A letter of acceptance from a Russian university is not the end of the document process. Our article on how to obtain a scholarship to Russia stops at the interview. After that, there is a series of visa and migration obligations, each with its own deadlines, one of which has recently changed as of September 1, 2026. Here are the numbers, organized for easy scanning.
1. Invitation first, visa later
A Russian student visa cannot be applied for solely with a letter of acceptance. The university submits a request for an invitation letter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD) on your behalf, and that invitation is what you bring to the embassy. The time frame is not short: HSE University states a minimum of 30 calendar days from the time the documents are uploaded by the program office, Tomsk State University gives a range of 30 to 40 days and emphasizes that there is no expedited process. Therefore, both universities prohibit purchasing tickets before a copy of the invitation is received.
Since May 2026, HSE has temporarily suspended the issuance of invitations for citizens of 14 countries. Indonesia is not on that list.
2. Requirements at the Russian Embassy in Jakarta
The official page of the Russian Embassy in Jakarta lists the requirements for a student visa for Indonesian citizens:
- Applications must be submitted in person at the consular section on Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, Kuningan; document submission is from 09:00 to 12:00.
- The form must be filled out online at visa.kdmid.ru, printed, signed, with one 35x45 mm passport photo.
- A passport valid for at least 18 months from the date the visa expires, with at least 2 blank pages. HSE recommends 4 blank pages to accommodate entry and exit stamps during your studies.
- The original invitation from the MVD sent by the university via post or courier.
- A certificate of HIV-free status from a hospital in Indonesia, containing personal data, date of birth, doctor's signature, and hospital stamp. The validity is only 3 months from the date of issue, so the test should not be done too early.
- Fees must be paid in cash in US dollars. Normal processing takes 4 to 20 days; express processing takes 1 to 3 days at double the rate.
The Russian electronic visa that Indonesian citizens can apply for since August 2023 does not apply for study purposes. Its scope includes visits, business, tourism, and events, with a maximum stay of 16 days.
3. The first visa is only valid for 90 days, and that's normal
The first student visa is always single-entry and valid for up to 3 months. The extension is not handled by the embassy, but by the MVD office in the city where you are registered, through the university, for a maximum of one year per extension until the study contract ends. TSU recommends entering Russia while the visa still has at least 20 days remaining.
4. Deadlines after landing
| Obligation | Deadline | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Migration card filled out at the border, purpose education | upon entry | HSE |
| Migration registration at the actual residence address | 7 working days according to the embassy; HSE and TSU request 3 working days | Embassy, HSE, TSU |
| Medical examination (HIV, narcotics, infectious diseases) | 30 calendar days starting September 1, 2026, previously 90 days | HSE, UU 162-FZ |
| Fingerprinting and photo | once during stay; HSE schedules it together with the medical examination within 30 days | HSE |
| Visa extension | must be submitted 90 to 45 days before the visa expires; processing takes 20 working days, you cannot leave Russia during that time | HSE |
| Renewal of medical certificate | annually, 30 days before expiration | HSE |
The 30-day change comes from Federal Law 162-FZ dated June 10, 2026, which amends Law 115-FZ regarding the legal status of foreign citizens. The penalties for non-compliance include fines of 25,000 to 50,000 rubles and possible deportation, according to Article 18.11.1 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses. Late migration registration is even more costly: HSE mentions fines of 40,000 rubles, deportation, and a three-year entry ban.
5. Three mistakes that send people home to repeat
- Incorrectly filling out the migration card and only realizing it after leaving the airport. HSE states that the solution is almost always to leave Russia and request a new invitation.
- Missing the extension window. If the visa has already expired, you must leave and start over with a new invitation.
- Transferring universities after graduating with an undergraduate (S1) degree in Russia. The visa from the old university cannot be extended from within the country; you must return to obtain a new visa. Graduates of preparatory year programs are exempt.
For those who want a single permit for the entire study period, there is RVPO (temporary residence permit for education) that replaces the annual visa extension. Ask your university's visa office if the program qualifies.
Sources
- Embassy of the Russian Federation in Indonesia, Visa to Russia (sections Student visa and E-visa): https://indonesia.mid.ru/en/consular-services/
- HSE University Visa Support Centre, Students: visa, stages 1 to 3: https://ivisa.hse.ru/en/bama1, https://ivisa.hse.ru/en/bama2, https://ivisa.hse.ru/en/bama3
- HSE University, Mandatory procedures for foreign students: medical examinations, fingerprinting, and photographing: https://ivisa.hse.ru/en/medst/
- HSE University, 30 Days for Medical Examination: New Rules for Foreigners Starting September 1, 2026: https://ivisa.hse.ru/en/news/1163728680.html
- Tomsk State University, Visa to Russia: https://en.tsu.ru/international_cooperation/visa_to_russia.php
- Konsu, Medical Examinations for Foreign Citizens in Russia Starting September 1, 2026 (reference to Federal Laws 162-FZ and 163-FZ dated June 10, 2026): https://konsugroup.com/en/news/medical-exams-foreigners-russia-2026-09/