getting married in Russia

[monkey-girl]

Hello! I've got a couple of questions in relation to rules/procedures applicable for registering marriage in Russia. Please share your personal experience (if any).

We plan on getting married in Russia (I am a Russian citizen, my husband to be is British and intends to travel on a business visa).

Question No.1: considering the hassle with getting visas on the basis of private invitations (so-called "private visas") is it okay for a British citizen to submit a relevant application to ZAGS (Registry office) having a business visa?

Question No.2: has anyone managed to get married without having to wait for one month from the date when the application is filed with ZAGS (i.e. on the basis of a visa that is due to expire or a ticket booked for a specific date)?

Question No.3: Is anyone aware of the average period of time for getting a relevant (spouse's) visa issued in the UK Embassy?

Question No.4: does a UK citizen need to go to the Ministry of Russian Affairs (MID) in person to get the documents legalised or whether it is possible to send courier or an authorised representative (on the basis of a power of Attorney?) <-- I've tried ringing MID today yet the line was engaged most of the day

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

[phoenixsampras]

Why you just don't marry in England? Once you married, you just need to fill the form in the embassy saying you both are married. Voila!. With this paper you go to your local OVIR and register the marriage. There is some papers needs to be apostilized(?!), i don't remember which ones (you can ask your Ovir officer)

[Digenis Akritas]

I'm a US citizen and my wife is Russian. We were married at ZAGS in June 2007. As with all things in Russia, especially when visas are concerned, things change often. As such, I'm not totally sure if our experience will be exactly what you will encounter. For what it's worth, here are our answers to your questions:

Originally Posted by monkey-girl Question No.1: considering the hassle with getting visas on the basis of private invitations (so-called "private visas") is it okay for a British citizen to submit a relevant application to ZAGS (Registry office) having a business visa?

I was on a 1-year multi-entry business (delovaya) visa when we were married. We had no problems or issues related to this at all. Nothing.

Originally Posted by monkey-girl Question No.2: has anyone managed to get married without having to wait for one month from the date when the application is filed with ZAGS (i.e. on the basis of a visa that is due to expire or a ticket booked for a specific date)?

I'm pretty sure you'll have to wait a month or even more from the date you file your documents. That's been the case of everyone I know. It's not just because of long queues, it's just the law apparently.

If your husband is not already living in Russia, then you may be better off getting married in the UK. My understanding is that even there (in the UK) there will be a wait from the time you file for marriage and the date you will be legally married.

Originally Posted by monkey-girl Question No.3: Is anyone aware of the average period of time for getting a relevant (spouse's) visa issued in the UK Embassy?

What type of visa are you referring to here? You cannot get a spouse visa if you are not legally married. Are you asking about the visa you would need to go to the UK and get married to your fiance there? Not sure how long it takes, but I can ask a Brit friend this evening.

Originally Posted by monkey-girl Question No.4: does a UK citizen need to go to the Ministry of Russian Affairs (MID) in person to get the documents legalised or whether it is possible to send courier or an authorised representative (on the basis of a power of Attorney?)

Not sure. I went myself and I have to say it was quite an easy and pleasant experience. But if your husband needs to be here to file the initial paperwork at ZAGS anyway, then he could probably go to MID in person himself, right?

[monkey-girl]

Originally Posted by phoenixsampras Why you just don't marry in England? Once you married, you just need to fill the form in the embassy saying you both are married. Voila!. With this paper you go to your local OVIR and register the marriage. There is some papers needs to be apostilized(?!), i don't remember which ones (you can ask your Ovir officer)

Well, in our case it seems easier as we are both in the UK at the moment and my visa is about to expire, so if we want to get married in the UK I'll have to file an application for a fiancee visa first (500 quid), go back to the UK and get married there, then come back to Russia and get my Russian documents sorted (change my surname, get new passports, both internal and foreign one - not sure whether you can do it in the UK at Russian Embassy, perhaps it's possible), then apply for a spouse visa in the UK Embassy (another 500 quid).

