Children of migrants
Documents for enrolling a child in school
The Russian language test is the second step. The first is documents, and that is where most applications are turned away: in the May 2025 cut 81 % of applications were not accepted, and those children never reached the test.
The reason is almost always the same: the child's and the parent's documents are in another language, and the translation is either not notarised, or notarised by a notary of another country, or not all pages are translated.
What documents to bring
What schools usually ask for at enrolment:
- an application for admission — filed by the parent or legal representative;
- the parent's passport with a notarised translation into Russian;
- the child's birth certificate with a notarised translation;
- a document confirming kinship or legal representation, if surnames or details differ;
- documents confirming lawful stay in Russia for the child and the parent — visa, migration card, registration at the place of stay, temporary residence permit or residence permit;
- a school record from the previous school or a transcript of marks, if the child is not entering grade 1 — also translated;
- medical documents — at the school's request: vaccination record, a doctor's conclusion.
The exact list differs from school to school and is named when the application is filed. One thing never changes: every page carrying entries is translated and notarised, stamps and seals included. Both the authority and the school read the whole document, not its first page.
What must not be in the translation: certification by a notary of the country of departure (it is not accepted in Russia), a mismatch between the spelling of the name in the parent's passport and in the child's certificate, missing seals.
Document translation
Translation with notarisation is what we actually do. If the child's name is spelled differently in the certificate and in the parent's passport, say so before the notarisation: fixing it afterwards costs more than agreeing on it at once.
Where to go next
Pass marks and tasks are on School entry testing for children. If the test was not passed — what to do next. Who is exempt — exemptions.
Frequently asked questions
Is a notarised translation of the birth certificate mandatory?
Yes. A certificate in another language will not be accepted without a notarised translation, either at the school or at the migration office. A translator translates it, and a notary certifies the translator's signature.
Do all pages of the passport need translating?
Every page with entries and stamps. Translating only the first page is the most common reason documents come back.
Does the record from the previous school need translating?
Yes, if the child is not entering grade 1: the school has to see which programme the child has covered. The certificate and the transcript of marks too.
How long is a notarised translation valid?
The translation itself has no expiry: it is tied to the document. It has to be redone when the document changes — for example, when a new passport is issued.
What if the child's name is spelled differently across documents?
Say so before the translation is notarised and ask for one spelling that matches the parent's passport. Otherwise the school sees two different children.
The requirements come from the admission procedure and from what schools ask for in practice. The list differs from school to school and is named when the application is filed.