Obtaining a visa may take several months, so it is recommended to submit the documents 3 months before departure.

You can find the list of the necessary documents, deadlines for submission and all other requirements on the official website of the visa center / consulate / embassy of the country you are heading to.

Documents

An indicative list of documents to obtain a visa or residence permit (check the up-to-date list of required documents at the visa center / consulate / embassy):

1) a passport;

2) a visa application form;

3) an invitation from the host university (original or copy of the document);

4) a copy of the agreement on cooperation between universities (it can be requested via e-mail studyabroad@hse.ru);

5) a plane ticket;

6) insurance (check with the host university what kind of insurance you need);

7) confirmation of financial viability;

8) accommodation booking confirmation;

9) a biography;

10) a certified copy of a school graduation document + its translation;

11) a certificate of enrollment in English from HSE University or translation of a student ID card;

12) confirmation of knowledge of the English language.

Check the exact up-to-date list of documents required in your particular case at the visa center / consulate / embassy of the host country.

Important points

Pay attention to the following points:

- validity period of your passport (recommended validity period is not less than 2 years at the moment of the document submission);

- requirements for confirmation of financial viability;

- medical insurance requirements;

- the language in which your documents should be submitted, and whether they should be legalized by the consulate general;

- whether your certificate, references and other documents should be notarized and apostilled (in any case, we recommend putting an apostille on a birth certificate and a document of education, since without it your documents will most likely be invalid abroad).

You can always contact the visa center / consulate / embassy directly to clarify all unclear points. You can also contact them if there are no free dates for your visa interview.

Confirmation of financial viability for German universities:

• a certificate from a bank or a certificate from a block account.

Confirmation of financial viability for Italian universities:

1. If a student covers all the expenses himself/herself, then it is necessary to submit:

• a certificate from a workplace indicating a salary;

• an account movements statement indicating regular paycheck for the last 3 months.

2. If student's mobility expenses are covered by parents or third parties, then the following documents must be submitted:

• a certificate from a parent's workplace indicating a salary, as well as an account movements statement indicating regular paycheck for the last 3 months;

• a student's birth certificate with apostille and its translation into Italian (original and copy);

• a sponsorship letter in Italian from a parent;

• a copy of a parent's national passport (a copy of the first page and a page with registration).