What is needed to get married in Russia in 2024

What the process of marriage is, what documents and where to submit – in the Kommersant certificate.

Who can get married in the Russian Federation

In Russia, a legally capable man and woman can marry upon mutual consent upon reaching marriageable age. Citizens of the Russian Federation can get married at the age of 18, and in exceptional cases (for example, when a girl is pregnant) at the age of 16. For foreigners, the age of marriage is determined by the legislation of the country of which they are citizens. Those entering into marriage must not be close relatives, and cannot be in another marriage.

What documents are needed for marriage and where to submit them?

To get married, you first need a marriage license. It can be submitted either online (via the mos.ru website or the government services portal), or directly at the registry office, the Wedding Palace or the “My Documents” center. One person can submit an application, but then the signature of the other must be notarized.

Also, when submitting an application, you must have identification documents with you (most often a passport), a receipt for payment of the state duty (costs 350 rubles), as well as certificates of dissolution of previous marriages or death of a spouse, if any.

For persons from 16 to 18 years of age, permission from local authorities to marry or an announcement of recognition of a minor as fully capable is required. Foreigners will also need a document confirming that there are no obstacles to getting married in Russia.

According to the current rules, marriage can be registered a month after filing an application, but no later than a year. The newlyweds can choose the date themselves. If there are good reasons (pregnancy or birth of a child, as well as other circumstances), upon a joint application of those entering into marriage, it can be registered on the day of application.

How is marriage registration carried out?

You can register a marriage in the registry office departments, wedding palaces or “My Documents” government service centers. To do this, you must be personally present at the appointed time, you must have identification documents with you, as well as the originals of all documents if the application was submitted in the online form.

It is possible to conduct on-site registrations on the territory of cultural and historical sites in Moscow; you can also register a marriage at home or in a medical organization if it is not possible to appear at the registry office due to illness or other valid reason. After registration, a marriage certificate is issued, and, at the request of the newlyweds, a stamp is placed in the passport.

What surname can I take and what documents are needed to change it?

When registering a marriage, newlyweds can be registered under a common surname or the premarital surname of each spouse. As a common surname, you can choose the surname of your wife or husband, as well as a double surname, then the wife’s surname is added to the husband’s surname and written with a hyphen.

If you change your last name, within 30 days after registering your marriage, you need to replace your civil passport and compulsory medical insurance policy, within 14 days – documents for a car and a military ID, you also need to inform the military registration and enlistment office about the change of last name. The foreign passport and SNILS must be replaced. If you have real estate, you need to make changes to the Unified State Register of Real Estate.

Is it necessary to enter into a prenuptial agreement?

It is not necessary to enter into a prenuptial agreement, but thanks to it, spouses can change the regime of joint ownership, determine their rights and obligations regarding mutual maintenance, and also designate the property that will be transferred to each spouse in the event of divorce.

A marriage contract can be concluded both in relation to existing property and in relation to property acquired in the future. The contract can be drawn up both before the marriage is registered and at any time during it. Conditions related to the personal non-property relations of the spouses cannot be included in the marriage contract. The agreement is concluded in writing and is subject to notarization.