Getting Married in Russia

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.

1. Register Your Visa with Your Russian Sponsor

Every foreigner is required by Russian law to have his visa registered by his landlord through the local post office or his sponsor through either the local or central FMS (Federal Migration Service).

2. Obtain an Official Translation of the Information Page of Your Passport

The necessary translation can be obtained at any certified translation center that has a Russian notary public present. The following is a partial list of certified translation centers in Moscow:

Bureau of Interpreters (23 Leningradskiy Prp., metro stop Dinamo), 250-0407/1723
Uni V Tour (6 Bobrov Per., Bldg. 3, 2nd floor, Rm. 8, metro stop Chistye Prudy), 625-2225/2667
Santor (1 Gogolevskiy Blvd., Bldg. 10, metro stop Kropotkinskaya), 771-1884

3. Prepare a Marriage Letter

Due to the hostile actions of the Russian government to cut our staff by over 90%, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow can no longer assist with Marriage Letters. As an alternative to a Marriage Letter issued by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, your local city or county clerk office in the United States may provide a similar letter of no impediment to marriage. Should you obtain such a letter from a U.S.-based local or state official, you may consider having it authenticated through the Department of State Office of Authentications. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is currently working on another solution, but there is no timeline as to when it might be available.

4. Have the Marriage Letter Authenticated

This service is available at:

Multifunctional Center for the Provision of Public Services of Moscow (MFC) at Ryazanskiy prospect 2, building 3 (TC City), Moscow, (495) 777-77-77, md.mos.ru.
Department of Legalization, Consular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at 1st Neopalimovskiy pereulok, dom 12a, approximately a twelve minute walk from Smolenskaya Metro (on the dark blue line). Appointments must be made in advance by calling (499) 244-37-97.

5. 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 fiancée/fiancé 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 495-685-1960, 495-685-7988.

Congratulations!

Once you are married, you may contact the Embassy for information about obtaining immigrant visas for your spouse and his/her dependents. Please also see our webpage on immigration to the United States.

General information on marriage overseas is available at the Department of State’s webpage.

* Please note that the U.S. Embassy in Moscow can neither translate nor legalize U.S. documents for use in Russia. Certified copies of U.S. documents must also bear an Apostille stamp to be valid in Russia – these stamps are only available in the United States. For more information please see our webpage on “Notarial Services“.