Marriage in Russia

Marriages can not be performed at the premises of the Canadian Embassy. Marriages are performed by the Russian Marriage Registry Office (ZAGS).

1. If you were previously married, Russian ZAGS (Marriage registration office) will request you to submit your divorce certificate/your spouse death certificate, if a certificate is issued in Canada, it needs to be legalized and translated into Russian language. Document issued in Canada can be legalized only in Canada.
1. A document issued in Canada not legalized by the Russian Embassy or the Consulate in Canada (translation into Russian is not enough) will not be accepted by Russian ZAGS (marriage office). It will be impossible to have a document issued in Canada legalized in Russia. Do not forget to translate the document into Russian - you can do it in Canada and in Russia.
2. When you arrive to Russia, you have to register your visa within 3 business days at the place of your residence (hotel, apartment). Without a valid Russian visa and registration with the Russian authorities you will not be able to get married in Russia and will not be accepted by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1. In accordance with Russian legislation all foreigners are required to have their Russian visas registered within three business days after arrival. Registration has to be done by your Russian sponsor, or the Russian company which invited you to come to Russia, or the Travel agency (if it is a tourist visa). The Embassy cannot provide any assistance with the registration,
3. To have you marriage registered by Russian ZAGS you need to make a Declaration of non- impediment to marriage (Marriage letter). This declaration is done in front of the Canadian Consul/Consular Officer.
1. You need to come to the Canadian Embassy in Moscow. It takes 1-2 working days to have the Declaration issued.
2. Then the signature of the Consul/Consular officer has to be authenticated by the Legalization Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow.
3. Please note the Marriage letter issued by the Canadian Embassy has the date on it - the letter will be valid for the Russian authorities for 3 months only.
4. If the date on the letter is May 10; it will be valid for the Russian authorities only until September 10 even if it has a stamp of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated later then the Embassy date. So, make sure that you use this letter before the date of expiry. Once the letter expires, you will not be able to get married and you need to obtain another letter and legalize it at the Russian Ministry of foreign Affairs.
5. The Marriage letter will be issued for you in English and Russian. The spelling of your name in English will be identical to the spelling in your passport and the spelling in Russian will he identical to that on your Russian visa.
4. To have your marriage registered by Russian ZAGS you need to obtain an official translation of the information page of your Canadian passport. The necessary translation can be obtained at any translation office in Russia or in Canada (the only requirement is that the spelling of your name in the translation should be identical to that on your Russian visa). The spelling of your name In English will be identical to the spelling in your passport and the spelling in Russian visa.
5. Signature of the Consul/Consular officer on the Declaration of non-impediment to marriage must be authenticated at the Department of Legalization, Consular Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in Moscow or in Vladivostok respectively. The document has to be submitted to the Ministry by a Canadian citizen ONLY IN PERSON as the Ministry has to verify that you have valid Russian visa and valid registration with the Russian authorities.
1. Please note that without the legalization stamp of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Declaration will not be accepted by the Russian ZAGS {Marriage registration office).
2. To have the signature of the Consul/Consular Officer authenticated please contact the Department of Legalization, Consular Services of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 
6. After completing the first five steps, please contact any local Marriage office (ZAGS). In Moscow, for example, you can contact the Marriage office at the following address: Palace of Weddings (for foreigners), 17 Butyrskaya St, Moscow, Telephone 7-495-685-1960, 685-7988, 685-06-94 where you have to submit your marriage registration application and the above mentioned documents, The ZAGS will determine a date of your marriage ceremony. A Marriage certificate will be issued for you once you get married. Your marriage is legal for Canada, Please note that notarized copy with certified translation of your Russian marriage certificate will be sufficient to submit Immigration sponsorship application and will be acceptable for the Immigration authorities.
7. Once you are married, you may contact the Immigration Canada for information about family class sponsorship for your spouse, or Immigration/Visa.