RUSSIAN STUDY VISA

A study visa is issued to aspiring international students who wish to attend a foreign university or attend short term courses in a foreign country. Similarly, a Russian Study Visa is issued to international students who wish to enter the Russian Federation for purposes of study. These student visas have a validity of 90 days.These letters of invitation are issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service. The country issues study visas on the basis of invitations issued by the Ministry of Interior. These visas can either be for single entry, double entry, or multiple entries. 

WHO NEEDS A RUSSIAN STUDY VISA? 

You would require a Russian Study Visa if you are a non-resident and wish to take admission in a Russian college/university. However, students hailing from Belarus and South Ossetia are exempted from needing a study visa. They can stay in Russia for an indefinite period of time, without having to apply for a study visa. There are certain countries, the residents of which can enter Russia and stay there for a predetermined length of time. Thus, depending on your country of origin, you may be eligible to live in Russia for up to 14, 30, 60, or 90 days, for purposes of study. 

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A RUSSIAN STUDY VISA? 

If you wish to pursue your higher education from Russia, you will need a visa to enter the country as an international student. The application procedure for acquiring a Russian Study Visa involves a series of steps. If you wish to apply for a Russian Study Visa, you will have to follow the below-mentioned instructions: 

STEP 1
Receive an invitation to apply for a study visa for Russia

Students may receive an invitation to apply for a study visa from the Ministry of Interior, or the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or even from your respective Russian college/university. 

STEP 2
Complete the online application form for the study visa

The online application form for the study visa is available on the official site of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Students must fill in all the mandatory details. 

STEP 3
Gather all necessary documents

All candidates must gather all the necessary supporting documents while applying for a study visa in Russia. 

STEP 4
Application forms must be submitted in person

All applications must be submitted at the Russian Consulate, or a Russian Visa Processing Center. 

STEP 5
Pay the required application fee for the Russian Study Visa

After completing the above-mentioned steps, you need to wait for a response from the Embassy. In case of approval, you will receive an invitation for an interview with the Embassy. 

ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

Mentioned below is the list of essential documents that you will need to submit when applying for a Russian Study Visa, as an international student.

• Original international passport which has a validity for a minimum of six months. 
• Duly filled visa application form and a print out of the same. It must be kept in mind that the dates of your entry and exit, as mentioned in your application form, must match with those mentioned in the supporting documents. 
• Recent passport sized photo according to all digital requirements. 
• Letter of invitation that has been issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service. 
• HIV Test (AIDS) Certificate which stands valid for 15-30 days on the day of your application. 
• Medical insurance. 

COST FOR APPLYING FOR A RUSSIAN STUDY VISA

All candidates are required to pay an application processing fee while applying for a study visa. This fee, however, is subjected to a wide-range of factors as listed below: 

• Type of visa.
• Processing time.
• Country of origin of the applicant.
• Duration of stay in the country.
• Number of entries. 

PROCESSING TIME OF RUSSIAN STUDY VISA 

The average processing time for a Russian Study Visa is usually 10 days. However, in some individual cases, it may extend up to 30 days. Applicants interested in an expedited visa application processing however, are required to pay a higher fee. 

After your arrival in Russia

• Receive your immigration card at the Russian port of entry. This immigration card is required to be filled by you. One part of it stays at the border police, and the remaining half needs to be carried by you. 
• Register your study visa. Candidates need to provide a copy of their passport data pages, visa, and immigration card to the hotel in which they are staying. 

HOW CAN I EXTEND MY STUDY VISA?  

If you wish to extend the validity of your study visa, you must apply for an extension 30-40 days prior to its expiry. Following is the list of documents that you need to gather, when applying for a visa extension: 

• International passport
• Application form
• Photograph
• Contract for Study by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation 
• Original copy of admission form
• Intercession from the University, stating reasons for visa extension
• Receipt confirming the successful payment of State Duty
• Detachable section of the notification form 

WHY ALWAYS CONSIDER BASICS OF IMMIGRATION?

1. Expert Visa counselors provide Step-by-step guidance through a secure, online process.  
2. Apt evaluation of credentials and faster visa processing. 
3. Identifying all potential hazards and roadblocks in securing a visa. 
4. Assistance with documentation, immigration rules, citizenship, and border control procedures.
5. Multiple case assessment for better conflict resolution.
6. Designated process managers to provide personalized guidance.

Just like the basics of anything act as “building blocks” forming a strong foundation for constructing complex structures. The Basics of Immigration serve as the foundational elements of moving abroad, for any aspiring immigrant.