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Russia

Study in Russia 2024

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Basic monthly living cost

  • Rent in a shared flat

    198

  • Share of utilities

    28

  • Internet subscription

    6

  • Local transportation

    23

Sample lifestyle cost

  • Fast food combo

    4

  • Cinema ticket

    4

  • Pint of local beer

    2

Visa Requirements

  1. Russian Student Visa - Valid for study in any Russian college or university or for any short-term courses.
  2. Russian Humanitarian Visa – For those travelling to Russia to engage in post-doctoral research or to attend academic seminars. Valid for up to a year for purposes including those related to science or culture. (PLEASE NOTE: All further information is on Russian student visa.)

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

Russian Student Visa; Russian Humanitarian Visa

Price and currency

The fees required for Russian student visa vary according to the country that issued the passport to the student, and whether you opt for standard or express service. As an example, Russian student visa costs for a UK citizen start at GBP 165. However, note that your application fee will not be refunded if your application for a student visa is refused or rejected for any reason.

Who can apply for the visa?

Citizens from most foreign countries will need a visa to study in Russia. Citizens from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries do not need a visa: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan plus the autonomous regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. If you are a citizen of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Ukraine you don’t need a visa but you do need a valid passport. If you’re a citizen of Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Southern Ossetia, Tajikistan or Uzbekistan you can come to Russia to study without a passport or visa.

Where can you make the application?

Russian Embassy or consulate / authorized visa centers

For citizens of countries that need a visa to enter, a Russian student visa will need to be obtained before traveling to Russia. You must apply through the Russian Embassy or consulate in your home country. There are also authorized visa centers in some countries.

Website:

How to make the application?

Before applying, you need to be accepted onto a course at a university so you can get an official invitation to come to Russia to study. Once you have an invitation, it is valid for three months. Then, to apply for your Russian student visa, you need to visit the Russian embassy or consulate in your home country and submit all the necessary documentation. Please note: You must get your visa registered within seven days of your entry in Russia. In case of student visas, it is normally the inviting party (University or College or Language School or Institute) that arranges for the visa registration of the students. After your registration is done, you will be provided with a proof of your visa registration, which you must retain carefully till you exit the country.

In order to apply for a student visa to Russian, you must submit a completed visa application form, original national passport (and copy of the front page), one standard picture, Money Order, original letter of invitation from your Russian host organization, original negative HIV blood test (AIDS) certificate (not older than 3 months). The national passport has to be valid for not less than one and a half-year.

When should you apply?

You can start the visa application process 45 days prior to the planned date of arrival in Russia. The processing time can be lengthy, taking from two to five weeks. The student visa is initially issued for 90 days but can be extended to a year and then renewed after that for the duration of the study.

Processing time

5 Weeks

Work opportunities

If you have a Russian student visa, you will require a work permit from the Federal Migration Service (FMS) unless this work is undertaken during the holidays or at the institution or organization where you are studying. You will only be issued with a permit to work if you are a full-time student at a state-accredited university and at least 18 years old. The permit will only allow you to work in the field or profession set out in the permit and in the city or region of your university. The cost of a work permit for those on a Russian study visa is RUB 3,500 (USD 60). If you leave your university course, the work permit will be canceled and you will no longer be able to work in Russia.

Hours per week

0

Why do you need this type of visa?

If you present false documents for your student visa or hide or misrepresent facts in your application. You may be denied entry into Russia on a student visa if you are HIV-positive.