Entry into Russia for foreign students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Entry into Russia for foreign students during the COVID-19 pandemic

1. Before arriving in Russia

Entry into Russia is permitted for foreign students from any country regardless of the epidemiological situation. If you need a study visa to study in Russia, you must request a visa invitation from the manager of your education programme. The invitation will be provided within 40-45 days.

It is recommended that you acquire direct flight tickets from your country of nationality or residence when planning your trip.

In order for you to cross the border, MSSES has to add the information about your arrival to the list on the Gosuslugi portal.
For us to add you to the entry list no later than 14 calendar days before the planned entry into Russia, you must send the following letter to global@universitas.ru:
Subject of the letter:
Foreign student entering Russia

Letter content:
I am forwarding the copy of my identification document to be included in MSSES’s lists of foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation and for those lists to be sent to the authorised executive authority of the Russian Federation for the purposes of migration control.

Indicate in the letter:
  • Expected date of arrival in Russia (as stated in the ticket)
  • Information on the Russian border crossing point (name of your destination airport or land border checkpoint)

Attach to the letter:
  • Scanned copy of your valid passport (that you intend to use for entering Russia)
  • Scanned copy of your valid study visa (for countries maintaining a visa regime)
To see whether your information has been recorded in the Gosuslugi portal’s lists for crossing the Russian border, use our tutorial.
If you haven’t found your record two days before the departure, contact us at global@universitas.ru.

Before coming to Russia, you need to obtain medical insurance that includes a medical examination and COVID-19 PCR test. When you obtain the insurance, send its scanned copy to the manager of your education programme.

You need to take a PCR COVID-19 test no earlier than 3 calendar days before arriving in Russia to present the results at the Russian border crossing point. Note that new entry requirements were introduced for the citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union, Turkmenistan, and the CIS countries.

If you were vaccinated for COVID-19 in your country, had COVID in the last six months, or currently have an official medical contraindication, we kindly ask you to inform MSSES of your status.

2. Crossing the border

Only persons who have filled out the form for those arriving in Russia by air to cross the border are allowed to pass through the border control. You must print and fill out the form beforehand and then show it to the Rospotrebnadzor representatives at the health control after you cross the border.

Show your PCR test results (original certificate) in Russian or English when entering Russia. You may also be asked to show your negative test results for COVID-19 on departure from your country.

The purpose of your trip in the migration card should read “Studying”.

If you are entering through Belarus, be wary of the border-crossing specificities there.

3. Upon arrival in Russia

Upon arriving in Russia, foreign students take another PCR test within 72 hours after they enter Russia. Foreign students have to self-isolate at their place of residence until they receive negative PCR test results.

You may retake the PCR test immediately upon arrival at the airport. The results of the express test will be available in about two hours. Please note that taking an express test requires payment and it is not covered by your insurance.
COVID-19 testing sites: Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports.

Upon receiving your second PCR test results, send the scanned copies of both certificates with negative PCR test results to the manager of your education programme.

If your health condition worsens in any way during self-isolation, you need to immediately seek medical care by calling 103 or 112.

Contacts

International Department
Phone: 8 (495) 150-80-91 (ext. 66)
Email: global@universitas.ru