Visa

Every foreign citizen needs a Russian visa in order to enter and leave Russia (exceptions include nationals of several countries that have special agreements with Russia). The Organizing Committee will send each enrolled participant an official visa invitation. This invitation should be used when applying for a visa through your local Russian embassy, consulate, or travel agency.

Steps to obtain your visa:

1.   Fill out an application for a visa invitation and send it along with a scanned copy of your passport;

2.   The Higher School of Economics will apply to Federal Migration Service for an official invitation for each participant. This step should take one to three weeks;

3.   We will send you an official invitation either electronically or as a hard copy (Please inquire as to which is required by your local Russian embassy/consulate!);

4.   You apply for a Russian visa through your local embassy, consulate, or travel agency using the official invitation from Higher School of Economics.

FYI: you may also obtain a tourist visa. For this you do NOT need official invitation, so it will be much faster – but also more expensive. Please inquire in your local Russian embassy/consulate.