Russian Student Visa

Student Visa Note: Short-Term Student visa is issued by RST only for students enrolled to a course at EducaCentre language school------ www.educacentre.net 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) entry-exit visa, effective May 1, 2001 You are eligible for this type of visa if your stay in Russia will not exceed three months. Since this is a short term visa, the application process is easier and fewer additional papers are required to support your application (below you will find a list of all documents that are required for a three month student visa). According to the Russian immigration law the type of this visa is "Entry-Exit", therefore, there is no need to make a special "Exit visa" when you leave the country. However, it is usually impossible to extend this visa without leaving the country once you are in Russia. Thus, if you intend to stay in Russia for a longer period, you should apply for a long-term student visa that can be extended for a period of up to one year. To obtain a three month student visa, the following documents are required: A completed Russian visa application form (one per person) - either for US citizens or for the rest of the world countries 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 the yourself, destinations, terms and purpose of visit. Long-term Student Visa (one year) entry visa, effective May 1, 2001 Note: Long-term student visa invitation can be obtained from third-parties educational institutions only, RST doesn't issue such invitations You are eligible for this type of visa if you are planning to undertake a long-term course of studies (from three months to one year) in Russia. This is an "Entry" visa that gives you permission to enter Russian Federation within a one month period that is stated on your visa. Once you enter Russia and register your visa, it can be extended for the overall duration of your stay. Please, note that you will not be able to enter the country after the date that is stated on your visa. When you are leaving the country, you will need an "Exit" visa (we provide). There is no need to stay for the whole year with this type visa, simply let is know when you wish to leave the country and we will prepare the "Exit" visa. 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. Type Cost Price includes For up to 3 months € 15 - Invitation In both cases your invitation for a student visa will need to be arranged through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) or its regional office. Above there is a standard list of requirements for this type of Russian visa. Some additional rules may apply in your country of residence. Please, contact your nearest Russian Consulate for complete information. Special note: According to the Russian laws, all foreigners going to Russia need to have valid visas and registration of their stay. RST provides visas and registration service for travellers going to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Russian Visa Requirements

Tourist Visa Russian Tourist visas are issued for a period of up to 30 days. They can be single entry or double entry. To order a visa, you must submit in person or send in the following documents to a Russian Consulate in your country (any Russian Consulate can be used in the US regardless of where you live in the US). You may also apply for a visa through a third party acting on your behalf: A cover letter with the following information: Applicant's name as it appears on their passport; Dates of arrival and departure in and from Russia; A list of up to 5 cities that will be visited in Russia; Index and reference number of the receiving organization. A tourist visa invitation and voucher, from an inviting organization registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a voucher from your or travel agency in Russia. The confirmation must contain the agency's reference number and registration number. Your original passport with at least 2 clean, side by side pages to attach the visa to. The passport must be valid for up to 3 months AFTER you planned departure from Russia. 2 signed and dated Visa Application Forms (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US. The forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4.0 or higher, you can download this free if you do not have it installed on your computer. Two identical passport size (on white background) photos. Please, write your name on the back of the photos. Your payment by money order or cashier's check made out to the Russian Consulate in accordance with your local Consulate's fees (see Consulates Website or call them). Do not send cash or personal checks. Pre-paid self-addressed return envelope from a reliable delivery company (FED EX, DHL, UPS). Business Visa Single-entry and double-entry Business Visas are issued for no longer than 90 days. Multiple entry business visas are issued for a period of either 6 or 12 months and must be approved by either the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: A letter of invitation from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Representative Offices, or from the Ministry of the Interior or its local offices including a travel itinerary, the dates of stay, full names and dates of birth of the persons invited, workplace of the person invited. Your original passport with at least 2 clean, side by side pages to attach the visa to. The passport must be valid for up to 6 months AFTER you planned departure from Russia. 