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. 

Student visa
To study at a Russian university, international students need to have a student visa. Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan 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 migration police. They reserve one month for the invitation to be issued.
However the final decision about visa issue is taken by the Russian consulate. 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.
Important!!!: International students can study only at the inviting university.
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. In case you need a 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. Please note that this visa cannot be used for employment 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.
The visitor visa cannot 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.