Still doesn't seem to be the best option.

[monkey-girl]

Originally Posted by Digenis Akritas What type of visa are you referring to here? You cannot get a spouse visa if you are not legally married. Are you asking about the visa you would need to go to the UK and get married to your fiance there? Not sure how long it takes, but I can ask a Brit friend this evening.

I was referring to the spouse visa issued by the UK Embassy after we get married. The trouble is that I have to be in the UK in mid April to attend my Open University law exam so we are simply looking for the best option to speed it all up. I also asked about MID (filing the documents through a courier/representative) so that I could possibly try and go to Russia earlier, get all the documents done, file our applications to ZAGS: my application and an application of my husband to be (notarised in Russian consulate in the UK as Russian law gives the option of filing the application to ZAGS by only one of us).
As we are both in the UK at the moment it seems reasonable for my fiancee to stay in the UK while I am sorting out the documents rather than having to stay in Russia for more than a month or traveling back and forth.

[vantru]

If your future spouse doesn't live in Russia you are definately better off getting married in England and then deal with registering your marrriage in Russia.
I just got married (I am an Italian citizen), 26th Dec 2007, and what Digenis Akritas told you is basically what it will happen then I can tell you what I did.

First of all when you file the documents you will have to pay for the apostille which will be done after you will be married at an address that they will give you.
With the apostilled marriage certificate you will go to your spouse's embassy and your marriage will be registered in your spouse's country....after the registration is done you can apply for a visa (in my case it took 3 days)...the all process should not take more than 5 days.

Good luck

[sashadidi]

re question 2 we paid a doctor to say my wife was pregnant and only a few days waiting!!!

[pullar]

Originally Posted by monkey-girl Question No.4: does a UK citizen need to go to the Ministry of Russian Affairs (MID) in person to get the documents legalised or whether it is possible to send courier or an authorised representative (on the basis of a power of Attorney?) <-- I've tried ringing MID today yet the line was engaged most of the day Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Your fiance's certificate of no impediment has to be apostilled. This can be done in London in 24 hours if you take it in in person, and this way is much quicker than getting it apostilled at the British Embassy here and then having it certified by MID. Then all the documents have to be translated into Russian and notarised in Russia before they can be submitted to ZAGS

[55North]

I am presently going through the process, with a view to marry in early May.

For all paperwork and guidance, I am using.....

RealRussia.co.uk - Russian Visas, Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Visa support

Offices in London and Moscow. Costs £££, but absolutely reliable. I am impressed so far.

[kapione]

1 you need to go to ZAGs in the city you plan on marrying talk to them, also ask your embassy what you need to do on that end
2 you will need to have your passport translated ,and officially notorized
(PM me as to info where I went for this )
3you will sign forms then you can ask for and get a special curcumstances same day wedding , but you need a real good reason,or you will need to wait 4 to 5 weeks go back then set the Wedding date

if I can be any more help Private message me

[Bels]

From reading these posts, I 'd go with kapione on this one. It's obvious why you want to marry in Moscow and save yourselves a lot of trouble and expense. I'm a Brit who was on a business visa, and got married in Russia to a Russian.

First step is to go to the British Embassy and get the necessary documents.

[Andy B]

I found getting married in Russia very easy (Brit on a Biz visa married to a Russian), and fun!

We had to wait the 1 month, but that wasn't an issue for us. The only slight hiccup we had was the Embassy translated my name slighly differently than my passport translation (my fault for not checking before hand)... my advice is to check everything and do not assume. Other than that I was pleasantly suprised how straight forward it all was.

[Bels]

It must be a common mistake, translation mistakes on names, because it also happened to me. Yes , check everything.

[BrianS]

I'm an American and got married to a Russian in Russia. Very fun and unique experience. I would highly recommend it! The process seemed pretty easy and straightforward and ummmm you can PM me about the 30 day wait. ;-)