To enroll at SPbPU, foreign applicants must obtain an official Invitation to Enter Russia, issued by the University via the Federal Migration Service (UFMS).
Based on this invitation, applicants get a student visa at a Russian embassy/consulate (initial validity: up to 3 months; extendable to multiple-entry via the University's Passport and Visa Office).
Visa must include: full name (Cyrillic + Latin), DOB, gender, citizenship, passport number, issuance date, permitted stay period, invitation number, validity (matching UFMS invitation), purpose ("study"/"internship"/"postgraduate"), university name, inviting organization, entry type (single/double/multiple).
Critical: Entry must occur at least 20 days before visa expiry. All visa data must match your passport exactly.
Tourist visas are NOT accepted for study or migration registration at SPbPU.
Family members: Under Federal Law No. 270‑FZ, students may request visa invitations for family members. However, the student is solely responsible for arranging their accommodation and official registration upon arrival.
Upon crossing the border, you must obtain and fill out a migration card with your passport details. Be sure to highlight "study" as the purpose of entry.
Keep the exit portion (ticket "B") with the entry stamp throughout your entire stay in Russia.
University dormitory residents: register for migration within 3 working days of arrival at the Passport and Visa Office and obtain a notification of arrival form.
Private address residents: register through the apartment owner at a local MFC (multifunctional center) within 7 days, then submit the notification form to the Passport and Visa Office.
Late registration results in a fine and possible deportation.
Important: Every new entry into Russia requires a new migration card and new migration registration.
Every time you enter the Russian Federation and receive a new migration card, you must submit documents for initial migration registration.
Registration is the document that confirms the legality of your stay in Russia.
Don't forget to take an electronic ticket matching the purpose of your visit from the terminal located in the lobby of the Unified Center for Foreign Citizens' Registration.
(Abbasia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Tajikistan, South Ossetia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine)
1. SUBMIT DOCUMENTS FOR MIGRATION REGISTRATION
Every time you exit and re-enter the Russian Federation and receive a new migration card, you must submit documents for initial migration registration.
If you live in a university dormitory: registration is handled by the University's Passport and Visa Office.
If you live in a rented apartment: the apartment owner (landlord) arranges registration for 90 days at the local MFC (multifunctional center).
For rented apartment residents, the procedure is:
Arrange with the landlord (a Russian citizen) to register you at their local MFC (check the specific requirements with that MFC office beforehand).
Submit a copy of the completed initial registration to the SPbPU Passport and Visa Office either:
In person at: St. Petersburg, Grazhdansky Ave., 30, 1st floor, Unified Center for Foreign Citizens' Registration, or
By email to: pvo@spbstu.ru
Documents required for initial migration registration:
Passport: original + copies of all pages (if entering with an identity document instead of a passport, provide a copy of both sides). If copies were made before entry, add a copy of the page with the entry stamp.
Migration card: original + 2 copies. The purpose of entry must be clearly marked as "STUDY" – otherwise, documents will not be accepted.
Additional copy for PVO: a single A4 sheet containing copies of:
Passport page with photo and personal details
Migration card with the border crossing stamp
Completed arrival notification form: download, fill in the first page, and print it.
[Download notification form]
[Download sample filled form]
Penalty for late registration: deportation from the Russian Federation by court order, a fine of up to 7,000 rubles, and a ban on entry for up to 5 years.
2. COLLECT YOUR COMPLETED REGISTRATION
Dormitory residents: registration will be ready approximately 5 working days after document submission. Pick it up at the Passport and Visa Office.
Rented apartment residents: the landlord collects the registration from the MFC and gives it to you.
After receiving it, submit a copy of the completed registration to the SPbPU Passport and Visa Office (in person or by email, as above).
3. RENEW REGISTRATION ON TIME
To renew your registration, prepare the full package of documents and submit it no later than 30 calendar days before your current registration expires.
If you enter Russia on a visa, you must register for migration at your place of stay.
