Diploma of the Russian Federation with honors

Residence permit based on a Russian Federation diploma with honors

Certain categories of foreign nationals are entitled to apply for a residence permit (hereinafter, a residence permit) in the Russian Federation and submit the required documents without first obtaining a temporary residence permit. These include foreign nationals who have successfully completed, on a full-time basis in Russia, a state-accredited higher education program and received a document certifying their education and qualifications (diploma) with honors.

Practical example: 

An Italian citizen completed full-time studies at a Russian university in a state-accredited program and received a diploma with honors. In this case, they are entitled to apply for a residence permit through the simplified procedure, bypassing the stage of obtaining a temporary residence permit.

Document submission procedure: To obtain a residence permit on the basis of subparagraph 11 of paragraph 2 of Article 8 of Federal Law No. 115-FZ of 25.07.2002 “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” a foreign national must apply to the territorial office of the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at their place of stay.

Processing time for applications on this basis is 4 months.

Document package
You can download the current list of required documents here

List of documents to apply for a residence permit for a foreign national who has successfully completed, on a full-time basis in the Russian Federation, a state-accredited higher education program and received a document certifying education and qualifications with honors

1. Application in 2 copies (printed double-sided)

The application is completed electronically or by hand, legibly in block letters, in black, blue, or violet ink, without corrections, marks, or unofficial abbreviations. All fields that must be completed are to be filled in.

If the application does not have enough lines, additional information may be provided on a separate sheet attached to the application, following the details of the relevant application item and specifying the applicant's first name, surname, and patronymic (if any).

If the application is submitted on paper directly to a migration unit of the Russian Federation, the applicant must sign it in the presence of the official accepting applications.

2. A document proving the applicant's identity.

At the time of application, the document must remain valid for at least the application processing period. 

3. Migration card and tear-off portion of the notification form for the arrival of a foreign national or stateless person at their place of stay — migration registration.

4. Birth certificate.

5. Documents confirming changes to the applicant's full name.

(marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or certificate from the civil registry office if the surname has been changed more than once, or a certificate confirming a change of name).

6. A document confirming the absence of a criminal record or, if applicable, containing information about the offense for which the applicant was convicted.

To be submitted by foreign nationals aged fourteen or older; the certificate is valid for 3 months as of the application date.

This document is not required from foreign nationals who entered the Russian Federation under a visa-free procedure.

(If applying for a residence permit after a temporary residence permit, this certificate does not need to be submitted again.)

7. A document confirming that the foreign national can support themselves and their family members in the Russian Federation at no less than the subsistence minimum, without assistance from the state (except for foreign nationals recognized as unable to work), in an amount of at least 4 regional subsistence minimums (if submitting a certificate from Sberbank, use form 297).*

* Such documents include:

- a certificate of an individual's income and tax amounts (formerly 2-NDFL);

- pension certificate;

- certificate from the territorial office of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation confirming that a pension has been awarded;

- confirmation of receipt of alimony;

- income certificate for the person who supports the applicant;

- certificate confirming a bank deposit, specifying the account number and deposit amount;

- another document confirming income from an activity not prohibited by law or inability to work.

8. Documents confirming that the foreign national does not have drug addiction or infectious diseases that pose a danger to others, as well as a certificate confirming that the applicant does not have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

9. Document certifying higher education and qualifications with honors (bachelor's, specialist's, or master's diploma with honors and its supplement).

10. Personal photographs, 35х45mm – 4 pcs. (matte, black and white or color).

Stateless persons must submit two photographs.

11. Receipt for payment of the state duty.

12. A document confirming that the foreign national has residential premises on grounds provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation, where the rights have not been registered in the Unified State Register of Real Estate, if the foreign national applies for a residence permit more than three years after entering the Russian Federation.

All the documents listed must be submitted as photocopies together with the ORIGINALS.

Copies of original documents must be of good quality, easily legible, and contain all the information shown in the original. Copies must be made on standard A4 sheets and must not be cut with scissors to match the format of the original.

The public service is provided within 4 months.

When documents for a residence permit are accepted, a receipt confirming acceptance of the application for consideration is issued.

If acceptance of the residence permit application is refused, a certificate stating the reason is issued.

    • If documents (passport, birth certificate, etc.) contain different spellings of geographical names, documentary confirmation of the renaming may be required. Such a certificate can be obtained, including by proxy, from the Russian State Library.

All official documents issued by foreign authorities in a foreign language must be legalized, translated, and notarized.

For countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention:

                • The original document must be certified with an apostille in the country where it was issued.

                • The document and the apostille affixed to it must be translated into Russian.

                • The translation must be certified by a notarial endorsement from a notary in the Russian Federation.

  For countries that are not parties to the Hague Convention:

    • Documents are subject to consular legalization through Russian Federation consular offices abroad or the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Documents drawn up in a foreign language must be translated into Russian.

If a document is drawn up in several languages and none of them is Russian, a translation from one language chosen by the applicant must be submitted. The accuracy of the translation or the authenticity of the translator's signature must be notarized in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation on notaries.

Pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 2, subparagraph 11 of Federal Law No. 115-FZ “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation”