Destination · Russia 🇷🇺
Russia visas, from Pakistan.
Low-cost, English-medium MBBS at Russian state universities — planned around PM&DC rules, sanctions and payments.
Pathways
Every Russia route we handle
Tap any pathway to ask a consultant about it directly on WhatsApp.
Ordinary Tourist Visa
Single or double-entry visa for stays of up to 30 days, issued against a tourist confirmation and voucher from a Russian tour operator on the federal register. Pakistanis cannot use the e-visa, so it is lodged in person in Islamabad or Karachi.
- Tourist confirmation and voucher from a Russian tour operator carrying a federal register number
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the visa with two blank facing pages
- kdmid.ru application form completed online, printed, signed and lodged in person at Islamabad or Karachi
- Medical insurance valid throughout Russia for the full stay
- Confirmed return ticket, hotel bookings and last six months' bank statement
Ordinary Business Visa
Single, double or multiple-entry visa valid up to 12 months for meetings, negotiations, trade fairs and supplier visits. Multiple-entry holders may stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
- MVD invitation, or a telex/letter of invitation from a Russian company accredited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Covering letter from your Pakistani employer on letterhead showing NTN and company registration
- Medical insurance valid in Russia and six months' bank statements
- Passport valid 6 months beyond the visa with two blank pages
- Personal appearance for submission and biometrics at the Embassy in Islamabad or Consulate General in Karachi
Ordinary Private (Guest) Visa
Visa of up to 90 days for visiting relatives or friends, issued on an official invitation your host obtains from their local MVD migration office. Medical treatment also runs on this visa — Russia has no separate medical visa — using a written invitation from the Russian clinic instead of a private host.
- Original MVD invitation issued to a Russian citizen or permanent-resident host, or a written invitation and treatment plan from a licensed Russian clinic
- Copy of the host's Russian passport or residence permit, and nikah nama / NADRA birth certificate where a relationship is claimed
- Medical insurance valid in Russia for the whole stay
- Passport valid 6 months beyond the visa with two blank pages
- Printed kdmid.ru form lodged in person; for treatment, add medical reports, a referral from your Pakistani doctor and proof of funds for the treatment cost
Transit Visa
Short visa for passing through Russia — up to 3 days for air transit and up to 10 days for onward travel by rail or road. Not needed if you stay airside at the same Russian airport for under 24 hours with a confirmed onward ticket and no need to re-check baggage or change airport.
- Confirmed onward ticket out of Russia, plus the visa for the next country where one is required
- Full itinerary showing the transit route and dates
- Passport valid 6 months beyond the transit with two blank pages
- Printed and signed kdmid.ru form lodged in person at Islamabad or Karachi
Ordinary Study Visa (Student Visa)
The single route for all degree study — MBBS, BDS, engineering, IT, business — and for the preparatory (podfak) year, master's, aspirantura PhD and ordinatura medical residency. Issued as a 90-day single-entry visa, then converted after arrival into a multiple-entry visa renewed for each year of the course.
- Official invitation issued through MVD by a licensed Russian university naming your programme
- Matric and FSc/HSSC certificates with IBCC equivalence, HEC/MOFA attestation, consular legalisation and certified Russian translations
- HIV (AIDS)-negative certificate — mandatory for any visa over 90 days — plus a general medical fitness certificate
- Proof of funds for tuition and living costs, and medical insurance valid in Russia
- For MBBS or BDS: PM&DC eligibility certificate obtained before you enrol
- After arrival: migration registration within 7 working days, and fingerprinting plus medical screening within 90 days
Russian Government Scholarship (Quota) Route
Federal quota places for bachelor's, specialist, master's, PhD and the preparatory year: tuition paid in full plus a monthly stipend. Applications are made online at education-in-russia.com and nominated through the Russian House in Karachi, after which a normal study visa is issued. Competitive, and the stipend does not cover living costs.
- Application on education-in-russia.com with nomination through the Russian House (Rossotrudnichestvo) in Karachi
- Academic certificates and transcripts with IBCC/HEC equivalence, MOFA attestation and certified Russian translation
- Entrance test or interview in the chosen subject area, plus any language screening
- Medical fitness certificate and HIV-negative certificate
- Ranked list of preferred universities and programmes, within the number the portal allows
RVPO — Temporary Residence Permit for Education
Study residence permit introduced in 2023 for students on full-time, state-accredited programmes. Valid for the course plus 180 days, it removes annual visa renewals and allows work without a separate work permit, but keeps your residence and study tied to one region. Applied for inside Russia after you arrive.