2 signed and dated Visa Application Forms (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US. The forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4.0 or higher, you can download this free if you do not have it installed on your computer. Two identical passport size (on white background) photos. Please, write your name on the back of the photos. Your payment by money order or cashier's check made out to the Russian Consulate in accordance with your local Consulate's fees (see Consulates Website or call them). Do not send cash or personal checks. Pre-paid self-addressed return envelope from a reliable delivery company (FED EX, DHL, UPS). HIV test results. An HIV test is usually required to receive a business visa. Transit Visa Transit Visa permits to travel through the Russian territory without stay. In accordance to your tickets, it is issued for up to 72 hours, if you travel by air, or for up to 10 days, if using other means of transportation. For a Transit Visa, please, submit: The visa of the country of destination and a copy of the air, railway or other ticket with "OK" status (required). Your original passport with at least 2 clean, side by side pages to attach the visa to. The passport must be valid for up to 6 months AFTER you planned departure from Russia. 2 signed and dated Visa Application Forms (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US. The forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4.0 or higher, you can download this free if you do not have it installed on your computer. Two identical passport size (on white background) photos. Please, write your name on the back of the photos. Your payment by money order or cashier's check made out to the Russian Consulate in accordance with your local Consulate's fees (see Consulates Website or call them). Do not send cash or personal checks. Pre-paid self-addressed return envelope from a reliable delivery company (FED EX, DHL, UPS). Student Visa A letter of Invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office (if the Region you are going to study in does not have Regional Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the invitation is issued by the University, Institute or College on its official letterhead signed by the rector and certified either by the Office for International Affairs of the local administration or by the local office of the Ministry of Interior). Your current diploma or educational certificate, certified by the State or Federal authorities General health certificate on your current health condition (must be certified by Apostil at the local office of the Secretary of your State and translated into Russian, then certified by the Consulate) A copy of HIV test certificate (must be certified by Apostil at the local office of the Secretary of your State and translated into Russian, then certified by the Consulate) A confirmation of the payment arrangement directly from the University, Institute or College you are going to study at. Your original passport with at least 2 clean, side by side pages to attach the visa to. The passport must be valid for up to 6 months AFTER you planned departure from Russia. 2 signed and dated Visa Application Forms (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US. The forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4.0 or higher, you can download this free if you do not have it installed on your computer. Two identical passport size (on white background) photos. Please, write your name on the back of the photos. Your payment by money order or cashier's check made out to the Russian Consulate in accordance with your local Consulate's fees (see Consulates Website or call them). Do not send cash or personal checks. Pre-paid self-addressed return envelope from a reliable delivery company (FED EX, DHL, UPS). Private Visa Private Visa is issued for no longer than 90 days and is valid for single entry only. For a Private Visa, please submit: The original invitation called "Izveschenie" (notification) which can be obtained by any Russian citizen from a local OVIR (Russian Immigration Service) Office. Your original passport with at least 2 clean, side by side pages to attach the visa to. The passport must be valid for up to 6 months AFTER you planned departure from Russia. 2 signed and dated Visa Application Forms (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US. The forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4.0 or higher, you can download this free if you do not have it installed on your computer. Two identical passport size (on white background) photos. Please, write your name on the back of the photos. Your payment by money order or cashier's check made out to the Russian Consulate in accordance with your local Consulate's fees (see Consulates Website or call them). Do not send cash or personal checks. Pre-paid self-addressed return envelope from a reliable delivery company (FED EX, DHL, UPS). Important! Please be advised that one can not have two valid visas in one passport; in this case the first visa will be cancelled. Additional Information On the basis of reciprocity, German citizens may apply for Visa to Russia at the Russian Consular Missions in the US only if they have a US Permanent Resident or US Resident Alien status (green card). In all other cases they have to apply for Russian Visa at the Russian Consular Missions in Germany. Citizens of Israel, Finland and Shengen Agreement States (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and France) should submit national medical coverage certificate valid for Russia or guarantee of medical coverage from a Russian hosting organization for all period of stay. Citizens of Estonia must submit to the Russian Consulate medical insurance certificate valid for Russia and covering all period of stay. Applicants who used to be citizens of the USSR or of the Russian Federation and then emigrated from the USSR or from Russia must submit one of the documents which confirms that they are no longer citizens of the Russian Federation (so called "Visa to Israel" or stamp in their passport saying that they left for "permanent residence abroad" before the 6th of February, 1992 or official document certifying that their Russian citizenship was abrogated), otherwise the applications will not be accepted. The Russian Consulate reserves the right to call the applicants for an interview and ask questions on personal, financial, business, corporate related issues as well as on applicant's Russian contacts and relatives.