In order to enter the Russian federation for the purposes of studies, international applicants will require a passport and a visa.
Applicants from countries such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Armenia Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Southern Ossetia, and Uzbekistan do not need a visa.
Applicants from other nations will require a passport and a student visa.
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 authorized visa centers 2 which provide such services.
Duration of Stay under a Student Visa
The student visa issued in your home country would be for three months. On arrival to university grounds, students need to submit their passports to the visa office for a visa extension.
Students will be issued a one-year multi-visa which allows you to travel to and from Russia within the validity period of the visa.
Passports have to be resubmitted to the visa office every year, about a month prior to the expiration date for further renewal, and continue in this way until the duration of your academic Programme.
Since December 2017, international students who completed pre-university training and passed entrance examinations to enroll in a basic education Programme can have their student visa extended in Russia, they do not need to 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
- 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.
This is a general list. Consult the Russian Embassy or Consulate in your country regarding your application.
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.