Applicants from foreign countries have to compile a full set of documents which permit their legal stay on the territory of the Russian Federation.
While awaiting university invitation, you should prepare a document set for visa application at the embassy or consulate of Russia.
Required documents list
Once you receive confirmation of documents' legalization, email digital versions of the documents to int@surgu.ru.
Note: invitation and medical insurance are also required to get a visa.
* For applicants under the age of 18 – Parental Consent to Travel for Children under 18 certified by notary is required.
** In Russian embassy, consulate and/or visa application center located in your country you can confirm which documents exactly you need.
Once you have a full documents set (including invitation), apply to embassy or consulate of Russia in your country. After passing an interview, submit payment of a student visa fee. The student visa turnaround time is 2-3 weeks.
Student visa validity
At first, student visa is valid for 3 months. In order to extend your visa, you'll need to apply to General Directorate of Migration of Russian Federation's Ministry of Internal Affairs. There, you can apply for a multi-entry visa, which is valid for a year. During this period, you are allowed to stay in Russia or leave and return. Upon the expiration you should apply for extension again and repeat this procedure until the end of your studying.
How to extend a visa
For student visa extension, you should apply to university's International Department no later than 30-40 days before expiration.
The required documents include (but may be not limited to):
- Application form
- Photograph
- International passport
- Photocopy of a study contract or an assignment for study by Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
- Intercession from University in written and free format, indicating the reason for visa extension
- Receipt confirming the payment of state duty
- Detachable section of the notification form (issued during migration registration)
- Original admission form and its photocopy
State duty for 1-year educational visa is 1,600 rubles (approximately $30).
Pay attention that every time after visa extension you should pass migration registration once again.
ALready have a visa?
Before your arrival in Russia
Buy tickets with estimated transfer gap in Moscow or Saint Petersburg being no longer than 24 hours. Send a digital version of your tickets via e-mail to int@surgu.ru (no later than five days before the departure).
Registration
Upon arrival in Russia, every foreign citizen should fill out an admission form and always have it in possession during their stay in Russia. You should apply for primary migration registration with documentation set within two days.
Migration card
The migration card allows to verify that a foreign citizen crossed the Russian border legally. Without a migration card, a foreign citizen can neither live, study nor legally work in Russia.
You can get a free migration card form aboard your plane, on a train or at a passport control area of the airport or railroad station.
Admission form is valid during the entire time of your stay in Russia. While leaving the country, you should leave it at the passenger security checkpoint. Once returning to the country, you'll have to fill out a new migration card.
Migration registration
Foreign citizens entering Russia should apply for migration registration. For this purpose, you should check in to the dormitory of Surgut State University on the arrival day and provide your passport and immigration card to the office located at 1 Lenin Avenue, office 232. The office is open from Monday to Thursday at 8:00am to 5:00pm (8:00 to 17:00), with lunch break at 12am to 1pm (12:00 to 13:00); on Friday at 8am to 12am. You should provide the following documents:
- Passport (or any other state-issued ID)
- Visa (if available)
- Admission form
How to extend migration registration
Should you want to extend the duration of your stay, apply to the office 232 located at 1 Lenin Avenue. The office is open from Monday to Thursday 8:00am to 5:00pm (8:00 to 17:00), with lunch break at 12am to 1pm (12:00 to 13:00); on Friday 8am to 12am.
It can be done before the migration card validity runs out (90 days), but no later than 30 days before its expiration date.