Passport: the longer the validity, the better
Your passport is the main document at every stage of moving and gaining legal status in Europe. Even if you already have a valid passport, it is important to check how long it is valid for: many European bodies are reluctant to accept documents if the passport is due to expire soon.
Not everyone knows that Russian citizens can hold two valid passports at the same time. So before moving it makes sense to arrange a second biometric passport with 10 years' validity — this removes the need to renew the document through a consulate while already living abroad.
Driving licence
One of the most underrated points of preparation is the validity of your driving licence. In many European countries a Russian licence can be used for a limited time after obtaining a permit, after which you need to exchange it for a local licence or follow another legally prescribed procedure.
If the licence expires after the move, additional difficulties with the exchange can arise. It is wiser to renew the licence in advance and get a new document with maximum validity — this helps avoid unnecessary costs and possible retraining at a driving school.
Education documents
Even if the move is not linked to study or employment, education documents may be needed later — to prove qualifications, for employment, enrolment at an institution, obtaining professional licences or changing the grounds of residence in the country.
What is worth preparing in advance:
- the certificate of basic general education;
- the certificate of secondary general education;
- a college or university diploma;
- diploma supplements.
For countries that recognise the Hague Convention, the documents will need an apostille. It is also useful to request archive transcripts with school-year grades in advance — obtaining them can sometimes take several weeks or even months.
Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates
When moving as a family, special attention should be paid to documents proving family relationships. It is recommended to arrange an apostille on the marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates in advance — they may be needed to arrange a permit, health insurance, social payments and enrolling children in educational institutions. Preparing these documents at home is much easier than dealing with it after the move.
A child's medical documents
If the move is planned with children, it is advisable to obtain a vaccination certificate or a medical record with the vaccination history in advance. In many European countries such documents are requested when enrolling in kindergarten, joining a school and registering in the healthcare system. The absence of a vaccination certificate is usually not critical, but a full set of medical documents noticeably eases a child's adjustment.
Access to Russian government services
After moving, many people continue to use Russian government services to obtain certificates and extracts. Before leaving it is worth:
- checking access to your Gosuslugi account;
- updating your phone number;
- making sure two-factor authentication works;
- saving backup ways to recover access.
A general power of attorney
One of the most useful documents for those moving for a long period is a general power of attorney granted to a trusted person in Russia. It may be needed to obtain certificates and documents, represent your interests before government bodies, deal with property matters, interact with banks and file applications on your behalf. Most emigrants sooner or later face the need to handle matters back home remotely — a power of attorney significantly simplifies this process.
Which documents you should not obtain in advance
Not all certificates need to be arranged before leaving — some of them have a limited validity and must be current at the time the application is filed.
| Document | Validity |
|---|---|
| Certificate of no criminal record | valid ~90 days from the date of issue |
| Certificates of no debts | obtain right before filing |
Arranging such certificates several months before filing the documents usually makes no sense — by the time you file, they will already be out of date.
The final checklist before moving
- ✓ check the validity of your passport, and arrange a second one if needed;
- ✓ renew your driving licence if needed;
- ✓ apostille your education documents;
- ✓ prepare the marriage certificate and children's birth certificates;
- ✓ gather a child's medical documents;
- ✓ ensure access to government services;
- ✓ arrange a general power of attorney for a trusted person.
The sooner this document package is prepared, the more smoothly the move and later legal status in Europe will go. If you are already choosing a country and grounds for moving, look at types of Slovenian residence permit — it will help you understand which exact set of documents is needed for your specific case.