Check the validity of your documents: passport and visa (the latter only applies to citizens from countries who require visa to enter the Russian Federation);
Plan the date of your arrival in Russia so that you will be able to attend the orientation session;
If you require the assistance of a Buddy, fill in this form - as soon as a Buddy selects you, you will receive a notification via e-mail with further instructions.
Step 2: Obtaining a Russian visa (Only for citizens of countries who require a Russian visa to enter Russia)
f you are a first-year student, you will be able to access a visa invitation in your personal account within 45 days from the moment when the upload of your documents is confirmed (please refer to these guidelines to check your invitation);
If you are a student in the senior years of study, you should contact the manager of your programme office for a visa invitation, by filling in an application along with forwarding a copy of your passport’s bio-page;
Submit an application for the issue of a student visa to the consulate or visa centre in your home country;
Upon receiving your visa, checkit for any mistakes;
Make sure that the date of your arrival is not before the start date of your visa.
If you are a first-year student, you may receive a referral for dorm accommodation via your personal account – for this, you will need to provide information about the date of your arrival in Russia beforehand; three days prior to the date of your arrival in Russia, the referral will automatically appear in your personal account;
If you are a student in your senior year of study, you will need to contact Lyubov Barminova about your dorm move-in by sending an e-mail to lubovb@hse.ru (indicate your full name, faculty, year of study and date of arrival in this message);
If you plan to reside in HSE University alternative housing, refer to the options of the website of theStudent Housing Office.
Take cash with you to pay for primary expenses (Aeroexpress, taxi, food, etc.);
Install the application of the Russian bank, which you plan to use, in advance.
Step 6: Arrival
Keep updated about your airline’s baggage rules;
Refer torules for transporting goods and items over the border – please note that several items are restricted or banned from being imported into Russia and they may be seized by the customs service (more information can be found here);
Check the correctness of the information provided for the issue of your migration card, e.g., make sure the purpose of your stay is “Study” (refer to these guidelines);
If you plan to enter the Russian Federation in transit (with transfer) through the Republic of Belarus please do not forget to get a migration card in Belarus BEFORE ARRIVAL in Russia. A migration card must be requested form a border control officer at checkpoint in the Republic of Belarus;
Find out how to get from the airport (train station) to your place of residence.
Get registered with migration authorities on the first working day after your arrival in Russia;