Getting a Foreign Diploma Recognised in Russia
A notarized Russian translation of your diploma is what universities and employers ask for, but nostrification — formal recognition by Rosobrnadzor — is a separate, governmental process. Translation is one of the documents that process asks for, but does not by itself grant recognition.
Getting a foreign diploma recognised in Russia means navigating two different processes, and confusing them is the easiest way to end up ordering the wrong thing. The first is a notarized translation of your diploma into Russian — what we do. The second is formal academic recognition through Rosobrnadzor (the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science) — a separate governmental procedure that decides whether your foreign qualification counts as equivalent to a Russian one. Foreign diploma recognition in Russia depends on both, but they are not the same thing, and this article explains why the difference matters.
What a Notarized Translation Does
A notarized Russian translation is what makes your diploma readable to Russian offices. Under Article 81 of the Fundamentals of Legislation on Notaries of the Russian Federation, a Russian notary certifies the signature of a translator who holds a recognised translation diploma and is registered with that notary’s office. This certification — not a verification of the translation’s accuracy, and not a statement about your diploma’s validity — is what Russian employers, universities, and admissions bodies expect to see on a foreign-language document. Our translators are registered with a Russian notary, so every diploma translation we deliver already carries this certification. Turnaround is 2–3 business days, and the cost is €69 per document.
That translation is often one of the first things a Russian office will ask for. An employer reviewing your file, a university admissions office, or a government agency can now read what your diploma says. Without it, they cannot proceed — but with it alone, they still cannot tell you whether your qualification counts as formally recognised in Russia. This is where many people get stuck: they order a translation thinking it settles the recognition question, only to discover later that a separate nostrification process exists and their situation requires it. The difference between the two steps is what this article is designed to clarify.
Nostrification: The Formal Recognition Process
Nostrification is the governmental procedure that formally recognises a foreign diploma as equivalent to a Russian one. It is handled by Rosobrnadzor, the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science, and whether you need it depends on your country, your institution, the specific qualification you hold, and sometimes the job or programme you are applying to. Some foreign qualifications are recognised automatically under international treaties or because the institution is on an approved list. Others require you to submit a formal application to Rosobrnadzor and go through its evaluation process. There is no way to know which category your diploma falls into without asking Rosobrnadzor and the receiving university or employer directly — the rules vary by country and institution, and they change frequently.
The key point to understand: we do not perform nostrification. We have no access to Rosobrnadzor’s evaluation criteria, no knowledge of which institutions are on an approved list, and no way to tell you in advance whether your specific diploma qualifies for automatic recognition or requires a formal application to Rosobrnadzor. That determination is Rosobrnadzor’s to make, and only Rosobrnadzor and the receiving office can answer it for your particular situation. What we do know is that when your diploma does enter the nostrification process, a notarized Russian translation is one of the documents that process asks for — which is why a translation from us is often an essential first step, even if the full nostrification procedure turns out to be necessary later.
Translation Covers the First Gate; Nostrification Covers the Second
Think of it this way. A Russian office looking at your file needs to read your diploma, and that requires a notarized translation. That is gate one. The translation makes the document legible and accessible — it is the document in its Russian-language form, certified by a registered translator and a Russian notary. Once the office can read it, the next question is whether it counts as equivalent to a Russian diploma for the purpose at hand — a job, a university place, a professional registration, or a licensing requirement. That is where nostrification enters, and it is a separate evaluation that belongs to Rosobrnadzor or the receiving office, not to the translator or the notary.
A perfectly accurate translation will not make a qualification count as recognised if Rosobrnadzor decides it does not meet the standard for recognition in your field or country. But conversely, if your qualification is on an approved list or falls under an international treaty, a notarized translation might be all you need: the university or employer reads it and accepts it as-is, without Rosobrnadzor ever being involved. The rule is not universal — it is specific to your country, institution, qualification, and receiving office. This is why asking the receiving office first is so much more efficient than guessing.
