Russian Student Visa
The majority of international applicants who want to study in Russia will need a passport and a visa.
International applicants from Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Southern Ossetia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Armenia and Uzbekistan do not need a visa.
Even though Russia has visa-free arrangements with many countries, the duration of a visa-free stay is limited to 1 or 3 months, as such arrangements are designed for tourists, not long-term visitors. In theory, a student from a country which has visa-free arrangements with Russia can enter using only their passport, but after the permitted stay is over they will have to leave the country and re-enter it with a valid student visa. Therefore, it is simply better to get a student visa in the first place.
Visiting Russian compatriots 1 also have to provide relevant ID.
Where to Apply for a Student Visa
Student visas are obtained through the Russian Embassy (Consular Department) or Russian Consulate in your country of residence. In certain countries there are authorised visa centres 2 which provide such services.
Please refer to the website of the Consular Division of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further information.
Duration of Stay under a Student Visa
Initially, a student visa is issued for three months. After this period you should apply to the local division of the General Administration for Migration Issues of the Interior Ministry of Russia for a visa extension. The FMS issues a one-year multi-visa which allows you to travel to and from Russia within the validity period of the visa. When your visa is about to expire, you should apply for a further 1-year extension, and carry on in this manner for the duration of your academic programme.
Starting from December 2017, international students who completed pre-university training and passed entrance examinations to enrol in a basic education programme can have their student visa extended in Russia, they needn’t travel back to their home country for visa processing.
Documents Required for a Student Visa:
- International passport (original) and a copy of the front page.
- Official invitation for entry to Russia (original). Please refer to the section on Obtaining an Invitation for more details.
- Application form (you can fill in the e-form here).
- Photograph 3.5 x 4.5 cm (1.18 x1.57 inches).
- HIV-negative status certificate.
- For applicants under 18 years – parental consent to travel certified by a notary.
Obtaining an Invitation
Invitations to Russia are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the General Administration for Migration Issues of the Interior Ministry of Russia.
If the prospective student has fulfilled all the application requirements and received a place at a university through a standard procedure or is a fee-paying student, the invitation will be sent by the university. You will need the original invitation to submit the visa application.
You can start the process of obtaining an invitation 45 days prior to the actual travel date. The invitation is valid for three months.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 18 months from the issue date of your visa. Your passport should contain at least two blank pages.
The certificate should contain passport details of the holder, information on the duration of their stay in Russia, and the particulars of the HIV test (date, medication series used, official stamp of the medical facility that conducted the test, the signatures of the doctor and the person tested). The document should be issued in Russian and in English and be valid for three months.
You can start the visa application process 45 days prior to the planned date of arrival in Russia.
Student visas are normally issued within two or three weeks. Visa centres can speed up the visa process for an additional fee.
The cost of the visa depends on your host country. Information on the cost of the visa can be obtained from the Russian Consulate or a visa centre in your country.
Contact your university’s international office 30 or 40 days prior to the expiry date of your current visa.
Documents you need:
- Completed form and a photograph.
- Your passport.
- Copy of your enrolment agreement or referral from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
- A written request in free form, stating the grounds for the visa extension.
- Stamp duty (payment receipt).
- Detachable section of the arrival notification form (issued upon migration registration).
- Migration card (original and copy).
In addition, every time you obtain a visa extension you have to register at the migration office. Contact your university’s international office for additional information and assistance.
In 2020, the stamp duty for the extension of a one-year student visa was 1,600 roubles.
You can legally stay in Russia as long as your visa is valid (from 3 to 12 months). Just don't forget to apply for an extension 30 or 40 days prior to the expiry date. Staying in Russia with an expired visa means you risk a fine of between 2,000 and 5,000 roubles, deportation and a ban on entering Russia for five years.