1. SUBMIT DOCUMENTS FOR MIGRATION REGISTRATION
Every time you exit and re-enter the Russian Federation and receive a new migration card, you must submit documents for new migration registration.
If you live in a university dormitory: registration is handled by the University's Passport and Visa Office.
If you live in a rented apartment: the apartment owner (landlord) arranges registration at the local MFC (multifunctional center).
Note: Multiple-entry visas for the academic year are processed through the University.
For rented apartment residents, the procedure is:
Arrange with the landlord (a Russian citizen) to register you at their local MFC (check the specific requirements with that MFC office beforehand).
Submit a copy of the completed initial registration to the SPbPU Passport and Visa Office either:
In person at: St. Petersburg, Grazhdansky Ave., 30, 1st floor, Unified Center for Foreign Citizens' Registration, or
By email to: pvo@spbstu.ru
Documents required for initial migration registration (visa entry):
Passport: original + copies of all pages. If copies were made before entry, add a copy of the page with the entry stamp.
Migration card: original + 2 copies. The purpose of entry must be clearly marked as "STUDY" – otherwise, documents will not be accepted.
Additional copy for PVO: a single A4 sheet containing copies of:
Passport page with photo and personal details
Current valid visa
Migration card with the border crossing stamp
Completed arrival notification form: download, fill in the first page, and print it.
[Download notification form]
[Download sample filled form]
Penalty for late registration: deportation from the Russian Federation by court order, a fine of up to 7,000 rubles, and a ban on entry for up to 5 years.
2. COLLECT YOUR COMPLETED REGISTRATION
Dormitory residents: registration will be ready approximately 5 working days after document submission. Pick it up at the Passport and Visa Office.
Rented apartment residents: the landlord collects the registration from the MFC and gives it to you.
After receiving it, submit a copy of the completed registration to the SPbPU Passport and Visa Office (in person or by email, as above).
3. SUBMIT VISA EXTENSION DOCUMENTS ON TIME
Visa extension allows you to extend your legal stay in Russia for up to 1 year. However, per University Administration policy, the extension period may be shorter than 1 year.
You may extend both single-entry and multiple-entry visas.
To extend your visa, prepare the complete set of documents and submit them in person to the Passport and Visa Office:
No earlier than 90 calendar days before visa expiry
No later than 45 calendar days before visa expiry
Extension of migration registration for the academic year and the entry stamp in the migration card (for visa-free countries) are processed at the University's Passport and Visa Office.
Important deadlines:
Submit documents for registration extension – at least 30 days before your current registration expires.
Submit documents for visa extension – at least 45 days before your current visa expires.
Attention: Foreign citizens who have not undergone fingerprinting and medical examination will be denied extension of migration registration and visa in accordance with Federal Law No. 274-FZ of January 1, 2021.
If you were registered in another city of the Russian Federation (e.g., at a private address, hotel, or hostel), you must obtain new registration within 3 days of returning to St. Petersburg. If you did not obtain registration in the other city, you must provide your ticket (or a copy) to St. Petersburg as proof of travel.
If you were registered at a hotel, hostel, or hospital within St. Petersburg, you must obtain new registration at your place of residence within 3 working days.
If you change dormitories, you must submit documents for new registration within 3 days to the Passport and Visa Office.
Documents required for submission:
Original registration from the other city, or from the St. Petersburg hotel/hostel/hospital
Copy of passport (all pages)
Copy of migration card
Ticket to St. Petersburg (if no registration was obtained in the other city)
Penalty for violation of migration registration rules (missing registration deadlines) under Russian law: deportation from the Russian Federation by court order, a fine of up to 7,000 rubles, and a ban on entry to Russia for up to 5 years.
Unified Center for Foreign Citizens' Registration
St. Petersburg, Grazhdansky Ave., 30, 1st floor
+7(812)775-05-30, ext. 5115
+7 (812) 534-32-22
pvo@spbstu.ru
Visitor reception hours:
Monday, Wednesday – 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Tuesday, Thursday – 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Friday – 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM