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Last modified: 2026-10-01

# Studying in Canada as a Russian Citizen: Biometrics in Russia, Passport Abroad, the Attestat and Payments

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Canadian universities and colleges consider Russian citizens on the same terms as other international applicants, and the study permit is filed online with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The change that matters most for Russians dates from 28 January 2026: the Embassy of Canada in Moscow stopped providing visa services, and visa application centres in Russia still take biometrics but no longer accept passports. Once the permit is approved, the passport has to go to a visa centre outside Russia, such as Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty or Astana. Most English-speaking universities accept the Russian school certificate (attestat) for first-year entry, while Quebec universities usually want an extra year of university study. Degrees from 19 Canadian universities are recognised in Russia without a procedure under government list No. 186-r.

| At a glance | Position in October 2026 |
| --- | --- |
| Embassy of Canada in Moscow | No visa or immigration services since 28.01.2026 |
| Visa application centres in Russia | Biometrics only; no passports or documents |
| Where the passport goes | A visa centre outside Russia that handles documents, when IRCC asks for it |
| Medical exam | Required for residents of Russia staying more than six months, with an IRCC panel physician only |
| Living funds for a study permit | About $16,460 (CAD 23,448) a year for one student outside Quebec, plus first-year tuition |
| Russian attestat | Ontario universities usually accept it for direct entry; the University of Alberta also asks for USE (EGE) results; Quebec universities want a year of university |
| Recognition in Russia | 19 Canadian universities on list No. 186-r |

University College, University of Toronto, April 2009. Photo: Francisco Diez / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:University_College_Toronto_2_-_April_2009_HDR.jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0).

## What this guide covers and what lives elsewhere {#section-1}

This page gathers only what differs for a Russian citizen: where biometrics and the passport go, how universities treat the Russian certificate, how to show and move money, and how the degree is recognised later. The full study permit process, document list and provincial caps are in [the Canadian study permit guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-canada-study-permit). The school-leaver plan is in [Canada after 11 years of school](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-canada-after-11-years-of-school), and the country overview with university profiles is on [Study in Canada](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-canada). How visa routes for Russian citizens compare across countries is shown in [studying abroad as a Russian citizen](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-for-russian-citizens).

## Routes after grade 9, grade 11, college or a degree {#section-2}

| Starting point | Realistic route | Watch out for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Russian certificate after grade 11 | University bachelor's or a college programme | Requirements vary by province and institution; an English or French test is mandatory |
| Grade 11, weak English | A university language programme or conditional admission with a language pathway | Courses under six months need no study permit; longer ones do |
| Grade 9 or 10 | A Canadian high school | Primary and secondary students need no provincial attestation letter (PAL); a minor needs a custodian in Canada |
| Russian college diploma | A Canadian college, or a bachelor's with possible transfer credit | The institution decides on credit; check that the college programme leads to post-graduation work permit eligibility |
| Bachelor's or specialist degree | Master's, or a college postgraduate certificate | Since 1 January 2026 master's and doctoral students at public institutions need no PAL |

Colleges and the work-permit question are covered in [colleges in Canada](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-colleges-in-canada), and graduate study in [master's degrees in Canada](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-canada).

## How Canadian universities read the Russian certificate {#section-3}

There is no national rule: each province and institution publishes country-specific requirements. Official pages show four typical approaches:

| Institution | What a Russian school leaver needs |
| --- | --- |
| [Western University](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-western-ontario) (Ontario) | The certificate of general secondary education listing all subjects and grades, the programme's prerequisite subjects and proof of English |
| [University of Alberta](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-alberta) | The attestat with transcript plus the USE (EGE) results certificate meeting the minimum pass mark in each subject; if results exist only online, the school issues a certificate of marks |
| Queen's University (Ontario) | Individual assessment; applicants who qualify for university at home are typically eligible for consideration |
| [Université de Montréal](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-montreal) (Quebec) | The attestat plus a year of successful university study, UdeM's own preparatory year, or a four-year bachelor's with a preparatory first year |

Quebec is stricter because its own students spend two years at a CEGEP college after eleven years of school before a three-year bachelor's. Plan an extra year for Montreal and other Quebec universities. In Ontario, the [University of Ottawa](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-ottawa) treats the Russian attestat as equal to a Canadian high school diploma.

Applications usually go in as copies with English or French translations; the institution may ask for originals or certified copies after the offer. For the IRCC file itself, translations must come from a certified translator who belongs to a provincial association, or be accompanied by the translator's affidavit; translations by the applicant or relatives are refused.

## The study permit from Russia: biometrics here, passport abroad {#section-4}

The study permit application is filed online in an IRCC account, and the entry visa is issued with the permit approval rather than separately. For Russian citizens in 2026:

1. Biometrics. Visa centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don and Vladivostok still take fingerprints and photos. The fee is about $60 (CAD 85), and biometrics given for a Canadian application within the past 10 years are usually not requested again.
2. Passport. When IRCC requests the passport for the visa, it goes to a visa centre outside Russia that accepts documents. The closest options on the official list are Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty and Astana; budget the trip and several days of waiting before term starts.
3. Medical exam. Russia is on IRCC's list of countries whose residents need a medical exam for stays over six months. Only an IRCC panel physician can perform it, and the result is valid for 12 months, so IRCC recommends doing it before applying.
4. Provincial letter. Bachelor's and college students need a PAL, which the institution requests after you accept the offer. Quebec issues a CAQ certificate instead, obtained before the IRCC application.

