Guide
Migration card
The migration card records your entry into Russia, the purpose of your visit and how long you may stay. You will need it for registration and most other procedures.
Not an official government website. MigraForma is a private reference service.
Purpose of visit
The purpose recorded on entry must match your plans: study for students, work for workers. A wrong purpose can block your visa extension or work documents.
Keep it safe
Keep the card with your passport for the whole stay; it is checked during registration, visa extension and document checks.
If you lose it
Contact the migration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to restore the information. Do it quickly — without the card, registration and other procedures are difficult.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to keep the migration card?
Yes, for the whole stay.
What purpose should a student choose?
Study.
Can the purpose be changed later?
As a rule, no — you would need to leave and re-enter.
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.