The Russian government has approved a bill aimed at easing how foreign documents are used by Russian citizens. Officials reported through official channels that the measure received clearance from the council of ministers and is set to reshape how international credentials are treated within the country. This moves the system toward smoother recognition of diplomas and other papers issued outside Russia, reflecting a broader push to align domestic practice with international standards while maintaining safeguards for authenticity and verification.
Officials indicate that the changes will take effect on January 1, 2025. The reform includes new standards designed to help verify the authenticity of diplomas and other documents not only from Moscow but from institutions abroad as well. The goal is to provide a clear, reliable framework for assessing foreign credentials, reducing ambiguity for individuals who hold degrees or papers obtained overseas, and ensuring that verification processes are consistent across regions.
With the new regulation, residents will have the option to complete the necessary verification procedures at forty regional centers, including district and provincial offices, as well as specialized sites set up to handle foreign document verification. The government clarified that this streamlined process applies specifically to matters overseen by regional divisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, reinforcing the central role of regional authorities in implementing the policy with local clarity and efficiency.
In practice, the procedure for requesting official documents from another state will vary depending on circumstances. For instance, when travel to the issuing country is difficult, the revised rules provide a more flexible approach to obtaining and verifying the documents. In such cases, the associated fees will be collected only when the operation is actually feasible, rather than being charged automatically. This shift aims to reduce unnecessary costs and to ensure that financial charges align with the practical ability to complete the verification or request process.
As reported, the bill will soon be forwarded to the State Duma for consideration. The cabinet highlighted that the outlined changes are intended to simplify and speed up the overall process of verifying the authenticity of personal documents for residents across the nation, a move that supporters say will boost mobility, education, and professional opportunities for Russians with foreign credentials. The government stressed that any verification steps will remain rigorous, with clear criteria and documented procedures to protect the integrity of the recognition system.
Earlier, the Russian government extended a list of foreign universities whose diplomas are automatically recognized, signaling a parallel effort to streamline credential recognition for students and professionals who studied abroad. This broader approach shows a concerted policy direction: make legitimate foreign qualifications more accessible while preserving the essential checks that ensure those qualifications meet domestic standards and support accurate record-keeping across agencies and employers.