To obtain a Russian student visa, an international applicant must first receive an official invitation letter from the Almazov Centre. As the host institution, the Centre submits a request to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to issue this invitation.

• Processing time: 20 working days(excluding postal delivery time). In some regions, this may take up to 45 days due to the workload of migration authorities.

• Cost: The invitation itself is free of charge (no state fee is levied for private invitations). However, you may incur costs for notarised translations of your documents and for postal delivery of the invitation.

Important: After receiving the invitation, you must apply for a visa at the Russian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. The initial student visa is valid for up to 90 days and can later be extended within Russia.

All foreign citizens are required to register for migration registration at their place of stay within 7 working days of arriving in Russia. The initial registration is valid for up to 90 days from the date of entry.