Visa support
All foreign citizens (with exception of some CIS countries) need a visa to enter Russia.
Applying for a Russian visa
The requirements for Russian visa applications in the applicant's country of origin are as follows -
- visa application form (downloadable PDF forms in English non-US citizens, English US citizens, French, German, Spanish, Italian, .gif form in Turkish) (some Russian Consulates accept only computer filled forms)
- invitation (visa support letter) provided by EducaCentre
- valid passport (six months after the Russian visa expiry date)
- one recent passport-sized photo
- health insurance certificate (only required by some Russian Consulates).
The visa fee depends on the pricing policy at a given consulate and the speed of processing. To locate your nearest Russian Consulate, please, check www.russianembassy.net or www.waytorussia.net/RussianVisa/RussianConsulates.html.
Visa Support
The type of visa and its processing time depends on the duration of your stay, so check this section carefully before choosing the start date of your course.
| Length of stay | Course starting day | Visa type | Invitation process- ing time |
Extend-ability | HIV test certificate |
| Up to 30 days | Min 7 days after enrol- ment |
Tourist single-entry | Up to 5 days (postage time included) | Non- extendable |
Not required |
| Up to 90 days | Min 6 weeks after enrol- ment |
Short-term student single-entry | Up to 5 weeks (postage time included) | Extendable | Not required |
| More than 90 days | Min 6 weeks after enrol- ment |
Long-term student multi-entry (initial application for short-term student, then extended in Russia ) | Extension of short-term student visa, done in Russia | Up to one year | Has to be in English and Russian, include passport details and original stamp, valid for 3 months, presented to local authorities together with visa extension application (could be done in Russia) |
Registration
The law states that all visitors' passports and visas have to be registered within 72 hours (3 working days) upon arrival. EducaCentre take full responsibility for the registration of their students with the local authorities. Registration normally takes up to two working days. Until the registration is complete, students are provided with stamped copies of their passport, visa and migration card, as well as with a letter from EducaCentre which is used as a temporary identity certification. During this period
please, consult a member if staff at EducaCentre before attempting to do any banking if identification is required.
If you decided to study for over 3 months your short-term visa can be extended together with registration. In addition to your passport and migration card, you will need to submit 4 black-and-white passport-sized photos and the original of your HIV certificate.