Notes of the legal requirements

Before a marriege may take place in Russia there are certaine preliminary formalities that the law requires to be observed. These can either be initiated in the UK or at the British Embassy, Moscow and fall into two categories as follows:

1. Obtaining Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage Pursuant to the Marriage with Foreigners Act 1906 in the UK

If you wish to start the procedure in the UK to get married in Russia you must obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) from your local Superintendent Registrar’s office. In order to obtain a CNI, you must personally give a notice of marriage to your local Superintendent Registrar.

Notice of marriage must be given to the Superintendent Registrar of the district or your usual residence in the UK. A period of twenty-one clear days must intervene between the day the notice is entered in the notice book and the day on which the Certificate is issued.
This Certificate should then be legalised by attaching a Foreign and Commonwealth Office certificate, known as an "apostille". The apostill can be obtained at:

The Legislation Office,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
20 Victoria Street,

London
SW1H 0NZ

Telephone: +44(0) 20 7210 2520/2521/2522/2523/2525
Fax: +44(0) 20 7210 2526

If you have been married before, then the Certificate making Decree Nisi Absolute and your Divorce Certificate should also be legalised by the Legislation Office in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Upon your arrival in Moscow you will need to bring your UK issued Certificate of No Impediment to the Consular section of the British Embassy and obtain a local consular translation of the Ceretificate. This can normally be done within one day. The fee for this procedure is J35.00 All fees are payable in cash roubles only. After the Russian version of the Certificate of No Impediment is issued, you should attest the signature of the consular office at the Legislation Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the following address:
12, Neopalimovski Pereulok
Moscow.

Telephone: 244 37 97

Metro station: Smolenskaya or Park Kultury

Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 10.00-12.00
15.00-17.00
Friday 10.00-12.30
15.00-16.30

You will also need to have your passport and the Certificate making Decree Nisi Absolute (if applicable) translated into Russian and the translation notarised. The Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in London, a Russian Notary Public or the British Embassy in Moscow can provide translations. The Notary Public office No. 1 in Moscow often prepares translations. The office is located at:

Notary Public Office No. 1
6 Bobrov Pereulok

Telaphone: 928 47 49

Metro station: Chistye Prudy

After the above procedures are completed you should make an appointment for the marriage to take place usually between one and three months later, at a registry office in the district of your fiance (e)’s permanent residence. If your fiance(e) is a resident in Moscow then you should make arrangements at the Palace of Marriages No. 4 at the following address:

17 Butyrskaya Ulitsa
Telephone: 285 19 60/ 285 79 88

Metro station: Savelovskaya

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 10.00-14.00 and 15.00-19.00

2. Obtaining a Consular Certificate of No Impediment from te British embassy, Moscow

You must reside in the consular district for at least 21 clear days before giving notice of marriage. You will be asked to complete and sign a Notice of marriage and swear an affidavit. You should also bring you passport, Russian visa and your fiance(e)’s internal passport. You will also need to have your passport and your Divorce Certificate (if applicable) translated into Russian and the translation notarised. The Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in London, a Russian Notary Public or the British Embassy in Moscow can provide translations. The Notary Public Office No. 1 in Moscow often prepares translations. The office is located at:

Notary Public office No 1
6 Bobrov Pereulok

Telephone: 928 47 49

Metro station: Chistye Prudy

After the notice has been on the consular notice board for 21 clear days, if no objections are made, the Certificate of No Impediment is isuued in Russian.
The consular fees chargeble are the following:

Fee No. 24 Receiving Notice of Marriage J35.00
Fee No. 26 Certificate of no Impediment J35.00

All fees are payable in cash roubles only.
After the Certificate of No Impediment is issued, you should attest the signature of the consular officer at the Legalisation Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the following address:

12, Neopalimovski Pereulok
Moscow.

Telephone: 244 37 97
Metro station: Smolenskaya or Park Kultury

Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 10.00-12.00
15.00-17.00
Friday 10.00-12.30
15.00-16.30

After the above procedures are completed you should make an appointment for the marriage to take place, usually between one and three months later, at a Registry Office in the district of your fiance (e)’s permanent residence. If your fiance(e) is a resident in Moscow then you should make arrangements at the Palace of Marriages No. 4 at the following address:

17 Butyrskaya Ulitsa
Telephone: 285 19 60/ 285 79 88

Metro station: Savelovskaya

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 10.00-14.00 and 15.00-19.00

Sergei Maniliouk