Pre-Departure Checklist

Keep up-to-date with the latest information about travelling to the Russian Federation;

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.

If 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, check it for any mistakes;

Make sure that the date of your arrival is not before the start date of your visa.

*More information can be found on the website of the HSE University Visa and Registration Centre, in the section “Students: visa”, Step 1 “Preparing to enter Russia and obtaining a Russian visa”

If you plan to live in an HSE University dormitory, make sure you read the internal dormitory regulations;

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 the Student Housing Office.

Make sure to obtain a voluntary medical insurance policy upon arrival in Russia or in your counry of residence;

Obtain a health certificate (086y form – refer to Annex 8) (duration – 6 months);

Obtain a vaccination certificate;

Obtain a certificate confirming negative HIV status (duration – 3 months);

If you need to take medication during your time in Russia, obtain a prescription from your doctor;

Print out and fill in the form for those arriving by air in Russia for border crossing and present it to the Rospotrebnadzor staff at the sanitary control point after crossing the border.

Keep updated about your airline’s baggage rules;

Refer to rules 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 via the Republic of Belarus, refer to the guidelines;

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;

In a timely fashion, submit your documents extending your registration for international students;

Undergo the obligatory measures for medical examinations, fingerprinting and official photographing for international students;

Download and set up the app HSE AppX;

Keep the contact of the International Admissions Office  

• WhatsApp - +7 (916) 311 8521 (you may submit enquiries about admissions, matriculation and operations of your personal account)

Keep the contact of HSE University’s International Student Support Centre

• Emergency hotline (24/7) - +7 (985) 040-13-55 (you may use it for non-academic issues)

Keep the contact of the manager of your programme office and programme’s manager

Keep the contact of your embassy/consulate in Russia

Join the International Student Support Group on VK and sign up for the page on Telegram

Necessary documents and medical certificates for admission;  

Originals of your necessary documents for travel (passport, airline/train tickets);

Cash funds for your time in Russia (US dollars or euros);

Warm clothing;

A good mood!