Short answer: to register a marriage with a foreign national in Russia, check identity documents, marital-status evidence and requirements for foreign-issued documents in advance. The exact set depends on nationality, place of issue, previous marriages and the rules of the selected civil registry office.
Joint application and identity documents
Registration begins with a joint application by the people intending to marry. Identity documents are normally required, along with documents ending a previous marriage where applicable. Check the spelling of names, dates and other details across all documents to avoid inconsistencies when filing.
Marital-status document for the foreign national
A foreign national may need a document issued by the competent authority of their country confirming marital status. Requirements concerning form, validity, legalisation or apostille and translation should be checked for the country of issue and applicable international agreements.
The official service description on Gosuslugi lists a marital-status document issued by a foreign competent authority and a document ending a previous marriage where relevant. Official service description.
Translation and formalities for foreign documents
Before filing, clarify whether a Russian translation is required, who may certify it and whether additional confirmation of the document’s origin is needed. Do not substitute an online tip for an official check: requirements may differ by country and document type.
Filing and registration date
After checking the documents, select the registry office and filing method available in the chosen location. Do not plan travel or a status change based only on an expected date; first obtain confirmation that documents have been accepted and no obstacle has been identified.
Bring these documents to a consultation
Bring passports, marital-status and previous-marriage documents, translations, information about the country of issue and correspondence with the registry office. This allows a review of the document set and next steps without promising registration or a timeframe.