Bachelor's, Master's and Specialist students: visa-free

1. What should I do when crossing the border to enter Russia?

You will be required to provide your passport, and a migration card. You will receive a migration card on the plane/train/bus, or at the border checkpoint.

If you are crossing the Russian border by transit through Belarus, make sure to obtain a migration card before entering Russia on the border point with Belarus - ask for the migration card to be issued for you by the migration officer at the Belarusian border point. Citizens of Belarus shall not be issued a migration card.

Please refer to our guide to make sure that you or the checkpoint officer have filled in your migration card correctly. Make sure the purpose of travel highlighted is "education". 

If you find an error in your migration card while crossing the border, contact the checkpoint officer.

If you find an error in your migration card after you left the checkpoint, most likely, you will have to leave Russia and come back.

Once you have checked your migration card, a scanned copy must be uploaded in the HSE App X mobile app.

3. How soon should I get registered upon arrival?

Within 3 business days. We recommend you to do it on the next day after entering Russia.

Please note, in case you fail to get registered upon arrival, you will be subject to a state penalty of 40,000 rubles and might be deported and denied further entry to Russia. 

Do not buy registration services from untrustworthy companies, it is provided by the MIA of Russia. You must be registered strictly at the address of your actual stay in Russia.

5. When should I obtain the medical insurance policy?

Upon arrival to Russia you should obtain the medical insurance policy. Find the list of available programs here. After obtaining the medical policy, you should send a scan of it to the manager of your study program. Once the medical insurance policy has been acquired, a scanned copy must be forwarded to the study programme manager, and another copy must be uploaded in the HSE App X mobile app.

2. What should I do after crossing the border into Russia?

Foreign citizens are required to get a migration registration every time they cross the border to enter Russia and subsequently extend their period of temporary stay in the country. If you violate this rule, you may be subject to a fine of up to 40,000 roubles, deportation from Russia, and a ban on entry for up to three years. What you may need to do to get your migration registration will depend on your place of residence in Russia.

Please make sure that you keep your registration slip and migration card on your person up until your departure from Russia as these documents may be requested at the border checkpoint when leaving the country.

I will be staying in the dormitory

I will be staying in a private flat

I am staying in a hotel/hostel

4. Which other procedures should I undergo after arrival to Russia?

All foreign students are obliged to undergo the following compulsory procedures within 90 days since their arrival:

• Medical examination carried out at State hospital of Moscow #5 (or at other medical organizations from the list provided here). A sample of the medical check-up certificate can be seen here.
• Fingerprinting, and photographing made at the territorial department of migration of the MIA of Moscow (MVD). A sample of the fingerprinting certificate can be found here. Do not confuse this with voluntary fingerprinting, for which no certificate is issued.

Read further information here.

* Citizens of Belarus, as well as holders of Russian temporary and permanent residence permits are exempt from these procedures (the exception is students living in dormitory No. 1 who hold an RVP or RVPO).