Visa support

New in Migration Legislation

STEP 1: Applying for visa

If you need visa to come to the Russian Federation please contact the coordinator of the program you apply for.

Fill out an application form and send it along with a digital copy of your passport (pages containing your personal data) to your coordinator by e-mail. The copy should be legible and the photograph should be clearly visible.

PLEASE NOTE! Your passport must be valid for 1,5 year after the expiration date of your Russian visa.

Not earlier then 45 days prior to your estimated arrival MGIMO applies to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for your invitation to Russia. Upon getting the approval the program coordinator forwards you the reference number of the electronic invitation (TELEX) and information of its validity period. The electronic invitation is sent directly to the Russian Consulate in your home country in the city which is indicated in your application form.

Once you have the reference number you should contact the Russian Consulate or Visa Centre and apply for visa.

PLEASE NOTE! Not visa application centre or online application, only your personal presence.

According to the Law you are allowed to apply for a single entry student visa valued for 90 days. This type of visa can be extended in Russia for the required period of time as a multiple.

Please check the list of the documents required for visa obtaining at the website of the Russian Consulate in your home-country. Letter of Invitation/Letter of Acceptance is not required to apply and obtain visa.

Please be informed that it is prohibited to arrive to Russia/MGIMO earlier then your visa allows you to do it.

Additional information for the German students!
According to Art. 5 Par. 1,2 of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on facilitation of mutual trips of citizens of the Russian Federation and citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany (Berlin, 10 Dec. 2003) German students can apply for Russian visa by providing Letter of Invitation from a university. To learn more please contact your coordinator.

STEP 2: At the State border

MIGRATION CARD

Pic. 1

• Migration card has two parts — part «A» and part «B» (Pic. 1). On passing the checkpoint of the state border, the part «A» remains at the border checkpoint, part «B» must be returned to a foreign citizen.
• At the checkpoint through the state border of the Russian Federation you must submit a Migration card indicating the purpose of entry «EDUCATION» (for countries with a visa regime the purpose of entry is stated in visa)

IMPORTANT!!! On the border of Russian Federation before signing a migration card, check carefully the purpose of entry, it must be «EDUCATION», otherwise the procedure of your registration on the territory of the Russian Federation by the MGIMO-University will be IMPOSSIBLE. Also check the spelling of your surname, name (name in the migration card must match the name in your visa).

STEP 3: At the university

THE PROCEDURE OF THE MIGRATION REGISTRATION

In accordance with the Federal law N 109 of 18.07.2006 «On migration registration of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation» on the arrival to the Russian Federation a foreign citizen must be registered at the Federal migration service at the place of stay. All procedures for the migration registration are carried out by a receiving side — MGIMO-University only if you stay in MGIMO’s dormitory. If you rent a flat procedures for the migration registration are carried out by your landlord.

Pic. 2
On the day of your arrival or the next workday you should visit visa office at MGIMO (office 1023) with the following documents:

• copy of passport (photo page, the page stamped at the last border crossing);
• copy of visa;
• copy of migration card;
• copy of your dormitory contract.

If for some reason you can’t bring copies of documents for the migration registration (illness, poor health, etc.), you can send them by e-mail to visa@inno.mgimo.ru

You will collect the detachable part of arrival notification (Pic. 2) at MGIMO Visa office (Office 1023) in seven (7) days. Please note that registration has an expiration date as well, usually it is the same as the expiration date of your visa. After you get a new (extended) visa you should get a new registration.

PLEASE NOTE! You should register each time in the following cases:

• after each check out from the hotel on the territory of the Russian Federation (1–2 days), including the territory of Moscow and Moscow region (24 hours). Don’t forget to pick up from a hotel the detachable part of the notification (registration) and keep your ticket/boarding pass to Moscow from the place of your visit;
• after every crossing of the border of the Russian Federation (1–2 days).

STEP 4: Visa extension

YOUR VISA

A visa you received in Russian Consulate in your country is single entry and valid for 90 days. Here you will be able to extend your visa for the period of your study in the University (up to 12 month) and it will be multiple.

In order to extend your visa please contact MGIMO Department of visas and registrations (office 1023) 60–30 days before the expiration date of your visa and submit the following documents:

• copy of passport (all pages!) + original;
• copy of migration card + original;
• copy of the detachable part of arrival notification (registration) + original;
• 1 photo (exact size 3×4 cm!);
• copy of your dormitory contract;
• medical insurance.

A foreign citizen who stays in the Russian Federation on expired visa can be prosecuted for violation of the Migration regulation and fined (up to 7000 Rubles) or deported with subsequent ban on entry the Russian Federation for 5 years.

Contact information:

For all issues relating to migration legislation, you can consult on weekdays from 10 to 17 by phone +7 495 234 58 79, e-mail: visa@inno.mgimo.ru or in reception hours of Visa Office (1023):

• Monday — Thursday — from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00
• Friday — from 10:00 to 12:00