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maria1001 · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 28

Hi - one more quick question - do I need to get my university degree apostilled in order to teach in Russia? Thanks in advance

smithrn1983 · Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 320 Location: Moscow

It's probably best to check with the embassy on that. Visa laws change frequently in Russia. When I got my last one, though, I did not have to show any copies of my degree.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 4:26 am Post subject:

Can't really say. It depends on the type of work visa that you are getting. As far as I know, a 'teacher' visa needs an apostilled degree. Other visas, e.g. for 'consultants' don't. Even teachers working in the same school may find that they are on differing types of visas, and so need different supporting documents.

If you are outside Russia applying for a visa, you may not be issued with a long-term one initially. Most schools seem to ask new teachers to apply for a 3-month tourist visa or business visa, which is then 'converted' in Russia to a 12-month work visa. It may then happen during this 'conversion' that an apostille is demanded. Very often embassies do not really know the ins and outs of all this either.

I think the wisest course is to get the apostille anyway. Get multiple copies. You may not need them now, but may in the future. And it's harder to effect when you are already in Russia.

Good luck.

Shelby · Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Russia

I applied for a 3 month visa in August and it has just been converted to a teaching visa. I didn't need an apostille for my degree but I did for my CELTA.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:03 am Post subject:

What type of visa do you have exactly? Teaching? May be different for other professions. I do not have a teacher visa, so had to get my degree apostilled. No need for my teacher certs, as I am not doing that officially...

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:23 am Post subject:

As far as I know, teachers in Russia now also have to get a police criminal check to state they have never committed a crime - in Russia at least. Dunno about checks for crimes in other countries. As smithern1983 says, the rules change all the time...

Shelby · Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Russia

It's a teaching visa but didn't need any criminal record checks.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:27 am Post subject:

As far as I know, and this is from BKC teachers, the new rule is that all teachers now need to get a spavka type doc from a Moscow police authority stating that they have no arrests in Russia. Don't know how widely this is really being applied yet, but the folks in BKC are all getting it done - even Russians who don't need a visa.

Shelby · Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Russia

I haven't heard anything about this but maybe it is only in Moscow.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:35 am Post subject:

Could be. Haven't had to do it myself either. Yet. But then I am not registered as a teacher working in a school proper. I think I'm a 'consultant' working in 'technical linguistic support'. Or God knows what. So, no need to protect the minors. ( As though this is an effective check to begin with...)

I'd recommend getting all docs apostilled in any case. The rules change so often and for no apparent reason that the probability is high that you will eventually be asked for them at some point, if you stay around long enough.

MadGoldfish · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 30

Man, I hope I don't need to do provide this. My extension's coming up soon and none of my docs are in Russia let alone apostilled... Aaargh! I was so busy sorting out other stuff before moving that it never occurred to me to bring them. Better get on the phone to fed-ex!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:33 pm Post subject:

Talk to your visa sponsor first. They'll tell you what they need. At least, one hopes that they'd know...

Good luck

MadGoldfish · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 30

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

This will only help some people: Especially out in the towns, getting notarised is a lot cheaper in Russia than in the west. You just get yourself a university qualified translator and then a notary and they're cheap as chips.

Americanartistist · Joined: 15 Oct 2011 Posts: 31

and I have had some refuse to do it unless the translation was done by a licensed translator which are expensive. So you have to be careful here, once they see you are a foreigner, especially American, the price goes up. Back when I got my PIE registration, I had to go to four different notaries before one would certify my signature, why? I registered as a translator and they felt I would be competition, so be careful about using notaries here, they are not always easy to deal with.

I have heard that the Ministry of Education are doing spot checks at some schools and degrees and certificates must have an apostille seal before they are considered legit. It you were able to get a work visa, your school might slip by without betting checked, but is that something you want to gamble on? Just get somebody from home to send you the documents with the proper seals.
JD