International students, with the exception of those coming from visa-free countries (see useful links), must obtain an "S” type study visa. Currently, Kyrgyzstan practices accepting documents and issuing visas online through the e-VISA portal.
The Visa Office at the Department of International Relations of the KSMA helps international students apply for a visa. Students can also seek help from their official agents (recruitment agencies).
To obtain a primary study visa, you need to submit the following documents to the visa office:
- Valid passport
- Electronic photo on a white background, size 3*4 cm.
- An official visa invitation from KSMAA (issued by the visa office on the basis of an application from a foreign student)
A visa is issued to an active foreign student of KSMA for a period of 1 year. One month before the expiration of this period, foreign students must apply to the visa office and submit all necessary documents for an extension.
To extend the visa, you must provide the following documents:
- Valid passport
- An electronic copy of the Training Agreement concluded between students and KSMA
- 2 photos in white clothes on a white background measuring 3x4 cm;
- Certificate of payment of tuition fees;
- A certificate of residence in the hostel, which must be obtained at the hostel where you live
OR, if you live in a rented apartment/house, provide the following documents:
- Notarized consent of the landlord for temporary registration at the place of residence;
! Please keep in mind that you must apply for a visa extension 30 days before its expiration date.
When applying for a visa extension, you can choose the “single entry” or “multiple entry” mode. A single-entry visa allows you to enter the territory of Kyrgyzstan only once, after which you will need to apply for a visa extension again. A multiple-entry visa will allow you to leave Kyrgyzstan and re-enter Kyrgyzstan any number of times during the validity period of your visa.
Work permit:
Students receiving a “study” visa are not allowed to work full-time or even part-time during their studies. For those who wish to work in Kyrgyzstan, you must obtain a different type of visa - “W1” and a special work permit.
Illegal work on a study visa can result in an administrative offense and a fine.
After graduation, students who want to continue their professional path in Kyrgyzstan must change their study visa to a work visa and obtain a special work permit. Students cannot change their visa type while in Kyrgyzstan. To obtain a W1 visa, graduates must leave the country, receive a special work quota from their employer, apply for a W1 visa, receive it and re-enter the country (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 175 (http://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/act/view/ru-ru/13564).
Visa procedure related to the change of university in Kyrgyzstan
If students plan to change universities in Kyrgyzstan, they should keep in mind that they must re-apply for a study visa at
at the invitation of the new host university. The visa department of the new university will provide assistance in obtaining a new visa and more detailed
information.
Registration of foreign citizens arriving to study at the I.K.Akhunbayev KSMU is carried out in accordance with the "PROCEDURE for registration of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic", approved by the Resolution Government of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 689 dated December 19, 2016
After entering the territory of Kyrgyzstan, all foreign students must be registered with the State Registration Service within the period specified by the above regulations after the date of arrival.
Visa countries: The registration of foreign students of KSMA is valid for the duration of their study visa, with the right to extend this registration for the duration of the extended visa. The extension of the validity period of registration of foreign students is carried out after the extension of the validity period of the visa. At the same time, a foreign student must apply to the visa department of the KSMA within 3 working days from the date of visa extension.
Visa-free countries: Registration is also required for international students arriving from visa-free non-CIS countries. Registration for such international students is valid for the duration of their "Study" visa (please refer to the section "Obtaining a visa" for more information).
To register, international students must come to the KSMA visa office and provide the following documents:
- a certificate of residence in a dormitory issued by the KSMA hostel manager (if students live outside the dormitory, registration of students is carried out on the general basis of registration of foreign citizens or stateless persons);
- power of attorney for the right to file an application on behalf of a legal entity or individual, if a representative applies;
- a valid passport or other identity document, unless otherwise provided for by international treaties that have entered into force in accordance with the procedure established by law, to which the Kyrgyz Republic is a party, if there is a valid corresponding visa;
- receipt of payment of the state registration fee.
The submitted documents specified in this paragraph are scanned for entry into the ECM Electronic Registration System, the original documents are subject to return to the applicant. (As amended by Resolutions of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 449 dated September 3, 2019 and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 349 dated July 12, 2023)
International students are advised not to miss the deadline, as this will lead to a fine and a protocol.
After receiving the visa and registration, make sure that you have made a photocopy and a hard copy of them in case you lose the originals.