal record certificate for a residence permit in Germany?
According to the European Migration Network, a foreign certificate is not required for a residence permit — the Federal Central Register is used instead. A certificate is needed, for example, for professional recognition in medicine and care: from the countries where you worked, no more than 3 months old on the date you apply.
My document was issued in Kazakhstan. What should I do?
An apostille on a Kazakh document can only be issued in Kazakhstan, and old Soviet forms often cannot be apostilled. We will obtain a duplicate in Kazakhstan and arrange the apostille and a German translation.
Sources
- § 23 VwVfG — Amtssprache (translations) — checked 22.10.2026
- e-Justice — Public documents: Germany (sworn translators) — checked 22.10.2026
- BIBB — Empfehlungen zu einzureichenden Dokumenten, Pflege (PDF) — 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