Russian visas and travel for international students

Which visa do you need?

Your visa must match the purpose of your trip: you cannot study on a tourist visa or an e-visa.

• Study visa. For a degree, the preparatory year or another program at a Russian university. Your university requests the invitation for you.
• Tourist visa. For holidays. You usually need a confirmation from a Russian tour operator or hotel.
• Private (guest) visa. To visit relatives or friends. Your host in Russia requests an invitation for you.
• Business visa. For business trips, on an invitation from a Russian organisation.

If you are travelling as a tourist or on business, see our guide to tourist and business trips.

If you study at a state university, your spouse and dependent children can get a study visa valid as long as yours: see our family guide.

The unified e-visa

You apply for the unified electronic visa online at evisa.kdmid.ru. It is for private and business visits, tourism, and scientific, cultural, social and political, economic or sports events. It is single entry, valid for 120 days from the date it is issued, and allows a stay of up to 30 days.

Two limits matter:

• It never covers study. Every student needs a regular visa from a consulate.
• Only citizens of countries on a government list can use it. Citizens of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Nigeria and Senegal are not on it. Check the list and apply only on the official site.

How to apply for a study visa

1. The invitation. After you are admitted, your university applies to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) for your invitation. This normally takes 20 working days, so send the university what it asks for quickly.
2. The form. Fill in the visa application form online on the website of the Consular Department (kdmid.ru), then print and sign it.
3. The documents. You need your passport, valid for at least 18 months, the invitation, the form, a photo and a certificate showing a negative HIV test. The embassy may ask for more, so check its current list.
4. The appointment. Book an appointment at the embassy or consulate that serves the country where you live. Ask about the fee and how long it takes.

If you live in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria or Senegal, the Russian embassies are in Yaoundé, Abidjan, Abuja and Dakar. Russia has no embassy in Haiti: before you plan, confirm with your university’s international office, or with us, which embassy you should apply to. Our country pages give more details.

Your first study visa is single entry and valid for up to 90 days. After you arrive, the university asks the MVD to extend it as a multiple-entry visa for up to one year, and it is renewed each year until your studies end. Universities usually collect the documents 30–45 days before your visa expires. After graduation, you may stay up to 30 more days. Another option is a temporary residence permit for education: see our legal pathways guide.

Your first weeks in Russia

These rules changed several times in 2024–2026. Check them with your university’s international office and on official sites before you act.

• Migration card. You receive it or fill it in at passport control. Keep it with your passport until you leave Russia. Plans to replace it with an online procedure are not law yet.
• Registration within 7 working days. If you live in a dormitory, the international office registers you, so go there on your first working day. If you rent a flat, the landlord registers you; since 2023 this can also be done on Gosuslugi if you both have an account. Hotels register guests within 1 working day.
• Medical examination within 30 days. Since 1 September 2026, everyone staying more than 90 days, students included, must be examined within 30 calendar days of entry, then every year. It checks for drugs, dangerous infections and HIV, and is done only in clinics approved in your region. Missing it can lead to a fine and expulsion.
• Fingerprints and photo. These are taken once. The law allows students 90 days, but universities advise doing both within 30 days, right after the medical results.
• Health insurance. Universities usually ask for a voluntary health insurance policy soon after arrival, and you need valid insurance to extend your visa.
• Copies. Keep paper and phone copies of all these documents.

The registry of controlled persons

Since 5 February 2025, the MVD keeps a registry of foreigners it considers to have no legal grounds to stay in Russia. People on it face strict limits, for example on bank cards and on moving to another region. Some students have been added by mistake, for instance when their registration was missing from MVD systems. If a bank or an office refuses you a service, ask your international office to help you check the registry and, if needed, request removal.

Planning your journey

Airlines from the European Union and the United States do not fly to Russia. Common routes go through hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Cairo, Casablanca and Addis Ababa.

• Routes through Europe or the United States may need a transit visa, so check the rules for every stop.
• There is no direct flight between Haiti and Russia, so plan your route early.
• Book on the airline’s official website, and check the route before you pay.
• Tell your university your arrival date and flight, and agree how you will reach the dormitory.
• Keep your passport, visa, invitation and copies in your hand luggage.
• Bring cash in US dollars or euros, because foreign Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Russia. See our practical tips.

Your next step

If you have not applied yet, start with our admissions guide. We do not issue invitations or visas, but we can help you understand the process: describe your plans in the Start Your Journey form and we will reply by email with next steps.