Guide
After graduation: your options
When your studies end, your student status ends too. Plan your next step at least a few months before graduation.
Not an official government website. MigraForma is a private reference service.
If you studied on a visa
Your student visa is tied to your studies. After graduation you either leave Russia, continue to a further degree, or change to another basis for staying — for example a work visa arranged by an employer.
If you had temporary residence for study
It stays valid for 180 days after graduation, which gives you time to look for work or apply for another status.
Working in Russia
Indian citizens can work with a work visa and work permit, or with highly qualified specialist status if the salary meets the threshold — see work visa and permit and HQS.
Residence
Some routes to temporary residence without a quota exist only for citizens of former USSR countries who graduated from Russian state-accredited institutions; they do not apply to Indian citizens. Check current rules for your situation.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in Russia after graduation?
Only with a new basis: a further degree, a work visa or another status.
How long is residence for study valid after graduation?
180 days.
Can I get HQS status as a graduate?
Yes, if an employer offers a salary that meets the threshold.
For reference only. MigraForma is a private service, not an official government website: we are not the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), a multifunctional centre (MFC) or Gosuslugi, we do not submit documents and this is not legal advice. Rules change, so check them with the migration authorities before you apply. Information checked in October 2026.