Embassy of the United States Moscow, Russia

Notarial services are provided for American citizens and for individuals of any nationality requiring notarization of documents to be used in the United States. The most common requests include notarizing power of attorneys and affidavits. U.S. citizens who wish to get married in Russia must complete an affidavit at the Embassy; please see our webpage on Getting Married in Russia.

If a document signed by a person located in the United States must be notarized for use in Russia, that document should first be notarized in the United States and then submitted to the office of the Secretary of State of the state in which the notarial was performed to be affixed with an apostille. A document bearing an apostille is legal and valid in Russia as well as other countries that are signatories to the Hague Legalization Convention of 1961. For more information please see our page on Apostilles and Legalization of Documents.

The Embassy cannot authenticate or make certified copies of public documents or academic records issued in the United States. Here is information on how best to authenticate public records and academic documents issued in the U.S.:

If you need a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce record you should contact the custodian of public records in the state where the record was issued.  Follow this link for information on how to contact the custodian of public records in your state. 

You can find information on how to authenticate your academic credentials by following this link to the Department of State’s webpage on authentications.

To request a certified copy of a Consular Report of Birth or Death, please click here.

The Embassy cannot provide or certify official translations of documents.

 The Embassy can provide a List of Translation Centers that certify their translations. This list is provided for information only; the Embassy cannot guarantee the work or these agencies, nor can the Embassy assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of these agencies. Please review the Schedule of Fees to see costs associated with notarial services.

Please see the Department of State's webpage on Notarial and Authentication Services for more information on notary services and document authentication.