ZAGS Birth Certificate Legalization
ZAGS Birth Certificate Legalization
Russia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention for the purpose of document recognition in the UAE. This means Russian documents cannot be authenticated with a simple apostille. Instead, they must go through a full embassy legalisation chain — a multi-step process that involves several Russian government authorities and the UAE Embassy in Moscow.
A Russian birth certificate (Svidetelstvo o Rozhdenii) issued by a ZAGS office (Zapisi Aktov Grazhdanskogo Sostoyaniya — civil registry office) must first be verified by the Russian Ministry of Justice, then authenticated by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Konsulskiy Departament MID), and finally legalised by the UAE Embassy in Moscow. Each step verifies the authenticity of the previous authentication, creating a chain of trust that UAE authorities recognise.
This process is significantly more complex and time-consuming than apostille procedures in Hague Convention countries. Green Apple Attest has established a streamlined workflow with partners in Moscow who manage the sequential submissions to each authority. We handle the logistics, track progress at each stage, and ensure your document passes through the entire chain without rejection.
Additionally, Russian birth certificates are in Russian and must be accompanied by a notarised translation into English or Arabic for UAE use. We coordinate the certified translation with the legalisation process so you receive a fully prepared document ready for submission to UAE authorities.
Documents Required
- Original Russian birth certificate (Svidetelstvo o Rozhdenii) issued by a ZAGS office
- Clear colour scan of the birth certificate for pre-assessment
- Copy of your valid Russian or foreign passport
- Notarised Russian-to-English or Russian-to-Arabic translation (or we arrange this)
- Completed Green Apple Attest service request form
- Proof of UAE address for return delivery
Special Requirements
- • Russia requires full embassy legalisation (not apostille) for documents intended for use in the UAE.
- • The legalisation chain must be completed in sequence: Ministry of Justice first, then Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then UAE Embassy. Skipping a step invalidates the process.
- • Soviet-era documents may require additional verification steps.
How It Works
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1Submit a scan of your Russian birth certificate for our free pre-assessment.
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2We verify the document is eligible for the full legalisation chain and provide a detailed quote.
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3Send the original certificate to our Moscow partner address via tracked courier.
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4Our Moscow team submits the document sequentially: Ministry of Justice, then Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then UAE Embassy.
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5The fully legalised certificate is couriered to your UAE address, with notarised translation included.
Insider Tips
Insider Tips
- Start the legalisation process well in advance. The multi-step chain takes significantly longer than apostille procedures in Western European countries.
- If your birth certificate was issued in a country that was part of the Soviet Union (e.g., Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan), the legalisation process may differ. Contact us for specific guidance.
- Ensure the name on your birth certificate matches your current passport exactly. Any discrepancies will need to be resolved with supporting documents (name change certificates) before legalisation.
- We recommend requesting a fresh birth certificate from ZAGS before starting the process if your original is more than 10 years old or shows signs of wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although Russia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the UAE does not accept Russian apostilles for the purpose of document recognition. Therefore, Russian documents must go through the full embassy legalisation chain — Russian Ministry of Justice, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and UAE Embassy in Moscow.
The full legalisation chain typically takes 15 to 25 working days, depending on current processing times at each authority. This includes sequential submissions to three separate bodies plus courier time. We provide a realistic timeline estimate at the quote stage.
Soviet-era birth certificates are generally accepted, but they must be in acceptable condition and legible. If the document is deteriorated, we recommend obtaining a fresh certificate or a duplicate (Povtornoe Svidetelstvo) from the ZAGS office before proceeding with legalisation.
In most cases, the translation is prepared and notarised separately after the original document is legalised. The notarised translation is then presented to UAE authorities alongside the legalised original. We coordinate both steps.
Yes. ZAGS offices issue duplicate certificates (Povtornoe Svidetelstvo) upon request. Our Moscow team can arrange this if needed. The duplicate is fully eligible for the legalisation process.
Quick Facts
- Processing Time
- 20-30 business days
- Pricing From
- AED 500
- Country
- Russia
- Delivery
- Free across the UAE
Questions About This Service?
Our specialists know Russia requirements inside out — call or message for free guidance.
Other Russia Services
ZAGS Marriage Certificate Legalization
Full legalization chain for Russian marriage certificates from ZAGS verification through MFA consular processing and UAE attestation for family visa applications.
Educational Document Legalization
Legalization of Russian university diplomas and academic transcripts with Minobrnauki verification, Ministry of Justice authentication, and MFA consular processing.
Criminal Record Certificate Legalization
Priority legalization of Russian criminal record certificates (spravka o nesudimosti) from the Ministry of Interior, with expedited processing to preserve validity periods.
Commercial Document Legalization
Consular legalization of Russian company registrations (EGRUL extracts), corporate powers of attorney, and commercial agreements for UAE business operations.
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