Memo for international students on migration and legal stay in the Russian Federation
Dear student,
Welcome to Lesgaft University! For your comfortable and safe education in Russia, strict compliance with the migration legislation of the Russian Federation is mandatory. This memo contains key information about the necessary documents and procedures.
1. Required documents for staying in the Russian Federation
For the entire period of study, you must have with you and update the following documents in a timely manner:
1. A foreign passport with a validity period exceeding the duration of the study and a notarized translation into Russian. Important: the transfer must be made at the Consulate of the Russian Federation or on the territory of Russia.
2. Migration card for the purpose of entry "STUDY".
3. Valid study visa (for citizens of visa-free countries).
4. A valid medical insurance policy for international students, including emergency hospitalization and repatriation services. A copy of the policy must be sent to the Office of International Cooperation.
5. Notification of migration registration (registration) at the place of actual residence.
6. Certificates of medical examination (and a certificate of entry of information into the database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs).
7. Certificate of mandatory state fingerprint registration ("green card").
Consequences of violations: Non-compliance with the rules may lead to inclusion in the Register of Controlled Persons, which entails serious restrictions, administrative liability, deportation and a ban on entry into the Russian Federation in the future.
2. The 90-day rule (special attention for applicants and first-year students)
• You can stay in the Russian Federation for no more than 90 days in total for one calendar year without an extension.
• All your entries during the year are summed up. Having spent this limit on tourism, you will not be able to legally stay in the country for admission and study.
• To extend the period of stay in the Russian Federation, you must undergo a medical examination and fingerprint registration.
• Recommendation: Plan the first training entry so that 90 days for medical examination and fingerprint registration expire no earlier than October. This will give you time to apply for an extension of your stay through the university.
3. Initial actions upon arrival in the Russian Federation
For those living in the University dormitory:
• On the next business day after crossing the border, provide the UMS with the original documents:
o Passport
o Migration card
o Medical insurance policy
o State fee (500 rubles)
• The UMS will arrange for you to register for migration at the address of the hostel.
For residents at a private address:
• You must register for migration at your place of residence within 7 working days from the date of entry.
• Provide a copy of the statement to the UMS on the next business day after receiving the statement.
4. Extension of stay and visa
To extend your legal stay in the Russian Federation, you must contact the International office no later than 30 days before the expiration date of your current visa/migration card.
Package of documents for renewal:
• Passport (for visa-free countries: valid for more than 18 months, minimum 2 blank pages).
• The original migration card.
• The original of the migration registration notice.
• Certificates of medical examination (valid).
• Certificate of fingerprint registration ("green card").
• Receipt of payment of the state fee (1,000 rubles – visa-free regime, 1,920 rubles – visa regime).
• Photo size 3x4 (only for visa countries).
Attention! Missing the deadline for submitting documents obliges you to leave the territory of the Russian Federation and return to study under a new invitation (for visa-free countries) or in a new calendar year (for visa-free countries).
5. Mandatory procedures: fingerprinting and medical examination
• Deadline: It is necessary to complete the procedures within 90 calendar days from the date of entry into the Russian Federation (the days of the Russian Federation previously spent if there were several entries are also considered).
• Address: St. Petersburg, Krasny Tekstilshchik str., 10-12, lit. In (entrance No. 2 from the courtyard). Make an appointment:
https://pvsmvd.ru/branches/78 • Required: passport with notarized translation, migration card, migration registration, student ID.
• Cost: Commercial service (approximately 12 000 – 15 000 The procedure takes place in 2 stages with a break of about 5 working days.
• Important:
o Fingerprinting takes place once.
o A medical examination must be carried out annually.
o Minors undergo medical examinations only in the presence of their parents.
o Exception: Citizens of the Republic of Belarus are exempt from these procedures.
6. Temporary residence permit for the purpose of education (RVPO) and a residence permit (residence permit)
For a comfortable long-term stay in Russia during your studies and after graduation, you can apply for a more stable status.
Temporary residence permit for the purpose of education (RVPO):
• For visa-free countries: Grants the right to obtain a visa for the entire period of study + 180 days.
• For visa-free countries: It eliminates the need to renew the migration card annually.
• General advantage: In the presence of RVPO, it is not necessary to undergo an annual medical examination.
Residence permit (residence permit):
• Is a document granting the right to permanent residence in the Russian Federation.
• Simplified procedure: Citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Moldova have the right to obtain a residence permit in a simplified manner.
7. Important points and special cases
• Permitted period of stay: a foreign citizen can stay in the territory of the Russian Federation for 90 days during 1 calendar year without extending the period of stay. If there are several entries to the Russian Federation during the year, the length of stay is summed up. To extend the length of stay, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination and fingerprint registration. It is important to keep this in mind when applying to University and not spend the entire 90 days before starting your studies. If you have all the necessary documents to extend your stay in the Russian Federation, your 90 days should expire no earlier than October 1.
• Invitation: An invitation for obtaining a study visa is issued only after the issuance of the enrollment order.
• Change of residential address: When moving (to another dormitory, to a private apartment), it is necessary to issue a new migration registration within the prescribed time and notify the International office.
• Hospitalization: When you are admitted to the hospital, your current diagnosis is cancelled. After discharge, a new registration must be issued within 7 business days.
• Refusal of a place in a hostel: If you refused to stay in a hostel, you must issue a written refusal to the International office and register for migration at a new address on your own.
• Notice of departure (for vacations, competitions, etc.): Before any trip outside the Russian Federation, you must inform the International office in advance (at least 3 business days in advance) about the planned departure date. Failure to comply with this rule may lead to difficulties in registering for migration and renewing documents upon your return.
• Final departure from the Russian Federation: Upon the expiration of the visa/ registration period and if there are no grounds for their extension, you must leave the territory of the Russian Federation.
8. If you are included in the Register of Controlled Persons:
• Inform the staff of the International office immediately.
• Immediately contact the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the area where you are registered for migration to settle your status.
• Important: Being in the Register of Controlled Persons means that the state does not recognize your current grounds for staying in the Russian Federation. The reason may be either a violation or a technical malfunction.
• Methods of treatment: In person at the branch or through the official portal: https://мвд.рф/request_main
Contacts for communication and questions:
Office of International Cooperation