Notarized Translation (What We Do)
- Makes your diploma readable in Russian
- Certified by a Russian notary under Article 81
- Takes 2–3 business days
- Costs €69 per document
- Is often one document nostrification asks for
- Does not by itself grant formal recognition
Formal Nostrification (What Rosobrnadzor Does)
- Formally recognises your diploma as equivalent to a Russian one
- Handled by Rosobrnadzor, not by a translator
- Depends on your country, institution, and qualification
- May be automatic under international treaties or approved lists
- May require a formal application and evaluation
- Is a separate governmental process from translation
How to Find Out What You Actually Need
Before ordering a translation, contact the university, employer, or authority that will receive your diploma and ask them directly what documents they require. This is the critical question, because they are the only ones who can tell you whether a notarized translation alone is sufficient, or whether your qualification also needs to be recognised through a formal nostrification process. If they say nostrification is required, ask them which documents Rosobrnadzor asks for — a notarized translation will almost certainly be on that list, but only the receiving office or Rosobrnadzor can tell you if there are others, or if there are specific conditions that apply to your field.
Then if you are applying to a Russian university, contact the admissions office and ask which documents on your diploma need nostrification and which ones are accepted on translation alone. The distinction varies by institution and programme. Once you have the receiving office’s list, we can translate and certify the documents in 2–3 business days. That translation cost is fixed at €69 per document, and the turnaround does not change. What happens next — whether a formal nostrification application is needed — is entirely between you and Rosobrnadzor or the receiving office. Our job is to produce the translation; theirs is to decide what it means for your case.
Before You Order
- Ask the receiving university, employer, or government office whether they need a notarized Russian translation alone, or whether your diploma also requires formal nostrification
- Ask Rosobrnadzor or the receiving office which documents from your file might need nostrification
- Send us clear scans of your diploma and academic transcript, including every page, stamp and seal
- Tell us how your name is spelled in Cyrillic in your other Russian documents, so we match the spelling
- Confirm the country and institution where your diploma was issued, so we can check whether an apostille is required
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a notarized translation and nostrification?
A notarized translation makes your diploma readable in Russian and is certified by a Russian notary under Article 81. Nostrification is a separate governmental process where Rosobrnadzor formally recognises your diploma as equivalent to a Russian one. Translation is often required by the nostrification process, but does not by itself grant recognition.
Do I need nostrification to work in Russia or study at a Russian university?
It depends on the job, the university, and your qualification. Some employers and universities accept a notarized translation alone. Others require formal recognition through Rosobrnadzor. Ask the university admissions office or your prospective employer what they require before you order.
If my diploma is on an approved list, do I still need nostrification?
It depends. Some approved institutions and qualifications are recognised automatically, meaning a notarized translation may be all you need. Others still require a formal application. Only Rosobrnadzor and the receiving office can tell you which category yours falls into.
Who decides what is required for my diploma to be recognised?
Rosobrnadzor handles the formal nostrification process, but the receiving university or employer decides what documents they require from you. Some may accept a notarized translation alone; others may ask for nostrification. Ask them in writing before you order anything.
How long does a notarized translation take?
Standard turnaround is 2–3 business days from the moment we receive clear scans of your diploma and transcript. Nostrification, if required, is handled by Rosobrnadzor and is a separate process with its own timeline — we do not perform it.
If I get a notarized translation, am I done, or is there more to do?
A notarized translation makes your diploma usable for most document submission needs. If formal nostrification is also required for your specific case, that is handled separately by Rosobrnadzor — it is not something we do, and not something the translation process includes.
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Send us clear scans of your diploma and transcript, and you will have a fixed price and an honest deadline within 2 hours during working hours. You pay nothing until you approve, and if we make a mistake we redo it at no charge.
We are not a Russian government agency and not a law firm; we do not give legal advice. We translate diplomas into Russian and have a Russian notary certify the translator's signature under Article 81 of the Fundamentals of Legislation on Notaries of the Russian Federation. Nostrification — formal recognition of a foreign diploma by Rosobrnadzor — is a separate governmental process that we do not perform. What a particular university, employer or government office requires is set by that office, differs between offices and changes; always confirm requirements with the receiving office before you order.
