Inviting department: Visa Invitations

Who needs a visa invitation?

When to apply for a visa invitation?

How long does it take to issue an invitation?

How much does it cost to issue an invitation?

General points:

Issuance of a visa invitation, visa extension and other visa and migration public services are carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Russian Federation.
Control over the compliance with the purpose of the visit has been tightened — please advise the invited foreign citizens to make sure that the stated purpose of the visit to Russia goes along with the actual activity in the country.
Visits of foreign citizens to the campus must be performed in accordance with the Regulations on receiving foreign citizens, officials, and delegations. More details here.
Centre for Visa and Migration Support will not be held responsible in case if the applicant has paid the invitation/visa fee using an incorrect payment slip; if money was not refunded because the terms for submitting documents for a visa extension and/or other purposes were violated, if the organization accepting the documents has made changes and if the payments details were changed, or if the Ministry of Internal Affairs has declined to provide a given service.

Application for a visa invitation step by step

STEP 1. Determine the purpose of the visit

Types of Russian visas and invitations

STEP 2. Collect the data from the international visitor

The following information is needed:

STEP 3. Prepare additional documents for issuing an invitation

The list of documents depends on requested visa type

Visa type	Purpose of visit	A list of additional documents
Regular humanitarian visa	Humanitarian	scanned copy of the passport (photo page + pages with previous Russian visas, if any) order or draft order on the admission of a foreign citizen a scanned copy of the receipt for the state fee payment of 800 rubles, the original of which is sent to the office of the Visa and Registration Centre in Moscow
Regular work visa	Work	scanned copy of the passport (photo page + pages with previous Russian visas, if any) a scanned copy of an employment contract (when concluding such an agreement with a foreign citizen, it is necessary to notify the HR Department) a scanned copy of the receipt for the state fee payment of 800 rubles, the original of which is sent to the office of the Visa and Registration Centre in Moscow
Regular student visa	Fee-paying students	scanned copy of the passport (photo page + pages with previous Russian visas, if any) scanned copy of the education agreement confirmation of tuition payment a copy of the enrollment directive with an attachment or an extract from the enrollment directive
Regular student visa	Students with scholarship	scanned copy of the passport (photo page + pages with previous Russian visas, if any) certificate of enrollment

Please note: Foreign citizens who want to receive a visa not in their citizenship country additionally need to provide notarized translation of the residence permit in original. The validity of the residence permit must be at least 90 days from the date of commencement of the validity of the Russian visa. Translation into Russian must be notarized either in Russia by a Russian notary or at the Consulate of the Russian Federation in the country of residence and certified with a consular seal.

STEP 4. Submit documents to the visa and migration support office

Where and how to apply

STEP 5. Receive a visa invitation

Sent by e-mail

Important!

All foreign citizens arriving at the HSE St. Petersburg for a period of more than 7 working days are subject to registration at the place of actual stay. After arrival, it is necessary to contact the owner of the apartment or the administration of the hotel to obtain temporary registration.

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Visa type	Purpose of visit	Issued in case of	Duration and frequency of visa / possibility of extension	Invitation issuing authority
Regular humanitarian visa	Humanitarian	participation in conferences, seminars, congresses, other events, negotiations on cooperation, official visits, guest lectures without receiving a fee	Single entry visa for up to 90 days. No extension.	MIA or E-Visa
Regular work visa	Work	Teaching, research under an agreement with the payment of a fee	Single entry visa for up to 90 days + extension by issuing a multiple-entry visa for up to a year	MIA
Regular student visa	Short-term study	Studying in an educational organization for up to 3 months	Single entry visa for up to 90 days. No extension.	MIA
Regular student visa	Study	Studying in an educational organization for a period of more than 3 months	Single entry visa for up to 90 days + extension by issuing a multiple-entry visa for up to a year	MIA or Ministry of Education

HSE St. Petersburg International Office