- Confirmation of enrolment on a full-time, state-accredited programme (preparatory, part-time and online courses do not qualify)
- Notarised Russian translation of your passport and two 35x45 mm photographs
- Medical certificates from an accredited Russian centre covering HIV, TB, infectious diseases and narcotics screening
- Valid migration card and current registration at your address in the region of study
- Completed fingerprinting and the RUB 1,600 state duty receipt
Permanent Residence Permit (VNZh) after a Russian Degree
Russia has no post-study work visa; graduates move into residence instead. Graduates who finish a state-accredited programme with an honours (red) diploma may apply for the indefinite VNZh directly, skipping the temporary permit. Other graduates go through the RVP/RVPO stage or an employer work permit first — confirm your route with the local MVD office, the student rules are new and applied unevenly.
- Diploma from a state-accredited Russian institution — an honours (red) diploma for the direct route
- Lawful continuous stay: a valid study visa or RVPO at the time of filing
- Russian language, history and law certificate — holders of a Russian diploma are normally exempt
- Proof of income at or above the regional subsistence level and confirmed accommodation
- Medical certificates (HIV, TB, narcotics) and completed biometric registration
Work Visa with Work Permit (employer-sponsored)
The standard employment route: a Russian employer holding permission to engage foreign labour secures a quota work permit and an MVD invitation in your name. The visa is issued for 90 days, then extended to match the work permit, up to one year at a time. Intra-company transfers use this permit or the HQS route — Russia has no separate ICT visa.
- Signed employment contract with a Russian employer that holds a permission to engage foreign workers
- Quota allocation for the post, applied for in the preceding year unless the occupation is on the quota-exempt list
- MVD invitation and a work permit issued in your name before you travel
- Degree, professional licences and experience letters, legalised and translated into Russian
- HIV, TB and narcotics medical certificates plus fingerprinting within 30 days of arrival for work purposes
Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS / VKS) Work Visa
Quota-free fast track for well-paid professionals. The salary floor was raised to RUB 750,000 per calendar quarter in 2025 and has been revised repeatedly, so confirm the figure that applies on the day the contract is signed. Work permit and multiple-entry visa run up to three years and renew, with matching visas for spouse and children.
- Employment contract meeting the current HQS salary threshold (RUB 750,000 per quarter since 2025)
- Employer registered and able to file the mandatory quarterly HQS salary reports
- Evidence of qualifications and specialist experience, legalised and translated into Russian
- Voluntary medical insurance (DMS) covering you and every accompanying dependant for the permit period
- Medical certificates and fingerprinting completed after arrival
Investor Permanent Residence Permit (VNZh for Investors)
Since January 2023 qualifying investors may apply directly for the indefinite permanent residence permit, skipping the temporary stage. The main published route is investment of at least RUB 30 million in a Russian company that has traded three years or more; other thresholds exist for regional socially significant projects and for founding a company. Thresholds are set by government decree and change — confirm current criteria before committing funds, and note that a remittance of this size out of Pakistan needs State Bank approval.
- Documented investment meeting a current approved threshold and held for the required period
- Proof of the lawful source of funds, with Pakistani tax records and State Bank of Pakistan approval for the outward remittance
- Russian language, history and law certificate, unless exempt
- Medical certificates (HIV, TB, narcotics) and completed fingerprinting
- Personal appearance in Russia to file the application and collect the permit
Accompanying Family Member Visa
Spouses and children of a work-permit holder or HQS receive visas for the same period as the principal — HQS dependants get the full three-year term under the sponsor's private medical insurance. Students' dependants are not automatic: the university has to be willing to request the invitation, and many will not.
- MVD invitation naming each family member, filed by the sponsor's employer or university
- Nikah nama and NADRA birth certificates, MOFA-attested, legalised and translated into Russian
- Copy of the principal's visa and work permit, HQS permit or university enrolment confirmation
- Medical insurance valid in Russia for each dependant (for HQS, the sponsor's DMS policy must name them)
- Proof of accommodation in Russia and sufficient income for the family
Quota-Free Temporary Residence Permit (RVP) for Spouses of Russian Citizens
Spouses of Russian citizens, and minor children or dependent parents in the qualifying categories, may apply for a temporary residence permit outside the annual quota, leading on to permanent residence and simplified citizenship. There is no fiancé(e) visa — couples either marry in Russia after entering on a private visa, or register the Pakistani marriage and have it legalised.
