What this is about
Closing the military record when leaving Russia for more than six months is a procedure for Russian citizens who live permanently abroad. The application is filed in person or through a representative with a notarised power of attorney. From Serbia the second route is the one that actually works: you certify a power of attorney for someone in Russia, and they attend the military commissariat on your behalf.
An important warning
There is no single document list: requirements differ from one commissariat to another and change from time to time. Below is the broadest set, gathered with a margin so your representative is not turned away. Before attending, check the list with your own commissariat or through the representative.
Two ways to certify the power of attorney
The first is through the Russian consulate: the document is accepted as it is, without an apostille, but appointments can be booked several months ahead. The second is through a Serbian notary: faster, but more expensive and more complicated, because a court translation, an apostille and an additional translation of the stamps already in Russia are required. It is sensible to start by booking at the consulate: the wait for an appointment is the longest part of the whole story, while the other documents are gathered in parallel. The wording of the power of attorney is best agreed in advance with a Russian notary or with the commissariat itself — redoing it from Serbia is slow and costly.
What the document set includes
The power of attorney itself. A copy of the Russian internal passport — the first page and the page with the registration. A copy of the international passport — the first page and the pages with exit stamps. A copy of the valid residence permit or permanent residence with an apostille and a translation into Russian, where both the document and the apostille are translated. A copy of the housing lease contract with a translation into Russian — and here is a useful trick: draw up the contract in two columns from the start, Russian and Serbian side by side, and ask the landlord to sign that version, which saves on translation. Along with that, the originals, notarised copies, and the apostille fee of 3,100 dinars, paid at the post office in the courthouse lobby.
Can it all be done online
Formally the application is filed through the Russian government services portal, but in practice commissariats often refuse remote deregistration and require either personal attendance or filing through a representative. That is precisely why it makes sense to prepare the power of attorney in advance.
What to remember about language
Everything sent to the commissariat must be in Russian or accompanied by a certified translation into Russian — including the apostille and notarial stamps. Documents that look bilingual most often also require a translation of the Serbian part.
What to do step by step
Book an appointment at the Russian consulate — the longest stage, so start there. In parallel, prepare copies of the internal passport, international passport, residence permit and lease contract. Arrange the apostille on the residence permit and order translations from a court interpreter. Agree the wording of the power of attorney with a Russian notary or the commissariat. Certify the power of attorney — through the consulate or a Serbian notary. Hand the package to your representative in Russia and stay in touch: requirements can change on the spot, and documents sometimes have to be sent afterwards.
Data checked on 11 October 2026: the procedure and document list follow current community practice; commissariat requirements differ and change, so check them with your own commissariat before filing.