Study visa for Russia, including study within the Russian Government quota
квота Правительства РФ
Foreign nationals admitted to a Russian college or university get an invitation and then a study visa. The visa is issued for 3 months and extended in Russia. The Government quota is a competitive programme of free tuition at bachelor's, master's, specialist, residency and postgraduate level. It is run through education-in-russia.com and selection by Rossotrudnichestvo or Russian embassies. Fee-paying students apply to a university directly. The university arranges the invitation after admission.
Life in Russia
Money
3
Currency
Russian Ruble
RUB
Russian Ruble
Cost of living
37
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
13–22%
Income tax (national)
VAT 22%
Resident scale since 2025: 13% up to RUB 2.4 million, 15% to 5 million, 18% to 20 million, 20% to 50 million, 22% above.
Living
1
Happiness
#77 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals with at least secondary education who want to study at a Russian institution, either on a free Government quota place or as fee-paying students.
Eligibility
Prior education
Applicants need at least secondary general or secondary vocational education, with documents proving it (education-in-russia.com FAQ).
No age limit
The official FAQ states that Russian law does not limit the age of applicants.
Quota open to foreign nationals onlyGovernment quota
Only foreign nationals may apply for the quota. Dual Russian nationals must live permanently abroad and must not hold Russian-format education documents.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementOnline application on education-in-russia.com
- Document checklistApplication form
- FeesTuition for Government quota places
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 6 more requirements
- 8 documents
- 1 fee
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Russia
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
- Official site for the selection of foreign citizens to study in Russia (Ministry of Science and Higher Education)
- education-in-russia.com – FAQ
- education-in-russia.com – How to apply for the Government quota for 2026/27 (news, 15.09.2025)
- education-in-russia.com – Quota application deadlines extended for several countries (news, 27.01.2026)
