Extension stay for international students with visa-free entry
If study period finishes after migration registration validity period it is necessary to extend the student’s period of stay in Russia (migration registration and migration card have to be prolonged).
Documents for migration registration extension are submitted no earlier than 3 months and no later than 25 working days before initial migration registration expiration date. Migration registration can be extended for a maximum of one calendar year at a time.
Important! From September 1, 2025, a state fee of 500 rubles was added for foreign citizens migration registration service in Russia. Additionally a state fee of 1,000 rubles was added for extending stay service in Russia. Previously the service was free but now a foreigner must provide a payment confirmation when submitting documents. The new rules came in accordance with Federal Law No. 271-FZ dated July 31, 2025.
Migration registration extension is administrated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A list of required documents for migration registration extension may vary depending on Ministry of Internal Affairs local office to which the documents are submitted. It is recommended to clarify in advance what documents are required to extend the stay of international student in each specific case:
- if a student is accommodated in the university dormitory he/she needs to clarify information in the Migration Office;
- if a student is accommodated in a hotel or hostel he/she needs to clarify information at hotel/hostel administration;
- if a student is accommodated in a rented flat or apartment he/she needs to clarify information from a landlord.
Basic list of documents for extension of migration registration:
- passport copy;
- migration card and its copy (except for Republic of Belarus citizens);
- migration registration form copy;
- study documents (enrollment directive extract and certificate form No. 7 - can be obtained in the Student Office);
- educational programs paid services agreement copy (in case of fee-paying education) or referral from the Ministry of Education and Science (in case of education under a quota);
- valid medical certificates after medical examination completing (optional);
- university registration application form (can be requested from Migration Office).
Important! For international students living OUTSIDE the university dormitory.
After migration registration extension an international student must send a new registration form copy to the International Cooperation Department - international@mgutm.ru.
Extension stay for international students with visa entry regime
If study period finishes after visa validity period it is necessary to extend the student’s period of stay in Russia (study visa and migration registration).
Documents for visa extension are submitted no earlier than 3 months and no later than 45 days before first study visa expiration date. Study visa is extended for a maximum of one calendar year. Then a student visa must be extended every year until the end of studies. Visa extension is administrated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Stage 1 – study visa extension
An international student must prepare required documents and submit them to the University’s Migration Office on time. The Migration office staff checks the documents and submits them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs local office.
List of documents for study visa extension:
- passport + copy of all pages with stamps, marks, visas (the document must be valid for at least 18 months; it must also have at least two blank pages for pasting in a visa and putting entry and exit stamps; if the passport is missing blank pages or its validity period is expiring soon you must obtain a new passport);
- migration card and its copy (except for Republic of Belarus citizens);
- migration registration form + its copy on both sides;
- study documents (enrollment directive extract and certificate form No. 7 - can be obtained in the Student Office);
- educational programs paid services agreement copy (in case of fee-paying education) or referral from the Ministry of Education and Science (in case of education under a quota);
- 2 photos - 3x4 cm size (black and white or color, on matte paper);
- completed and signed application form (request from the Migration Office);
- state fee payment slip (request from the Migration Office).
Stage 2 – migration registration extension
Every time after visa extension procedure an international student must be re-registered (extend migration registration). After getting prolonged visa a student must submit documents migration registration extension on the next working day.
A list of required documents for migration registration extension may vary depending on Ministry of Internal Affairs local office to which the documents are submitted. It is recommended to clarify in advance what documents are required to extend the stay of international student in each specific case:
- if a student is accommodated in the university dormitory he/she needs to clarify information in the Migration Office;
- if a student is accommodated in a hotel or hostel he/she needs to clarify information at hotel/hostel administration;
- if a student is accommodated in a rented flat or apartment he/she needs to clarify information from a landlord.
Important! For international students living OUTSIDE the university dormitory.
After migration registration extension an international student must send a new registration form copy to the International Cooperation Department - international@mgutm.ru.
Any questions? Please write us to international@mgutm.ru.