An invitation is required to apply for a student visa.

   Invitations to Russia are issued by the General Directorate for migration of the Ministry of internal Affairs of the Russian Federation

  If the applicant obtained their place at the university through a standard procedure or is a fee-paying student, the invitation will be sent by the university.      You will need an original invitation to submit the visa application

   A student visa you can obtain at the consular section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in your country. For this You must have an invitation from a University or College. You also need to complete a visa application form, pay the visa fee.