Recognition of Foreign Education

Recognition means the official validation of foreign education and/or qualifications, granting the holder the rights necessary for admission to academic programs.

There are two ways to obtain the certificate:

1. Submitting an application independently through the personal account on the FSBI "Glavekspertcentre" website.
2. Applying in person to the International Cooperation Division (teaching building No. 1, room 354).

Currently, the average processing time for an application, provided that a complete set of documents is submitted, is 45 days. This may be extended to 90 days if additional information is required.

Under the legislation of the Russian Federation, documents issued in another country may be used/accepted by Russian authorities and organizations only if they have been legalized.

Legalization is the procedure of conferring legal force on documents issued in one country for the purpose of presenting them in another county.

Legalization of foreign education documents can be carried out in two ways:

1. Consular Legalization — for countries that are not part of the Apostille Convention and that have not signed a mutual legal assistance treaty with Russia*. Consular legalization is carried out in two stages:
   
   • certification of the document (usually the original) by the competent foreign affairs authorities of the country where the document was issued, by affixing the relevant stamps and seals indicating the position and signature of the certifying official;
   • certification by the consular services of the Russian Federation (consulate or embassy of the Russian Federation) in the country where the document was issued, by affixing the relevant stamps and seals indicating the position and signature of the certifying official.
2. Apostille — for countries that are part of the Apostille Convention*

Apostille is a simplified legalization procedure. The apostille is affixed to the original document or to a separate sheet attached to the document, and may be issued in the official language of the issuing authority. The apostille stamp is affixed by the competent authorized authorities of the country where the document was issued (e.g., Secretary of State, Department of Education, Ministry of Education, educational organizations, etc.).

Attention! The apostille is not a separate document; it exists only together with the document it certifies. Each apostille issued has its own registration number. Under the Apostille Convention, no alterations to the text of the apostille or changes to the sequence of lines in the stamp are permitted. Reproducing the apostille by photocopying the stamp is not allowed.

List of countries with the type of document legalization required and the need for the certificate of recognition

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Documents confirming foreign education and identity documents (passports) issued in a foreign language must be translated into Russian.

The documents can be translated in the Russian Federation or in the country of residence/stay of the applicant.

All translations must be certified:

• notarially in the country of residence/stay, or in the Russian Federation** — if a legal assistance treaty exists with the country of residence/stay and the translation is made in that country;
• with the stamp of the Consular Division of the Embassy/Consulate of the Russian Federation — if no legal assistance treaty exists with the country of residence/stay and the translation is made in that country.

** The Russian Federation has legal assistance treaties signed with the following states: Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Moldova, Turkmenistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine.

Translations of documents confirming foreign education and identity documents (passports) made in the Russian Federation must be notarized by an authorized person (a notary). The translation must be bound together with the original or a notarized copy of the document.

Attention! We strongly recommend all translations of documents into Russian to be carried out in the Russian Federation.