Russia Student Visa - Definitive Guide

Pursuing an education in Russia is a dream of many. Well, to be able to do so, there are certain formalities that are to be fulfilled and one of them is obtaining an education permit in Russia. The holder of this permit is allowed to pursue the required education in the country and is also allowed to tour the country. This visa is a kind of temporary residence permit that is issued by the Russian Government.

The process of obtaining a student visa for Russia is mainly offline. However, before carrying on with the application process, make sure that you are an eligible candidate for the same. This can be done by going through the eligibility criteria that is provided by the embassy. The process to obtain a Russia study permit is given as follows:

1. You can start by filling out the Russia student visa application form. It can be done online, else it can be downloaded and printed to be filled by hand in block letters.
2. Collect all the required documents as per the given checklist.
3. Attach recent photographs as well.
4. Submit the documents and the application form to the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
5. Pay the required fee.

Before the submission, an appointment is to be made on the web portal. A Russia student permit is a long term permit and the processes involved in obtaining one are quite complicated. It is also important to make sure that the application form is filled properly and the information provided matched with the details in the passport and other travel documents that are provided. If any of the information is found to be false or untraceable, there are chances that the application may get rejected. A visa rejection can affect your future applications for getting a student visa for Russia or for any other country.

To be able to apply for a Russian student permit, it is essential to first make sure that you are an eligible candidate for obtaining the same. Given below are a few criteria that are to be fulfilled at the time of obtaining a student visa for Russia:

• You must have confirmed admission in Russia
1. You must have applied to the institution or the university you are looking forward to acquiring the course.
2. Your admission must be confirmed and you must have the necessary documentary proof of the same.
3. Other valid documents, educational and others should be made available.
4. The educational documents must be verifiable.
5. You should have proof of your previous highest education degree.

• You must meet the health requirements
1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Russia.
2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide relevant documentary proof.

• You must have sufficient funds
1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Russia.
2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.
3. If you have a sponsor, evidence of their financial stability must be made available and should be sufficient to support your education.
4. The guarantor documents should also be legitimate and submitted at the time of application.

There are multiple documents that are required at the time of obtaining a Russia study visa. Some of the major Russia student visa requirements are listed as follows:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of travel.
• Completely filled and duly signed application form.
• Covering Letter.
• Photo as per the photo specifications.
• Confirmed flight tickets.
• Travel Insurance.
• Proof of purpose of visit - admission application, etc.
• Proof of admission as one of the following
1. Invitation for entry to the Russian Federation issued by the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation or the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (original)
2. A Visa Directive obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
3. A direct letter of invitation from the host organization or a copy of the same.
4. In the case of an electronic invitation, a copy is accepted.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement for the last three months, etc.

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 35 mm x 45 mm.
• Coloured copies must be provided.
• It must be a JPEG image for E visa.
• Should not be older than 6 months.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should be well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white.
• Neutral expressions.
• Hair should not hide eyes.
• Both the ears must be visible.
• Teeth should not be visible.
• Glasses are not permitted, except for prescription glasses.
• Eyes must be clearly visible through glasses.
• Must be taken in clear light.
• There should be no red eyes or flashes messing the image.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

There will be changes in the validity of an education permit in Russia depending on the type of course that has been chosen by the applicant. For short term courses, it could be about 3 months, and for long term courses, the validity can vary from 1 to 4 years.

The Russia student visa fees are to be paid to the VAC if you are applying through one, else directly to the Embassy of the Russian Federation. It can be paid online as well if there is a facility for applying online, payment is accepted through any of the standard procedures.

The processing time required to obtain a student visa for Russia is 20 to 30 working days. The workload at the embassy, holidays that may come in between, the officials available for the procedure, are some of the things that can affect the processing time if Russia study visa.

When the documents have been submitted, there are a few things that you need to note -

• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application. The visa is fee is non-refundable.
• When the form is submitted along with the fees, the visa will be mailed to you on your registered address or can be collected by yourself from the embassy or the respective Consular section.
• It is also essential to note that having a visa does not guarantee you an entry into the country. If the officials find an issue with your permit or yourself, there are chances that you will be asked to return to your native country.

In order to check the status of your student visa to Russia, you can contact the embassy. Else, if you have applied through a visa agency, you can also check the status on their website or by calling them.

After you have received the visa, there are a few things that you need to note. Some of the pointers are as follows:

• Before you travel
  1. Note the visa expiry date as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
  2. You should travel to Russia within the validity of your visa.
  3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
  4. Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.

• At the Border
  1. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
  2. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
  3. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
  4. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.

• When you enter Russia
  1. Ensure not to get involved in any kind of activities that are not permitted to a non-Russian resident. You may get into trouble otherwise.
  2. You can study, work as well as tour the country on this visa.
  3. The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
  4. Apply for an extension within the validity of the permit.