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Student visa to Belarus
Have you noticed or not, but in Belarusian universities you can meet more and more foreign students. Their number is constantly increasing, despite the high prices of education. What it can be connected with? Is Belarusian education much better than abroad? How to explain such an influx of students into Belarusian universities? We will answer all these questions in detail below, and also find out what needs to be done to become one of them.
Why are Belarusian educational institutions popular among foreigners?
For almost 5 years Belarus has been a member of the Bologna process. On May 14, 2015, our country on the second attempt joined the European Higher Education Area. In this regard the status of the Belarusian education has grown sufficiently. Therefore many students choose our universities. Today the most popular are medical, technical, philological specialties, as well as higher musical education.
Do not forget that to study at a Belarusian university, a student needs to know the Russian language, as the entire program is designed for Russian-speaking students. But do not be discouraged if you are not among them. Because an applicant whose knowledge of the Russian language is not enough for study can be enrolled in preparatory courses where Russian is studied and other subjects depending on the chosen specialty.
If the applicant has not learned the Russian language and did not pass the final exams at the preparatory department, then he will be expelled and forced to leave Belarus. In exceptional cases, repeated training courses are permitted.
Obtaining a student visa to Belarus
But after the student has decided on a future profession, the following question arises: how to get a visa?
To simplify visa control, applicants are issued a student visa. Now we will tell you how to get it.
Where can I get a student visa?
Foreign applicants arriving for training receive a study visa at the embassies and consulates of the Republic of Belarus. If the country does not have a diplomatic mission of the Republic of Belarus, a visa can be obtained from the “Consular General of the Minsk National Airport”.
Required documents
Arriving at the embassy, you must have the following documents with you:
• Valid passport;
• Documents on secondary education, legalized in the prescribed manner (apostille or legalization);
• A completed visa application form;
• Photo size 35x45 (1 pc.);
• Original study invitation with a valid entry date;
• A medical report on a full examination, indicating that the candidate is physically and mentally healthy and can be trained in the climatic conditions of the Republic of Belarus;
• Certificate of no HIV infection issued by the official health authority of the country from which the candidate for study arrived;
• Cash required for a student visa (from 130 to 200 US dollars) and tuition and accommodation (at least 3,000 US dollars).
It is also worth to remember that all documents executed in a foreign language must be translated into Russian and notarized.
The standard list of documents is presented above, but the requirements for documents for obtaining a visa may be different for different countries, so for detailed information on obtaining a visa in your region, please contact the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus or the embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the country of residence of the applicant.
Documents are submitted no later than 2 months before the start of classes in Russian or English by mail, fax or e-mail.
Letter from the selected educational institution
Foreign citizens wishing to study at an educational institution must receive an invitation that will allow them to open a study visa at a consular post of the Republic of Belarus.
To receive an official invitation, a foreign citizen must provide the following documents to the educational institution:
• a copy of the document on education indicating the subjects studied and the marks (points) obtained on them at the exams;
• a copy of a passport or other identification document;
• application for training (indicating passport data, home address, phone / fax, e-mail address);
• A medical certificate of health status and a certificate of absence of HIV infection issued by the official health authority of the country from which the candidate for study arrived.
An invitation to study is provided to the candidate for free.
Student Visa Procedure
Documents executed in a foreign language are simultaneously accompanied by a translation into Belarusian or Russian, certified by a notary.
After receiving the documents of the candidate for training, the educational institution carries out their examination and decides on the possibility of issuing an invitation to study.
The institution sends the completed invitation to study to the candidate for training or to the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the candidate’s country of residence.
A candidate for training draws up a student visa at a consular post of the Republic of Belarus at his place of residence.
Duration of student visa
Exit - an entry visa is issued for a period of up to 90 calendar days, including days of departure and entry. When applying for a visa the terms of temporary residence are taken into account. If during the student’s stay outside the territory of the Republic of Belarus the period of residence ends, only an exit visa is issued.
Is it necessary to obtain a temporary residence permit?
Off course!
To apply for migration registration and apply for a temporary stay and residence permit in the internal affairs bodies, the applicant must submit the following documents to the university within 3 days after his arrival in the Republic of Belarus:
1. Passport with a student visa and a copy thereof;
2. Migration card;
3. A copy of the medical insurance policy;
4. Receipt of payment of state duty for registration;
5. Notarized translation of the passport;
6. Photos (2 pcs.).
At the time of obtaining a temporary residence permit (registration), a student is issued a certificate replacing the passport.
A temporary residence permit is issued for a maximum of 1 year, taking into account:
• passport validity period,
• validity of the insurance policy,
• validity period of the contract of employment (in case of registration at the apartment).
To renew the registration upon successful training, the student must submit documents to the dean’s office no later than 15 working days before its completion.
What happens to a visa in case of expulsion from an educational institution?
In case of expulsion, the student is required to submit documents to leave the dean's office within 5 days and leave the Republic of Belarus.
In case of evasion, students will be deported with deprivation of the right to enter the country for up to 5 years. All deportation expenses are borne by the student.
Violation of the migration regime entails a fine and administrative liability, including deportation for a period of 1 to 5 years.
Student Visa Services
In case of emergency (good reason), a visa can be issued in an expedited manner - a period of 5 days. It is necessary to submit documents to the Department of Migration Registration and Escort of Foreign Students at the UMS of BSU 6 working days before the day of departure.
Photo: teleskop-by.org, kv.by