Guide

Extending your student visa

Your first student visa is short. The university extends it — but only if you give them what they need in time.

By Gleb Ryvkin · Updated:

Not an official government website. MigraForma is a private reference service.

How it works

The university submits a petition to the migration department where you are registered. The visa is usually extended for up to one year, and then yearly until the end of your studies.

Infographic: student visa to Russia step by step — admission, invitation from the MVD requested by the university, visa application at a consulate, arrival and registration, medical exam within 30 days, visa extension for up to one year.
Student visa to Russia: six steps from admission to the first extension. Infographic: MigraForma

What you provide

  • passport and current visa;
  • migration card;
  • registration slip;
  • medical insurance and medical exam certificate;
  • anything else the international office asks for.

Timing

Start the process well before the visa expires — ask the international office for their internal deadline. If your visa is about to expire and nothing has been filed, raise it immediately: staying on an expired visa is a violation that can lead to a fine, expulsion and an entry ban.

Related pages

Frequently asked questions

Who extends the visa?

The university, through the migration authority.

For how long?

Usually up to one year at a time.

What if I change universities?

The new university must handle your status; talk to both before moving.

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.