How do you translate a Russian school certificate (attestat) and its grades?
A Russian school certificate (attestat) comes with a supplement that holds the grades, and both are translated word for word. We translate the attestat o srednem obshchem obrazovanii, the attestat ob osnovnom obshchem obrazovanii, their supplements and Soviet school certificates in full, with every grade exactly as on the document. We charge by the page: $25 for the first page and $20 for each additional one. The translation is ready within 24 hours after payment.
Two kinds of attestat
Russian education law names two school certificates (Federal Law No. 273-FZ, art. 60 (opens in a new tab)):
- the attestat ob osnovnom obshchem obrazovanii, for basic general education;
- the attestat o srednem obshchem obrazovanii, for secondary general education.
Both are issued in Russian, the state language, and carry the school’s seal. The federal ministry for general education sets the form of each certificate and of its supplement (prilozhenie), and how they are filled in and issued, duplicates included (same article).
What the translation includes
We translate both the certificate and the supplement word for word: the student’s name, the school, the dates, the series and number of the form, every subject with its final grade, the seal and the signatures. A duplicate is translated the same way, and the translation says it is a duplicate.
Soviet school certificates, often filled in by hand, are routine for us. If a word or a grade can’t be read, the translation marks it [illegible] instead of guessing.
Grades
We translate grades exactly as they appear on the supplement. We don’t convert them to US grades, calculate a GPA or say what the certificate equals in the US: that is the evaluator’s job.
The student’s name follows the international passport. Tell us the spelling when you order, and it will match your diploma and other documents in the same order.
Where the translation goes
- DV lottery: for the education requirement, the State Department gives examples of evidence such as a certificate of completion and school transcripts (9 FAM 502.6-3 c(3) (opens in a new tab)). Whether your certificate qualifies is up to the consular officer. Which documents to translate for the DV lottery
- WES: if WES asks you for a translation, it must be an exact, word-for-word English translation by a professional translator, made from the official documents (wes.org (opens in a new tab)). What WES and ECE accept
- USCIS: a full translation and the translator’s signed certificate. What USCIS accepts
For a university diploma and its supplement, see Russian diploma translation.
What to file in your case is for you or your attorney to decide.
Sample translations
6 samplesEach sample has the original, the translation and the signed certificate. Personal details are blurred.
Questions
I left school after the basic level. Do you translate that certificate?
Yes. The attestat ob osnovnom obshchem obrazovanii and its supplement are translated the same way as the secondary school certificate. Whether a certificate meets a requirement is up to the evaluator or the consular officer.
Should I send the supplement too?
Yes, if you have it. The certificate names the level of education, and the supplement lists the subjects and grades. Which pages to file is for you, your attorney or the evaluator to decide.
How much does it cost?
We charge by the page: $25 for the first page and $20 for each additional one. Send photos of the certificate and the supplement, and we’ll give you the exact price.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
USCIS rules don’t require a notary: they ask for the translator’s signed certificate, and it’s included. If your certificate has an apostille, we translate it too.
How long does it take?
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
How we do it
- Full translation
every stamp, signature and handwritten line
- Signed certificate
with the translator’s name, address and phone
- A PDF, ready to file
original, translation and certificate, translation pages numbered
- Price
$25 for the first page up to 250 words, $20 for each additional page, in the same document or another one.
- Turnaround
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
This is a summary of what the agency publishes, not legal advice.