RVPO
Foreign students studying at Russian universities can apply for a temporary residence permit for educational purposes (RVPO).
The RVPO is issued for the duration of the academic program plus 180 calendar days after the completion of studies. It is valid only in the region where it was issued.
With the RVPO you can
- Obtain a visa not just for one year, but for the entire duration of your RVPO
- Reside in the Russian Federation without leaving the country for the entire duration of your studies
- Get an obligatory medical insurance (OMI) policy and receive free medical care
- Obtain a permanent address registration
- Be officially employed without the need for a work patent or a work permit
- After graduation, apply for a residence permit and, potentially, Russian citizenship
All full-time foreign students enrolled in bachelor's, specialist, master's, assistantship/internship, or postgraduate programs are eligible to apply for an RVPO.
Important! Students enrolled in part-time or distance learning programs, as well as preparatory course attendees, are not eligible for an RVPO.
- Prepare the required documents.
- Register on the website https://mc.mos.ru/ru. Sel ect the service «РВПО» (Russian for RVPO). Upload all required documents to your personal account. A confirmation email will be sent to the address you provided.
- Wait for a notification indicating that you can submit your documents in person.
- Submit the documents in person at the Sakharovo Multifunctional Migration Center (ММЦ Сахарово).
- Wait for the decision on the issuance of your RVPO. The maximum processing time is 38 working days. Your legal stay in the Russian Federation will be extended for the duration of the document review.
- Track the status of your application through your personal account on https://mc.mos.ru/ru
- After receiving a notification of approval, visit the Sakharovo Multifunctional Migration Center in person. An RVPO stamp will be placed in your passport.
- On the day of receiving your RVPO, bring your passport to the Department of Visa and Migration Support of Foreign Students.
Within 7 working days of receiving your RVPO, you must re-register your migration status at your place of stay (dormitory, apartment, or hotel).
You can find detailed information on how to apply for an RVPO, including the full list of documents, processing timelines, and application forms, here.
- Original application form (in two copies)
- Original passport with a notarized translation of all pages (only translations done in Russia are accepted). The passport must be valid for at least 3 months at the time of application.
- Photographs — 2 pieces, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm
- Certificate of no criminal record, issued in your country of citizenship. For more information on obtaining this document, please contact your country's embassy in Moscow (required only for citizens subject to visa entry). The certificate must be issued no earlier than 3 months before applying.
- Certificate of student status (available fr om your faculty dean's office)
- Extract from the enrollment order
- Accreditation and license of the Academy (available at the Legal and Contract Department)
- Original and copy of the migration registration notification
- Original and copy of the migration card
- Results of the medical examination (medical report, certificate, and health record) and confirmation of state fingerprint registration
Important! Only medical examination results obtained at the Sakharovo Multifunctional Migration Center are accepted. - Receipt of state duty payment in the amount of 8 000
Important! Any documents in a foreign language or multiple foreign languages that do not include Russian must be accompanied by a notarized translation into Russian, made within the Russian Federation.
An application for an RVPO will not be accepted if the student:
- Has a criminal record for committing a serious offense or very serious offense.
- Has been held administratively liable within the past year.
- Has been subject to administrative expulsion or deportation from the Russian Federation.
- Uses narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
- Has an infectious disease that poses a threat to public health.
- The student with an RVPO stays outside the Russian Federation for a total of more than 6 months within a calendar year.
- The student has been held administratively liable two or more times within one year.
- The student has violated migration laws.
- The student has been convicted of a crime.
- The student is diagnosed with an infectious disease that poses a threat to public health.
- The student has been expelled from the educational institution*.
* If the student is expelled due to a transfer to another university or when changing to a different academic program, the RVPO remains valid (provided that full-time study continues and the new program is state-accredited). In this case, the student must independently submit the required documents about the transfer to the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 30 days from the date of the transfer order.