Visa support

Electronic letter-invitation is issued only by Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs located in Russia. MSU BS applies for it shortly after accepting your study application. The School submits the copies of your documents received at the application stage. Once the Letter is issued, MSU BS sends you the electronic letter-invitation, you print it and go to the Embassy of Russia in your country. Please keep in touch with your local Programme or Exchange coordinator to be able to obtain the letter timely via e-mail )

It usually takes a month and a half for the migration procedure to issue the  Letter, so please be informed that you will receive it not earlier than 1,5 months before the semester starts (in some cases even earlier or later).

If you submit the documents for a work or student visa, please be aware that the travel passport has to be valid for no less than one and a half-year.

When you cross the Russian border, e.g. by air from London to Moscow or by train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, you will be provided with the migration card which has to be filled in before crossing the border (please see the picture bellow)

UPON ARRIVAL

Under to the Russian law, every foreigner coming to Russia should have his Russian visa registered within 7 working days upon arrival (excluding weekends and official holidays; the first day is the day of your arrival)

Visa registration is a form of migration control within Russia managed by Ministry of Internal Affairs. Registration involves placing a stamp either in your passport or on your migration card and obtaining a registration slip. The stamps and registration slip show the period you are registered to stay in any one place.

Upon arrival you must see the MSU BS visa specialist (First building MSUBS,+ 7 495 939-26-80, Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00) as soon as possible (on the day of your arrival or the next working day) and bring your passport and migration card.

In 10 days you will get a special piece of paper confirming that your regisatrtion has been submitted. See bellow what this slip looks like

Please remember if you do not register your visa, it may lead to serious problems with the authorities including finees, detention, deportation and even prevention of leaving the country.

When crossing Russian borders and arriving to Russia again, you should have your visa registered anew! To do this you will need to visit our visa specialist again and apply for the renewed registration.

The first visa obtained is a 3 month signle entry visa. Upon its expiry, it will be prolonged till the end of your study time at MSU BS and will become a multiple entry one.

Please keep in mind that you have to apply for the visa prolongation around 1,5 months after entering Russia.You will give your passport to the visa specialist at the International Office who will pass it to MSU International Department for the prolongation procedure. You will receive a certificate verifying that your passport is at the local representative office of  the Ministry of Internal Affairs for this period. Unfortunately, you will not be able to go away from Moscow without ypour passport so we kindly ask you not to plan any trips during this period of time.