Russian Visa Support

About Russian Visa

The requirements for applications in the applicant’s country of origin

  • 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 Educa
  • valid passport (six months after the Russian visa expiry date)
  • one recent passport-sized photo
  • health insurance certificate (only required by some Russian Consulates).

Applying for a Russian visa

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.

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.

Up to 30 days stay

  • Course starting day – Min 14 days after enrollment
  • Visa type – Tourist single-entry
  • Invitation processing time – Up to 5 days (postage time included)
  • Extend-ability – Non-extendable
  • HIV test certificate – Not required

Up to 90 days stay

  • Course starting day – Min 6 weeks after enrollment
  • Visa type – Short-term student single-entry
  • Invitation processing time – Up to 5 weeks (postage time included)
  • Extend-ability – Non-extendable
  • HIV test certificate – Not required

Up to 1 year stay

  • Course starting day – Min 6 weeks after enrollment
  • Visa type – Long-term student multiple-entry
  • Invitation processing time – Up to 5 weeks (postage time included)
  • Extend-ability – Extendable
  • HIV test certificate – Not required

Temporary residence registration

If a foreign citizen comes to Russia as a student or tourist, temporary registration in Russia is not required for them if their stay in the country does not exceed 90 days within 180 days. This applies to citizens of most countries with which Russia has a visa-free regime or a simplified visa procedure.

Also, if a tourist rents accommodation on their own, the registration is often done automatically through the hotel or apartment.

Living with a host family is a unique opportunity not only to easily arrange all documents without hassle, but also to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of real Russian life. We take full responsibility for the registration of our students with the local authorities. Registration normally takes up to two working days. You will receive support with all the paperwork and registration, as well as learn about traditions, language and culture!

Please note that if accommodation is booked with a third party, EDUCA doesn’t take any responsibility for the registration process.

Frequently asked questions

Is Russian visa easy to get?

Many countries are now included in the list of visa-free countries with Russia, so your journey to language learning will be even easier.
For citizens of countries that require a visa to travel to Russia, we are always ready to help with the issuance of an invitation letter to make your travel preparations smoother!

What are the types of Russian visas?

Electronic (e-Visa), Tourist, Student, Guest, Diplomatic and Transit. For our students, we can prepare a letter of invitation to apply for a tourist or student visa if needed. We always check the most up-to-date information to ensure that your trip will go smoothly and we’ll recommend the option that will be the most relevant at the moment!

Do I need a letter of invitation to visit Russia?

To apply for a student visa, it is always necessary to have a letter of invitation. This can take a few weeks to prepare from our school, so take this into account when planning your trip.
If you are planning a short-term trip (about 14 days), you can apply for an e-visa and get it within a few days! This type of visa may not be available for some countries, so it’s important to check this information when planning your trip.

Can I go to Russia as a tourist now?

At the moment, many students from different countries come to study at our school: Italy, France, Spain, Germany, UK and even the USA.
If you have difficulties with obtaining visa to Russia, we have an official branch in Armenia, Yerevan. This is a country with a rich culture and a large Russian-speaking community! The most important thing is that most countries do not need a visa to visit it! So when planning your trip you can also choose this destination.

How to apply for Russian visa?

The process consists of several points.
Selecting the type of visa: First you need to determine what type of visa you need – tourist, student, etc.

Invitation: For most types of visas you need an invitation from an official organization in Russia. In some cases, the invitation can be issued through the consulate.

Filling in the application form: You fill in the visa application form on the website of the Russian consulate. In the questionnaire you need to provide personal data and information about the trip.

Among the documents usually required:
1. Passport (validity period should be at least 6 months after the end of the visa).
2. Photo.
3. Invitation.
4. Questionnaire.
5. Health insurance (in some cases).

Application and payment of consular fee: Apply at a Russian consulate or visa center in your country.

Usually the visa is issued within 7-10 working days, but we recommend to apply for a visa not earlier than 14 days before the date of planned entry into the Russian Federation.

Citizens of which countries are allowed visa-free entry into Russia?
Abkhazia
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.
Argentina
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Armenia
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.Allowed to enter on internal passports.
Azerbaijan
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.
Belarus
Unlimited stay.
Bolivia
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Period of stay not more than 90 days.
Brazil
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Brunei Darussalam
Period of stay not more than 14 days for non-commercial purposes (not for employment or study).
Chile
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Colombia
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Costa Rica
Period of stay not more than 90 days.
Cuba
Up to 30 days.
Dominican Republic
Period of stay not more than 60 days within 180 for non-commercial purposes.
Ecuador
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Fiji
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.
Guatemala
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Guyana
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Honduras
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Israel
Period of stay is not more than 90 days within a year.
Kazakhstan
Period of stay not more than 90 days. Allowed to enter on internal passports.
Korea
Period of stay does not exceed 60 days per a trip and is not more than 90 days within a year.
Kyrgyzstan
Period of stay not more than 90 days. Allowed to enter on internal passports.
Moldova
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.
Mongolia
Up to 30 days.
Montenegro
Up to 30 days.
Nicaragua
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
North Macedonia
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.
Peru
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Serbia
Period of stay up to 30 days.
South Africa
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.
Tajikistan
Allowed to enter on internal passports. Period of stay not more than 90 days.
Thailand
Up to 30 days.
Turkey
Period of stay does not exceed 30 days per a trip and is not more than 90 days within six months.
United Arab Emirates
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Uruguay
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.
Uzbekistan
Period of stay not more than 90 days within a year.
Venezuela
Period of stay not more than 90 days within 365 for non-commercial purposes.

We always strive to make the process of language learning and adaptation in Russia as convenient and easy as possible for our international students. If you are planning a trip to Russia and need a visa support, we will be happy to help you and prepare an invitation letter to apply for two types of visas: tourist and student.

How it works:

1. Book your course with us by choosing a time that is convenient for you.
2. Specify the exact dates of your trip so that we can prepare an invitation letter to fit your schedule.
3. Send us your passport details so we can issue the invitation in your favour.

We will then prepare all the necessary documents and send them to you.
– For a tourist visa, the invitation will be ready within 5 working days.
– For student visas, the process can take up to two weeks.

We strongly recommend that you check the latest information about visa requirements and processing times with the consulate of your country, as in some cases the rules may change.

We look forward to seeing you and are sure that your Russian language learning will be a fascinating and rewarding process!

Have a question?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.