Visas & Customs Requirements

Students:

This type of visa is issued only for students, who come to Russia for study programs or enrolling on a course to a Russian university / school. This is the best kind of visa in terms of flexibility, but you can only get it if you applied to a Russian university, school or an institution and will study there.

If you are planning to study in Russia longer than one month, you will need a student visa. There are two types of student visa: for a period of up to 90 days (3 months) and for a period of up to one year. Therefore, you should first decide how long you may stay in Russia overall, and then choose the type of visa accordingly.

Short-term Student Visa (three months)

To obtain a three month student visa, the following documents are required:

• A completed Russian visa application form (one per person)
• National passport (original) valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure from Russia.
• Three identical professional passport sized (3x4 cm) photos on a white background. Pictures can be black-and-white or color, preferably on matt paper. Please write your name in capital letters on the back of the photos. One photo should be stapled to the specially marked place of the application form.
• A letter of invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry, or its Regional Representative Offices.
• Visa application charge.

The Consulate reserves the right to request the original or copy of a cover letter from the Russian host organization with information about you, destinations, terms and purpose of visit.

Long-term Student Visa (one year)

Note: Long-term student visa invitation can be obtained from third-parties educational institutions only, RST doesn't issue such invitations.

To obtain a long-term student visa, the following documents are required:

• A completed visa application form (one per person).
• National passport (original) valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure from Russia.
• Three identical professional passport sized (3x4 cm) photos on a white background. Pictures can be black-and-white or color, preferably on matt paper. Please write your name in capital letters on the back of the photos. One photo should be stapled to the specially marked place of the application form.
• A letter of invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office.
• Copy of your current diploma or educational certificate, certified by the State or Federal authorities.
• General health certificate and a copy of HIV test certificate, if you are going to stay more than 3 months in Russia.
• A confirmation of the payment arrangement directly from the University, Institute or College you are going to study at.
• Visa application charge.

List of universities in Russia:

• Altay State University
• Chuvashiya State University
• Far Eastern State University
• Kabardino-Balcarian State University
• Kaliningrad State University
• Kazan University
• Lomonosow Moscow State University
• Moscow Bauman State Technical University
• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
• Novgorod State University
• Novosibirsk State Technical University
• Novosibirsk State University
• Russian Academy of Sciences
• St. Petersburg State Technical University
• St. Petersburg University
• Tomsk State University
• Tyumen State University
• University of Pereslavl
• Yakutsk State University
• Yaroslavl State University