Russia Student Visa

Planning to study in Russia? Considered as the largest country in the world, Russia attracts scores of international students from around the globe, especially for its globally acclaimed  STEM courses. Home to world heritage sites to being the leading economies in the world, Russia is a perfect blend of culture and modernity. Due to the country’s major advancements in the education and research sector, Russia has now been stated as a prominent option to pursue higher education. For the candidates looking forward to pursuing higher studies in Russia, here is a blog on Russia Student Visa, including its requirements, fees, process, documents and more! 

Who Needs a Russia Student Visa?

To study in Russia, most international nationals will require a Russian Student Visa. Because Russia is not a member of the EU/EFTA, EU/EFTA citizens cannot enter Russia without a visa. To study in Russia, citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) do not require a visa. These are the countries:

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Tajikistan
• Ukraine,
• Uzbekistan
• Abkhazia
• South Ossetia

Russia Student Visa

The Russian Federation issues student visas for the candidates who aspire to enter Russia to pursue their dream education. Based on the invitations offered by the Ministry of Interior, the country issues Visa for the eligible candidates. Mainly there are three types of visas issued by the Russian government:

• Single Entry
• Double Entry 
• Multiple Entry 

The Russian student visa is valid for a period of 90 days. Further, the Ministry of Interior holds the authority to extend its validity as per the duration of the course chosen. Students must file their visa extension applications as soon as they land in Russia. 

If you need a visa to enter Russia for postdoctoral research or to attend seminars, you can apply for a Humanitarian Visa. For science or culture-related reasons, it is valid for up to a year. Russian student visas are only valid for three months at a time. You must next apply to the local division of the Russian Federation’s Federal Migration Service (FMS of Russia) to extend your visa. The FMS grants a one-year multi-visa that allows you to enter Russia. You must apply for a one-year renewal of your visa before it expires. This is how you proceed for the rest of your academic career.

Russian Student Visa Eligibility 

The eligibility requirements for the Russian student visa are as follows. The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the visa. 

• Must have applied to study at a Russian educational institution, and must have confirmed admission to the course.
• The applicant must have received an offer letter from the university. 
• Must have necessary documentation proof for the student visa application. For example, educational documents, and proof of meeting the health requirements, etc.
• Additionally, the student must have sufficient funds to study at the university. 

Russia Study Visa Requirements

Gathering the right set of documents that are required to seek a student visa is one of the most fundamental steps of the process. Regardless of the entry type, you are applying for, here are the documents required for Russia Student Visa from India:

• Visa support for students stating your claim on your purpose of entry in Russia. It can be of the below-mentioned types: 

An invitation letter from the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation. Your Russian university will provide you with the original copy of this letter.

A Telex invitation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Once requested by the Russian university, the ministry of Foreign affairs will provide you with this invitation through the Russian embassy of your country.

A xerox copy of the direct invitation letter of the Russian university. (Valid only for a short duration)

• A certificate of HIV Test taken within the last three months of the application and should be valid for 15 to 30 days on the day of your application. 
• Correctly filled visa application form
• A valid passport
• Recent passport size photographs
• Bank statement for the last three months
• If you are below the age of 18 years,  then you will have to submit a consent form stating the approval of parents or legal guardians

Note: Within seven days of arriving in Russia, all foreign tourists must register with the local GUVM branch. If you are a student in Russia, your university will most likely take care of this for you. Failure to register with the GUVM might result in a fine and, in the worst-case scenario, expulsion from Russia. A list of GUVM offices in your area can be found here. In most cases, your initial Russian student visa will be valid for 90 days. You must apply for a Russian student visa extension through the GUVM after arriving in Russia to cover the duration of your studies, up to a maximum of three years.

Processing Time for Russia Student Visa

An application for a student visa to Russia typically takes ten days to process. The processing time, however, can range from seven to twenty working days. The processing period may be prolonged in particular circumstances by up to 30 days.

For expedited processing, which takes three working days, those in a rush can apply. A greater price will be charged to applicants who want to take advantage of the expedited visa application procedure.

In most cases, visas are obtained within two to five weeks. For a price, visa centres frequently offer a fast-track service. The price will vary depending on where you live, so confirm with the Russian Embassy consulate or visa centre.

How to Apply Russia Study Visa from India?