- Marriage certificate registered at a Russian ZAGS, or a NADRA-registered nikah nama with MOFA attestation, legalisation and Russian translation
- Russian spouse's internal passport and proof of permanent registration in the region where you apply
- Russian language, history and law certificate, unless exempt
- Medical certificates (HIV, TB, narcotics) from an accredited Russian centre
- Two 35x45 mm photographs, state duty receipt and a valid visa and migration card at the time of filing
Fees and processing times are indicative and change with government policy — we confirm current figures in your free consultation.
Why Russia
What makes Russia worth it
Medicine at a state-university price
The six-year Russian specialist degree in General Medicine (accepted as an MBBS equivalent) runs roughly USD 4,000–8,000 a year at most state universities, plus USD 300–800 for a campus hostel. English-medium groups exist, but Russian is taught alongside because ward and clinical years are largely conducted in Russian.
RVPO: a real student residence permit
Since 2023, students on full-time state-accredited programmes can apply in Russia for the RVPO study residence permit, valid for the course plus 180 days. It replaces yearly visa renewals and allows work without a separate work permit, but ties your residence and study to one region.
Federal quota scholarships each year
The Russian Government quota covers tuition in full and pays a monthly stipend, applied for on education-in-russia.com with nomination through the Russian House in Karachi. Be realistic: places are competitive, the stipend is small, and flights, insurance and living costs stay on you.
Honest planning around sanctions and PM&DC
We plan the parts other agents skip: your PM&DC eligibility certificate before enrolment, how tuition actually reaches the university when many Russian banks are off SWIFT, why a Pakistani Visa or Mastercard will not work anywhere in Russia, opening a Mir account after arrival, and connecting flights because there is no direct service.
How it works
From first message to boarding pass
Free Consultation
Message us on WhatsApp. A senior consultant reviews your goals, background and timeline — no fee, no pressure.
Eligibility & Strategy
We score your profile against every pathway you qualify for and recommend the strongest route, with honest odds.
Document Preparation
Checklists, financials, attestations and translations — we build an embassy-ready file and close every gap.
Application & Interview
We file your application, book biometrics, and coach you through mock interviews until you walk in confident.
Visa & Fly
Passport back with a visa inside. Pre-departure briefing, accommodation tips, and you're on the plane.
FAQ
Russia questions, answered
Can Pakistani passport holders use Russia's e-visa?
No. The unified e-visa is open only to nationals on the Russian Government's approved list, and Pakistan is not on it. Every Pakistani applicant completes the form on kdmid.ru, prints and signs it, and lodges it in person at the Russian Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulate General in Karachi, backed by a tour operator's confirmation and voucher or an invitation obtained inside Russia. The approved list is amended from time to time, so we re-check it before each application.
Will my Russian MBBS be accepted back in Pakistan?
Only if you do it in the right order. Obtain the PM&DC eligibility certificate before you enrol — the rules expect FSc pre-medical with the required marks and a valid MDCAT result, and the criteria change year to year, so confirm them with PM&DC directly. Check the university is recognised in Russia and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, complete the full course on campus with no online or transferred years, then pass both steps of the National Licensing Examination after you return. Skipping the pre-departure eligibility certificate is the single most common reason Pakistani graduates get stuck.
How do I pay tuition and living costs with the sanctions in place?
Plan it before you fly. Many Russian banks are cut off from SWIFT and Pakistani banks are cautious about Russia-bound transfers, so payment routes change often. Foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay do not work anywhere inside Russia. Most students pay through the channel their own university nominates, carry declared cash for the first weeks, and then open a Russian account with a Mir card once they have registration and a tax number. There is no direct flight — expect connections via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Baku or Tashkent.
Is there a digital-nomad, job-seeker or seasonal work visa for Russia?
No — none of those exist. The patent system, which lets a worker arrive first and find a job afterwards, is only for visa-free CIS citizens, so a Pakistani national needs a Russian employer, a work permit and an invitation in hand before travelling. Be wary of any agent promising otherwise: overstaying now places you on the register of controlled persons, which carries an entry ban and blocks normal life in Russia while you are listed.
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