Student visas
Student visas are issued to citizens of foreign countries and stateless persons entering the Russian Federation for study purposes on the basis of an invitation from the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation (MVD of Russia), a decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (MFA of Russia).
Student visas are either single-entry or double-entry, and are valid for 90 days.
The visa may be subsequently extended by the MVD of Russia at the place where the foreign national resides and is based, for migration records, by issuing a multiple-entry visa for the duration of the study contract, entered into in accordance with the educational legislation of the Russian Federation, but by not more than 1 year for each subsequent visa.
The student visa may be given for free in accordance with Russia-EU Visa facilitation Agreement on the basis of an inviting letter from the Russian university (only for short-term study for not more than 90 days without prolongation).
Where to apply for a Russian visa
There are 2 places in the Netherlands where you may apply for a Russian visa:
1. The Consular section of the Russian Embassy (Scheveningseweg 2, 2517 KT Den Haag, map):
- to apply for a visa - only prior to an appointment on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 10.00 till 10.30, the applicant must be present in person;
- to pick up a passport - without an appointment on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 12.00 till 12.40, the applicant must be present in person with the payment receipt;
2. The Russian visa application centre (Parkstraat 83, The Hague, 2514 JG. Haagsche Hoff, Office A215).
Read more here: https://rusvisacentre.com/.
Important ! If there are no available appointments in the Consular section of the Russian Embassy for the dates wished by a candidate for a visa the documents are to be submitted ONLY to the Russian visa application centre.
Even if the documents have been submitted to the Visa application centre, the visas are anyway issued (printed) by the Russian consulate in the Hague.
Processing time
The processing time for the issuance of a student visa in the Consular section is from 3 working days till 20 calendar days.
If the documents are introduced personally by the applicant via the Russian Visa application centre in the Hague, 1 extra day must be added to the above visa processing period.
If the documents are introduced by the applicant via a visa agency, 2-3 extra days must be added to the above visa processing period.
The Article 7 of the Russia-EU visa facilitation Agreement authorizes the Russian consulate to extend the time processing of a visa application up to 30 working days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.
Visa fees
All the information about visa fees is available on this web-page.
General rules
1. The Consular section is authorized to give visas only for the Russian Federation.
2. The Consular section does not accept any visa documents sent by post and never sends passports with visas by post.
3. The visa application is to be introduced not later than 8 calendar days and not earlier than 3 months before the trip to the Russian Federation.
4. All payments in the Consular section must be done only by bank cards. Cash money and other means of payment are not accepted.
5. The fee paid for a visa is not refundable.
6. When obtaining a passport with a visa, we recommend that you carefully check the personal data specified in the visa.
7. The law of the Russian Federation empowers the Consular section to refuse to issue any visa without explaining the reasons of the refusal.
8. Before you read the information about the required documents we recommend you to first make an appointment.
9. Very important for visa applications directly in the Consular section of the Russian Embassy ! A foreign citizen or a stateless person (who does not have the Russian citizenship) must be present in the Consular section in person. The applicant is authorized to apply for a visa for himself and his/her children under 18 y.o. for a joint trip to Russia (for the same dates). Documents proving the degree of relationship are required (originals from the Gemeente). The applications on behalf of a third person (even with the power of attorney) are not accepted.
Very important for visa applications in the Russian visa centre in the Hague ! A foreign citizen or a stateless person (who does not have the Russian citizenship) may visit the Visa centre or by him(her)self or empower a third person for this mission. To apply for a visa on behalf of the passport holder a hand-written (on the copy of the passport) power of attorney from the latter will be required.
10. VERY IMPORTANT ! The visa procedure that is underway in the Russian consulate may be cancelled (stopped) by the applicant. For that the candidate for a visa has to apply with a written statement to the organisation where he has submitted his/her visa documents. All paid fees in that case are not refundable. The passport without a visa will be returned to its holder not earlier than after 2-3 working days.
11. VERY IMPORTANT ! ARE YOU BANNED TO ENTER THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION?
In case of non-payment in due time by a foreign citizen during his/her stay in the Russian Federation of customs duties and taxes, including the cases of temporary import of vehicles for personal use into the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union, the competent authorities of the Russian Federation may take a decision to prohibit the entry of such foreign citizen to the Russian Federation.
The Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation has launched an information service that allows online checking of the presence of arrears of customs payments and decisions made by the customs authorities to ban entry into the Russian Federation. To start verification, please follow the link.
List of required documents
1. Visa invitation of one of three kinds:
- an invitation of the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation (MVD of Russia) – in a paper form (the original is required) or an electronic form. Ask for this kind of invitation from your Russian university;
- a telex invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (MFA of Russia). This type of invitation can be requested by your Russian university at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (if available). Such invitations are sent to the Consular section directly by the Ministry, the applicant is required to provide only the number (6 digits) of the invitation;
- a copy of a direct inviting letter (for short-term study only, without prolongation): a written request of your Russian university signed by the Rector of the university or the Head of the International Department, with a stamp. Such an invitation shall be printed on the official paper of the Russian university. See the specimen.
2. Travel passport (original). The passport must contain at least 2 blank visa pages and must be valid 6 months after the last day of the required visa validity;
3. Visa application form printed and signed personally by the applicant (Very important ! when the web-site asks to select the location where the applicant is going to submit documents, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands OR the Visa Centre must be chosen – the choice depends on the place where the applicant has made his visa appointment);
4. 1 recent passport photo. The photo must be glued (not stapled!) on the visa application form;
5. Medical insurance policy document (copy or original) issued by a foreign insurance company or a Russian insurance company. This document is required only from the citizens of all EU countries (except Great Britain), Iran, Iseland State, Israel, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Swiss. This document must contain:
- the date when the agreement was signed;
- the policy number;
- the full name of the insured person;
- full details of the insurer;
- the dates of validity: the policy must cover the entire period of stay in Russia for single-entry and double-entry visas, and the duration of the first trip for multiple-entry visas;
- the list of medical services covered by the insurance, the repatriation must be included;
- the geographical area coverage: worldwide or including the Russian Federation or Europe including the Russian Federation;
- the insurance coverage amount must not be less than 30.000 Euros;
- the signature of the insurer.
Insurance policies and confirmation letters which do not contain the above information and standard forms stamped by the insurer are not accepted.
Insurance cards are not accepted;
6. Original and copy of a valid Dutch permanent residence permit (not required if the applicant is a citizen of the EU or the USA).
The Russian Consulate may request additional documents before issuing a visa, invite any applicant to a personal interview or extend the time required for the visa consideration.
To be noted that the law of the Russian Federation empowers the Russian Consulate to refuse to issue any visa without explaining the reasons of the refusal.