Once you have chosen your entry type and have collected all the documents that are necessary for applying for the Russia Student Visa, now is the time to visit the official portal and file your application for the same. Here are some simple steps that you can follow to complete your application process. 

1. You will have to begin by collecting your invitation for a student visa from the Russian Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from any university in Russia.
2. Visit the official website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and fill up the online application form. 
3. Attach all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the form. Make sure you provide the right version of the document, that is original or photocopy.
4. Now, you can submit your application for a Russian student visa and pay the visa fee [mentioned in the next section].

For further information, you can watch the video below:

Russia Student Visa Fees for Indians

The fees for a Russia Visa fees for Indians rely on various factors such as applicant nationality, type of visa, number of entries as well as processing time. Here are visa fee costs for Russia Student Visa:

Type of Entry	Fees in Rubles	Russia visa fees in Indian Rupees
Single Entry	3032	4218
Double Entry	6282	8739
Multiple Entry	8232	11,452

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Russia Student Visa Success Rate

The Russian student visa success rate is nearly 100%. It means there is hardly any chance of a visa rejection. International students who meet the eligibility criteria, and have submitted relevant documents for the visa application possess can obtain a Russian student visa.  

Mandatory Registrations after Arriving in Russia 

All international visitors to Russia must fill out a migration form. These forms are issued on flights and trains, as well as at airports and train stations before passport procedures. You’ll be given a detachable piece of the form once you pass through border controls. This is your Russian migration card, which you must keep until you leave the country. It is good for the entire length of your stay. If you leave Russia, you will need to fill out a new form when you return. It is also required for registration with the Russian Federal Migration Service.

Foreign students, like all other foreign citizens, must register with the Russian Federal Migration Service within seven days after arriving in Russia. The university, on the other hand, usually handles this for you. Within three days after arrival in Russia, you must report to the foreign student affairs department. Take your passport or other forms of identification, as well as your visa and migration card. Both the originals and copies of these documents are required.

The university then issues you a Russian Federal Migration Service-stamped migration card. This entitles you to a three-month stay in Russia followed by a one-year stay. You must contact the International Student Affairs Department two weeks before the document expires to have it renewed. The cost of registering or extending the arrival paperwork is free.

Note: If you lose your migration card, you have three days to apply for a free replacement from the Federal Migration Service. This is something that the foreign student affairs department can help you with.

Working on Russian Student Visa

Unless you work during the holidays or at the school or organisation where you are studying, you will need a work permit from the Federal Migration Service (FMS) if you have a Russian student visa. If you are a full-time student at a state-accredited university and are at least 18 years old, you will be granted a work permit. The permission only allows you to operate in the fields or professions specified in the permit, as well as in the city or region where your university is located. A work permit costs RUB 3,500 (INR 3500) for those on a Russian study visa. Foreign nationals caught working in Russia without a valid permit face a fine of RUB 7,000 (INR 7000) and the possibility of expulsion. A work permit from your local Federal Migration Service takes roughly 10 days on average (e.g., Moscow). The documents listed below must be submitted:

• Your passport
• Your migration card
• Application form
• Your employment contract
• A medical certificate confirming your HIV-negative status, no infectious diseases or addiction to drugs
• Confirmation from the university that you are enrolled on a full-time course.

For international students, Russian work permits are valid for one year and can be renewed for the life of the job contract. During this time, you are free to change occupations, but you must notify the Migration Service. If you drop out of university, your work permit will be revoked, and you will be unable to work in Russia.

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Extending your Russia Study Visa

You must extend your Russian Student Visa if you intend to continue your studies in Russia. If you stay in Russia after your visa expires, you risk a fine of RUB 5,000 to 7,000 and a 5-year prohibition from entering the country. At least 30–40 days before your visa expires, you should notify your university’s foreign office. To extend your visa you will need the following documents:

• Your passport
• A completed application form
• A photograph
• A copy of your enrolment agreement or a referral from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
• A letter setting out the reason you need the visa extended
• Migration card (original and copy)
• The detachable section of the arrival notification form

FAQs

Thus, we hope that this blog has provided you with the details of Russia Student Visa. Do you want to know which Russian university will be the best for you? If yes, then, reach our experts at Leverage Edu and they will shortlist the best course for you as per your interests and aspirations! Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.