Student setup path
A first-month route for students who need phone, payments, registration, insurance, and everyday setup.
Use this as an orientation path. Open the tasks that apply to you and skip the optional ones when your situation is different.
- 1
Before arrival
4 steps
OptionalHigh RiskWizardEntry Route Path Finder
A deterministic checklist for choosing the official Russia entry route before travel.
4 questions5 minutesStart wizardOptionalHigh RiskGuideRuID and digital profile for visa-free entry
Who may need RuID for visa-free entry, what to check before travel, and why rules must be rechecked before every entry date.
30-60 minutes; verification can take longerOpen guideModerate RiskGuideDocument checklist for your first days in Russia
A practical document folder for arrival or relocation: what to keep close, what to copy, and where status-specific requirements must be checked.
15-30 minutesOpen guideOptionalHigh RiskGuideCheck study visa, RVPO, and mandatory student procedures
A student calendar for entry basis, extension, RVPO, medical procedures, and re-entry checks.
30-60 minutes to check; extensions can take weeksOpen guide - 2
Arrival
9 steps
Moderate RiskGuideFirst student setup steps after arrival in Russia
How to connect university, dorm or housing, documents, SIM, banking, insurance, and daily apps into one practical order.
1-7 daysOpen guideModerate RiskGuideFirst 24 hours after arriving in Russia
A calm first-day order: connection, money, transport, documents, address, and emergency contacts.
1-3 hours of active setupOpen guideHigh RiskGuideMigration card after entering Russia
Check your migration card or entry record, keep it with your passport, and do not confuse it with migration registration.
5-10 minutes to check after border controlOpen guideModerate RiskWizardSIM Card Path Finder
Find the best SIM card option for your situation in Russia.
9 questions6 minStart wizardModerate RiskWizardPayment Path Finder
Find the best payment and banking option for your situation in Russia.
9 questions4 minStart wizardOptionalHigh RiskGuideApply for a T-Bank debit card for Russian payments
A practical route for tourists and visitors who need a local bank card for Russian payments. The application starts online, but the bank still runs identity and document checks.
5 minutes to apply; delivery and checks depend on the bankOpen guideModerate RiskGuideEssential apps for living in Russia
A list of must-have apps for foreigners in Russia: navigation (Yandex Maps, 2GIS), taxi (Yandex Go), translation, banking apps, and backup communication channels.
30 minutesOpen guideModerate RiskGuideCash and foreign cards in Russia
Prepare a payment backup: why foreign Visa/Mastercard cards may not work, how much cash to plan, and when to open a separate banking route.
20-40 minutes before travelOpen guideModerate RiskGuidePrepare backup channels for messaging and video calls
How to avoid losing contact if a messenger, calls, or app stores work unreliably.
20-40 minutesOpen guide - 3
First week
6 steps
OptionalHigh RiskGuideArrange dormitory and migration registration through your university
What an international student should do after arrival so the dormitory or international office handles the lawful address route.
1-3 business days to gather and submit through the universityOpen guideLow RiskGuideHow to use public transport in Russia
Troika card (Moscow), Podorozhnik (Saint Petersburg), contactless payment, and mobile apps. Anonymous transport cards require no ID — buy at metro ticket offices for 50-80 rubles.
10 minutesOpen guideLow RiskGuideEmergency numbers and safety for foreigners in Russia
Emergency numbers (112, 101, 102, 103), what to do if you lose your documents, your rights during a police stop, how to report a crime, and embassy contacts.
15 minutesOpen guideModerate RiskGuideWhich documents to carry in Russia
What to keep with you, what to store separately, and how to prepare safe copies without sharing sensitive data with Ruvoya.
20-30 minutes to prepareOpen guideModerate RiskGuideDocument checklist for your first days in Russia
A practical document folder for arrival or relocation: what to keep close, what to copy, and where status-specific requirements must be checked.
15-30 minutesOpen guideOptionalModerate RiskGuideHow to prepare a notarized passport translation
When a notarized passport translation may be needed and how to check names, dates, and pages before using it with SFR, FNS, MFC, a bank, or university.
1-2 working daysOpen guide - 4
First month
4 steps
Moderate RiskGuideHow to get medical help as a foreigner
What to do in an urgent situation, how to use DMS/OMS or travel insurance, and what to prepare for a first clinic visit.
Immediate for emergency; 1-2 days for a planned visitOpen guideOptionalModerate RiskPlannedCheck if you need INN
Review needed before publishing a full guide
PlannedOptionalModerate RiskPlannedCheck rental and registration before signing
Review needed before publishing a full guide
PlannedModerate RiskGuideBuy intercity train or bus tickets in Russia
How to choose an official route, enter passport data correctly, prepare payment, and save the ticket offline.
15-45 minutes to buy and check the routeOpen guide