Certified Russian translations by sworn translators

How it works

Getting your Russian documents translated for German authorities is straightforward. Our sworn translators specialize in Russian-German certified translations and understand exactly what the Standesamt, Ausländerbehörde, and other offices require.

Send your document
Upload your document or email us a scan. A clear photo from your phone is enough.
Receive your quote
Within a few hours, you receive your personal quote with a transparent fixed price and delivery time.
Confirm with one click
Your quote includes a confirmation button. One click, and your sworn translator begins working.
Receive your translation
You receive your certified translation by email as PDF, and the original by post. Delivery: 3 to 6 business days.
Pay at your convenience
Your translation is in your hands. Only then do you pay, with a 14-day payment period.

When do I need a Russian-German translation?

Russian-speaking individuals in Germany need certified translations for many official purposes. Whether you're getting married, applying for naturalization, or seeking recognition of your qualifications, German authorities require documents to be translated by a sworn translator, with proper ISO-Norm transliteration for names.

Marriage in Germany

The Standesamt requires certified translations of your civil status documents before you can marry in Germany.

Typical documents: Birth certificate, internal passport, marriage certificate (if applicable)

Naturalization and Late Repatriates

For Einbürgerung or Spätaussiedler procedures, you need extensive documentation proving your identity and German ancestry.

Typical documents: Birth certificate, internal passport, labor book (Trudovaya knizhka)

Study and Qualification Recognition

Universities and recognition authorities need certified translations of your academic documents to evaluate your credentials.

Typical documents: Diploma, transcript, school leaving certificate

Residence Permit and Visa

The Ausländerbehörde requires certified translations of your identity and civil status documents for residence applications.

Typical documents: Internal passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate

What we need from you

To translate your Russian documents correctly, we need the following from you:

A clear photo or scan of your Russian document – You don't need to send the original. A legible photo or scan is sufficient.
The purpose of your translation – For example: Standesamt, Ausländerbehörde, naturalization authority. This helps us optimize the transliteration and terminology.
Any existing German documents (if available) – If you already have a German passport or ID card, the spelling of your name helps us coordinate the transliteration.
Apostille (if required) – Some Russian documents need an apostille. We're happy to advise whether this applies to your case.

Good to know: ISO-Norm and your name

German registry offices (Standesamt) often require transliteration according to ISO 9:1995. This means your name is transferred letter by letter from the Cyrillic alphabet to the Latin alphabet, and sometimes looks "unfamiliar" (e.g., "Mariâ" instead of "Maria"). This is normal and intended. We make sure the spelling is coordinated with your passport or ID card, if possible.

ISO-Norm Transliteration: What does it mean?

One of the most confusing aspects of Russian-German translations is the requirement for ISO-Norm transliteration. Let us explain what this means and why German authorities insist on it.

What is ISO 9:1995?

ISO 9:1995 is an international standard that defines how to convert Cyrillic letters to Latin letters, one by one, without interpretation. Unlike phonetic transliteration (how a name sounds), ISO 9 creates a reversible, exact character mapping. This ensures that your identity can be verified consistently across documents.

Why do German authorities require it?

German Standesämter need a standardized way to record foreign names in the civil register. ISO 9 provides this: every Russian letter becomes exactly one Latin letter (or letter combination), making the original spelling recoverable. This is particularly important for legal documents and identity verification. The Federal Foreign Office and local registry offices follow these guidelines to ensure consistency.

Example: How names change

Russian (Cyrillic)	ISO 9 Transliteration	Phonetic (informal)
Мария	Mariâ	Maria
Щербак	Ščerbak	Shcherbak
Юрий	Ûrij	Yuri
Наталья	Natal'â	Natalya

Yes, the ISO-Norm spelling can look unusual, but this is exactly what German authorities expect. We apply ISO 9 transliteration to names only (as required), while translating the rest of your document naturally.

What if my passport shows a different spelling?

Many Russian passports use phonetic English transliteration, not ISO 9. If your German residence permit or ID card already shows a specific spelling, we can note this in the translation or use footnotes to explain the difference. This prevents confusion at the authority while still meeting ISO requirements.

Have questions about transliteration for your specific documents?

Get a quote in 5 minutes

Response within a few hours

Translations for Late Repatriates (Spätaussiedler)

Late repatriates and their families face unique documentation challenges. Soviet-era documents, handwritten entries, name changes through Germanization, and spanning multiple generations: we understand these complexities.

What makes Spätaussiedler translations special?

Multi-generational documents: You often need birth certificates, marriage certificates, and passports for parents and grandparents, each potentially showing different name spellings.
Soviet-era formats: Older documents may be handwritten, damaged, or use terminology no longer common. Our translators are familiar with these formats.
Name consistency challenges: A family name might appear as "Schmidt" in German documents but "Шмидт" (Šmidt in ISO 9) in Russian ones. We help document this consistently.
Proof of German ancestry: The Bundesverwaltungsamt (Federal Office of Administration) requires clear evidence of ethnicity and ancestry, which must be properly translated.

We can review your entire document set and recommend a transliteration strategy that maintains consistency across all certificates, helping you avoid "proof problems" (Beweisprobleme) at the authority.

Common questions

Why must my name be transliterated according to ISO-Norm?

German registry offices often require ISO 9:1995 transliteration to ensure names are transferred clearly and traceably from Cyrillic to Latin script. This guarantees your identity is correctly documented, even if the spelling looks unfamiliar. The Standesamt needs a standardized, reversible system that allows the original Cyrillic spelling to be reconstructed. We coordinate the transliteration with your existing German documents, if you already have any, and can add footnotes explaining passport spelling differences.

Which Russian documents do I need for the Standesamt?

For a marriage in Germany, you typically need: your birth certificate (with marginal notes, if applicable), your internal passport (pages with personal data), and if applicable, a divorce decree or death certificate. All documents must be certified translated. We're happy to advise which pages exactly need to be translated, as often not every page of the internal passport is required.

Do I need to send my original document?

No. A clear photo or scan is enough. We translate from the copy and note this in the certification. This is accepted by German authorities. Your original stays safely with you. Simply take a photo with your smartphone and make sure all text is legible and no parts are cut off.

How long does the translation take?

Typically 3 to 6 business days. You receive the PDF by email as soon as it's ready, and the original with stamp arrives by post shortly after. If you have a specific deadline, let us know when requesting your quote. We can often tell you whether faster processing is possible for your document.

What's the difference between the internal passport and travel passport?

The Russian internal passport (внутренний паспорт) is the main identity document within Russia and contains information on marital status, residence registration, and children. German authorities often require the translation of the internal passport, not just the international travel passport. The internal passport provides civil status information that the travel passport doesn't include. We translate both types, depending on what your specific authority requires.

Often needed together

Russian documents rarely come alone. Here are the most commonly translated documents for Russian-speaking clients:

Birth Certificate

Often the most important document for Standesamt, naturalization, and Spätaussiedler procedures. Required for almost every official application in Germany.

Internal Passport (внутренний паспорт)

Essential for Standesamt, Ausländerbehörde, and naturalization. Contains important information on marital status and residence that travel passports don't show.

Diploma and Certificates

For recognition of qualifications, university applications, and job searches in Germany. The Anabin database can help you check if your institution is recognized.

Certified Russian-German Translation: ISO-Norm and Late Repatriates