If a foreign visitor plans to study or take part in an internship at HSE University, you must apply for an invitation for a regular student visa.

If a foreign visitor is coming to work at HSE University and is entitled to remuneration, you should apply for an invitation for a regular work visa.

If a foreign visitor plans to take part in seminars and conferences, engage in joint research projects, and/or negotiations with respect to future cooperation, conduct research and work in HSE’s archives, provide assistance in regards to drawing up curricula and syllabi, but shall not receive any remuneration from HSE University, you can apply for an invitation for a regular humanitarian visa.

An invitation for a regular student visa may be issued for a period of a valid visa from 15 to 90 calendar days .

An invitation for a regular work visa may be issued for a period of a valid visa from 7 to 90 calendar days.

An invitation for a regular humanitarian visa may be issued for a period of a valid visa from 5 days to 3 years.

Select the type of invitation

There are two types of invitations:invitations drawn up on an official HSE University letterhead and  electronic invitations, which are submitted to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Please make sure to double check  in advance in regards to which type of invitation is required by the relevant Embassy/Consulate.

1) VISA INVITATIONS ISSUED BY THE MIGRATION SECTION OF THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN MOSCOW:

• An invitation for a student visa (with an option for its further extension during the visitor's stay in Russia);
• An invitation for a work visa (with an option for further extension during the visitor's stay in Russia);
• An invitation for a humanitarian visa (cannot be further extended during the visitor's stay in Russia).

 2) VISA INVITATIONS ON an official HSE university LETTERHEAD:

• An invitation for a humanitarian visa – available to citizens of EU member states(except for UK and Ireland),  Japan, India, China, Iran and the USA (for 3 years, multiple-entry);
• An invitation for a student visa – available to all EU citizens (please clarify the list of countries in advance), except for citizens of the UK and Ireland.

Please be kindly informed that student visas and work visas can be extended in Russia  if subject to submission of certain documents which may serve as a basis thereof. For student visas this would be a certificete of enrolment/extended tuition agreement; for work visas, this would be a current /extended employement contract. 

In order to properly fill in an application, the host subdivision must:

1. Forward a questionnaire to the foreign visitor to be completed in English

 Annex 1 (DOCX, 22 Кб)

2. Fill in an application in Russian, based on the details provided in the questionnaire, and have it signed by the host subdivision’s head:

 Annex 2 (DOC, 45 Кб)
 

3. Prepare attachments to the application:

• A confirmation of the payment of the state duty (if any); you can ask for a payment slip by sending an e-mail to visa-registration@hse.ru;
• A copy of the applicant's passport (the first page with the visitor's photograph and the passport’s expiry date).

 ! ‍At least 4 blank pages to be used for visa must be left in the visitor's passport.

The applicant’s passport must be valid for at least 18 months, starting from the visa's start date, if applying for a student or work visa.

The applicant’s passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the expiry date of the Russian visa, if applying for a humanitarian visa.

Please fill in your application carefully and check the following details:

- Date of entry;

- Passport expiry date;

- City and country where visa application will be made.

No amendments can be made after the invitation has been issued.

Please note that if you change the city for the visa application, an expected period of stay on said visa or the date of entry, a revised application will be attended to in the general order of priority.

Pursuant to the Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, applications for invitations shall be accepted no earlier than 100 calendar days and no later than 30 working days prior to the anticipated date of entry.

As per the Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the processing time for visa invitations is within 30 working days from the submission date or, in some cases, a longer period of time.

Please note that urgent applications can be processed on a priority basis only upon prior approval.

The Visa and Registration Centre can review an application on a priority basis only if an applicant provides valid reasons for this.

Therefore, an explanation in writing shall be provided to this end.

Other attachments to the application

IF a FOREIGN VISITOR PLANS TO APPLY FOR A VISA OUTSIDE OF HIS/HER HOME COUNTRY:

• Citizens from  migration risk countries (DOCX, 28 Кб) must provide a notarized translation of their visa issued in their country of residence (such a visa must be valid for at least 6 months after the expiry of their Russian visa) or their residence permit (their residence permit must be valid for at least 18 months after the Russian visa's start date);
• Foreign citizens who don’t live in the country of their birth must apply to the Russian Consulate in order to clarify the list of additional documents for submission, for example these documents may be demanded: a notarized translation of a residence permit in the country of current residency, or a notarized translation of the visa of the country of permanent residency ( the validation term of the visa must be not less than 6 months from the date of the Russian visas’ s expiration) or a notarized copy of a residence permit (the validation term of the residence permit must be not less than 18 months from the date of the Russian visas’ s expiration).

IF A FOREIGN VISITOR PLANS TO APPLY FOR A MULTIPLE-ENTRY HUMANITARIAN VISA:

• A copy of their most recent Russian visa (other than a tourist visa).

The translations shall be notarised either in Russia, or in the Russian Embassy/Consulate abroad.

Please submit the original of the notarised document to the Visa and Registration Centre at Moscow, 11 Pokrovsky Boulevard, Building D, D005/D006.

Please submit a scanned copy of the application in Russian signed by the subdivision head and the passport of the foreign visitor to: visa-registration@hse.ru.

If any additional documents are required to issue a visa invitation (e.g., original payment slips, and/or notarized translations of documents with an apostille, etc.,), the HSE Visa and Registration Centre cannot initiate the visa invitation process until all necessary documents are submitted.

As soon as the visa invitation for the foreign visitor is ready ( if it's an invitation on an official HSE University letterhead), a manager from our centre will send you an e-mail with a scan of invitation. If necessary, you can collect the original of the invitation directly from our centre at Moscow, 11 Pokrovsky Boulevard, Building D, D005/D006.

If an invitation from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has been requested, you will receive an e-mail notification once it's ready.  In this case, you don't need to collect any documents in person. 

Please carefully check all details in the foreign visitor's invitation. Don't buy any tickets until you get the invitation.

What  to check in the invitation:

When you receive a visa invitation, please check and confirm the following information:

• personal data (name, surname, date of birth, gender);
• passport information (number, valid until);
• permitted number of entries and purpose of entry;
• dates of possible entry and visa expiration (the dates must correspond with the visitor's planned stay in Russia).

HSE University campuses can request a mail delivery, if they coordinate the date and time with the centre in advance.

You can select a courier service to deliver an original invitation (e.g., DHL).

If an original invitation is not required by the consulate, you may send a scanned copy via e-mail. Please coordinate these matters with the foreign visitor well in advance in line with the requirements set by the relevant consular section of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We recommend that you make a visa application as soon as you receive your invitation!