How the Invitation Letter and Student Visa Process Actually Works

Once your admission is confirmed, two documents stand between you and departure: the invitation letter from your university, and the student visa itself. Neither is complicated, but both have a timeline worth planning around.

The invitation letter is issued directly by your university's international office once your seat and initial fee payment are confirmed. This typically takes 1–3 weeks and is the single document your visa application cannot proceed without.

With the invitation letter in hand, the student visa application is submitted to the relevant consulate along with your passport, admission offer, and financial proof. Processing generally takes 7–15 working days, though this can vary by consulate workload and season.

In Russia, arrival brings one more step: migration card completion and address registration via the Gosuslugi portal within the required window. In Georgia, this is a simpler local address registration process.

None of this is difficult in isolation — the risk is underestimating the combined timeline. We recommend starting the invitation letter process at least 8–10 weeks before your intended intake to avoid any last-minute rush.