Tomsk State Pedagogical University

Information for International Students and Visitors

Dear International Visitor/ Professor/ Student, We are very pleased that you are interested in visiting or studying at our university. We would like to offer some necessary information that you need to know before you travel to the Russian Federation. There are different types of RF visa, depending on the purpose of entry.

Student visa (purpose of entry: study, PhD study, courses or internship/practicum)

To study at a Russian university, international students need to have a student visa. Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan do not require a student visa. Nationals of other countries have to apply for a RF student visa before arriving in Russia. In order to apply for a RF visa you will have to submit our official invitation along with your visa application and other supporting documents to the Russian diplomatic mission. For your official invitation you are required to fill in the application for invitation for a student visa and send it back. Invitations are issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service. They reserve one month for the invitation to be issued. Citizens of the European Union (excluding the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and also citizens of  Switzerland, Iceland and Kingdom of Norway require only an official invitation issued by the university. Once we have received the required information, we usually issue such an invitation on the same business day

Please be aware that an invitation enables you to apply for a Russian visa at the nearest Russian diplomatic mission.

However the final decision about visa issue is taken by the Russian consulate. Depending on your citizenship, you may apply for your visa via your travel agent or other visa services. When applying for your Russian visa, please be aware that you may be required to provide additional documentation such as proof of insurance, sufficient financial means etc.

Normally students receive a single entry visa for 3 months. If you maintain your student status, your visa will be extended for one year and multiple entries. Further extensions occur every year. Once you are exmatriculated, you student visa will also be invalid. Russian Law does not provide grace period for travelling or looking for work after completion of studies.

Important!!!: International students can study only at the inviting university. No transfer to another university is allowed. Should a student decide to study at a different university, he/she will have to leave Russia and apply for a new student visa. Under Russian Law international students may not work, unless this work is on campus or during semester holidays. We discourage students to undertake travelling in Russia during semester as it might terminate your student status.

We encourage all international students to read how to prepare to live in another culture.

Visitor visa (conference, workshops …). This type of visa is called "scientific and technical cooperation":

Please contact the nearest Russian diplomatic mission or us to enquire if you require a visa to enter the Russian Federation for a short term visit (this category of visa). In case you need this visa, you will need an official invitation from our university. For your official invitation you are required to fill in the Application for invitation for a short-term visa (visiting scholars, teachers) and send it back. Invitations are issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service and they reserve one month for the invitation to be issued. Citizens of the European Union (excluding the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and also citizens of Switzerland, Iceland and Kingdom of Norway require only an official invitation issued by the university. Usually we issue such an invitation on the same business day after we have received the required information. Please note that this visa can not be used for emloyment or any other activity requiring salary, fees or access to  funds.

Please be informed that university invitations and the visa issued may not be used for tourist purposes.

Arrival in Russia

When arriving in Russia, on plane or train you should fill out a migration card which consists of two identical parts: arrival record and departure record. Complete the card either in Russian or English and hand it to the border police officer along with your passport. When finished put and keep the departure record part in your passport. Like in many other countries, possession of a visa does not always entitle its bearer to enter the country. The final decision about admitting is taken by the border police officer. We recommend keeping copies of the supporting documents in the event that the border police officer will ask for them. Please be advised that according to the Russian law all foreigners staying in Russia longer than seven days must be registered at the local Migration Office. Should you stay in some other place before going to Tomsk or travel to Tomsk by train, you are kindly requested to bring proof that you have legally been staying in Russia; such proof can be a train ticket, hotel receipt(s), copy(ies) of registration at the local Migration Office etc. Failure to produce this evidence may preclude us from being able to register you at the Tomsk Migration Office. This may be punished by fine, deportation or both.

The visitor visa can not be extended. The period mentioned in the visa is the period of stay in the Russian Federation. You may not stay in the Russian Federation beyond the date mentioned in the visa. Russian border police is very strict with travellers who overstay their visas even for one day. In the event of overstaying the visa, travellers will be required to apply for an exit /transit visa and it may take up to 20 days for such a visa to be issued by the Russian Migration Office. This usually results in fines and other additional expenses.

Should you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us via email.