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Why students from the Global South are choosing Russia
Why they come, what surprises them, and what can be genuinely difficult about everyday life in Russia.
Read story →Two Nations
Russia as it actually works for foreigners.
Money, documents, transport, study and daily life — checked on the ground, with sources, no propaganda either way.
We don't tell you what to think about Russia. We help you see more of it.
What changed in Russia
Practical changes for foreigners: documents, money, transport, connectivity, study and work. Sources are linked; reported plans are separate from rules in force.
- Study & workAdopted
Minimum income rule for working foreigners
Working foreigners must earn at least the regional subsistence minimum; otherwise the patent or work permit is cancelled.
Who it affects: Working foreigners
- Study & workDeadline passed
HSE International Youth Olympiad 2027
The published deadline is 29 October; closing time and time zone were not verified. Do not assume applications are still accepted today.
Who it affects: Foreign citizens and stateless persons: final school years, vocational students and graduates under 25; see the organiser’s full rules.
- Study & workOpen at last check
Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project
Registration closes 1 November, not the 13 November first-stage end date. Closing time was not verified. Tuition coverage does not cover travel, accommodation, insurance or personal expenses.
Who it affects: International applicants; choose the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or postdoctoral track and check its rules.
First 90 days in Russia — personal deadline tracker (beta)
- Migration registration — 7 working days from arrival (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan: 15 days; working EAEU citizens: 30; Belarus, Ukraine, HQS: 90)
- Medical check and fingerprinting — medical check: 30 calendar days from entry (since 1 Sep 2026); fingerprinting: deadline depends on status — confirm with your university or employer
- Visa extension for students — the university files no later than 20 working days before the visa expires
Catalog «Svoi»: people and communities
- OrganizationAssociation of Foreign Students of Russia (AIS)Ассоциация иностранных студентов России (АИС) · Moscow · RUDN UniversityRU EN
- CommunityAIS on VKontakteАИС ВКонтакте · RussiaRU
- OrganizationRUDN student associations and communitiesСтуденческие объединения и землячества РУДН · Moscow · RUDN UniversityRU
- CommunityVietnamese Students Community, RUDNЗемлячество студентов из Вьетнама РУДН · Moscow · RUDN UniversityRU
- CommunityRSUH Foreign Students AssociationАссоциация иностранных студентов РГГУ · Moscow · RSUH (RGGU)RU
- ChatInternational Student BMSTUMoscow · Bauman Moscow State Technical UniversityRU EN
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Police document checks in Russia: passports, registration and renting safely
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First winter in Russia: clothing and cold-weather safety for international students
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Russian student visa 2026: invitation, fees, extension and why the e-visa won’t work
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Migration registration in Russia 2026: 7 working days, who files it, 500 ₽ fee and fines
Your host must file the notification of arrival within 7 working days (30 for Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan). Dorm vs flat, Gosuslugi online, the new 500 ₽ fee, extension and fines.
Documents for foreigners in Russia from scratch: notarised translation, SNILS, INN, medical check
In what order to get a notarised passport translation, SNILS and INN, the 30-day medical check and fingerprinting, and recognition of your diploma.
Your first month in Russia: a day-by-day checklist for foreign students
Days 1–3 SIM by biometrics, days 1–7 registration, days 4–14 dorm, insurance and a Mir card, by day 30 the medical check, days 30–60 the multi-entry visa.
Renting an apartment in Russia as a foreigner: dorms, contracts, registration and 2026 prices
Where to search, what the lease must say, who registers you within 7 working days, average Moscow and St Petersburg rents, and the prepayment scam police warn about.
Taxes for foreigners in Russia 2026: residency, income tax rates, INN and tax treaties
The 183-day rule, 13–22% resident rates vs 30% for non-residents, patent and self-employment, why scholarships are tax-free, and which tax treaties still work.
Health insurance in Russia for foreign students and workers: who needs it, what it covers, 2026 prices
Entry rules for visa holders, the policy workers need for a patent, where to buy, typical cover, real 2026–27 student prices from 4,000 ₽ and who can get state OMS.
Healthcare in Russia for foreigners: doctors, ambulance 103/112, migrant medical check and medicines
How to see a doctor without OMS, what emergency care is free, the new 30-day medical check deadline, bringing medicines through customs, mental-health lines and dental emergencies.
Is Russia really cheap? Prices vs France, Portugal and Brazil in numbers
World Bank data: Russia’s overall price level is less than half of France’s. What that means for a student budget — and why Moscow is not the national average.
6 things that catch foreigners off guard in Russia in 2026
Your card won’t work, an app may track your registration, and cash has hard limits. Six surprises with official sources — before you land.