The application fee is about $105 (CAD 150). IRCC publishes processing times by country of application and updates them weekly; check the official tool before filing, then add time for the PAL, the medical and the passport trip. A Russian citizen living permanently in Kazakhstan gives biometrics and hands in the passport in Almaty or Astana, but still needs a medical, because Kazakhstan is on the same IRCC list.

## Money: what IRCC wants to see and how to pay from Russia {#section-5}

### The amount

For applications received from 1 September 2026, IRCC expects proof of about $16,460 (CAD 23,448) for one year of living costs for a single student outside Quebec, on top of first-year tuition and travel. Quebec sets its own figure for the CAQ. Acceptable evidence includes six months of bank statements with a clear source of funds, a sponsor letter (usually from parents) with income documents, a tuition receipt, a scholarship letter or a GIC term deposit with a Canadian bank. Be careful with the GIC route from Russia: TD's student GIC programme (country list checked 1 October 2026) does not include Russia, and other banks decide case by case without publishing anything for Russian residents. Build the file on bank statements and a sponsor letter, and count on a GIC only once a bank has confirmed in writing that it will open one for you.

IRCC adds a specific rule: applicants from countries with foreign exchange controls must prove they will be allowed to export funds for all their expenses. For money held in Russia, that means funds sitting in an account from which a transfer actually goes through, or already paid to the institution.

### Paying legally

The Bank of Russia's guidance (updated 1 June 2026) confirms that residents may send money abroad, including tuition paid to an institution's account, but warns that foreign correspondent banks may delay or return payments because of sanctions. So:

1. Ask the institution for an invoice with bank details, deadline and the deposit refund policy if the visa is refused.
2. Find out which channels it accepts from international students: wire transfer, card or a payment platform.
3. Check with the sending bank whether a Canadian-dollar transfer to this beneficiary goes through and how long it takes.
4. If a relative pays from an account outside Russia, keep documents proving the relationship and the origin of the money; IRCC assesses the source of funds.
5. Pay the deposit early: without it the institution will not request your PAL, and without a PAL you cannot apply.

Options are compared in [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## Tuition examples for 2026/27 {#section-6}

| Institution | International tuition | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| University of Alberta | $27,540–35,060 (CAD 39,233–49,952) a year | Locked in for the whole bachelor's for 2026 entrants |
| University of Ottawa | $30,420–44,340 (CAD 43,335–63,164) a year | Depends on the faculty |
| Université de Montréal | About $21,600 (CAD 30,773) for 30 credits | Teaching is almost entirely in French |

There is no free study for international students in Canada. Scholarships come from institutions and foundations and are usually partial; see [scholarships in Canada](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-in-canada) and the full budget in [the cost of studying in Canada](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-canada). Off-campus work during term is allowed for up to 24 hours a week; the rules and the post-graduation permit are in [working while studying and the PGWP](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-and-pgwp-canada).

## Will Russia recognise a Canadian degree? {#section-7}

There is no intergovernmental agreement with Canada on recognising education. However, list No. 186-r (version of 19.02.2026) includes 19 Canadian universities: Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Carleton, Dalhousie, Laval, Manitoba, McGill, McMaster, Montreal, Ottawa, Queen's, Saskatchewan, Simon Fraser, Toronto, Victoria, Waterloo, Western Ontario and York. Their degrees are recognised in Russia without a procedure, including those of [Toronto](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-toronto), [McGill](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-mcgill) and [Waterloo](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-waterloo).

A college credential or a degree from a university outside the list goes through recognition: the application is filed through the National Information Centre portal or Gosuslugi, Rosobrnadzor decides, and the state fee is 6,500 roubles. Medicine, law and other regulated professions also require Russian licensing to practise.

## Timeline for a September start {#section-8}

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| 15–18 months ahead | Choose a province with its certificate requirements in mind; check list No. 186-r if you plan to return |
| 12 months ahead | Take IELTS, TOEFL or another test your institution accepts; keep EGE results if you target Alberta |
| Autumn and winter | Apply (in Ontario through OUAC) and upload grades for the final school years |
| Spring | Receive the offer, pay the deposit, test the payment route; the institution requests the PAL, or you apply for a CAQ in Quebec |
| Right after the PAL | Medical exam with a panel physician, online application, biometrics in Russia |
| After approval | Take the passport to a visa centre outside Russia, collect the visa, book flights |

## Common mistakes by Russian applicants {#section-9}

- Planning to hand in the passport in Moscow. Since 28 January 2026 visa centres in Russia do not take passports, so the trip abroad has to be planned in advance.
- Applying without the medical exam. Residents of Russia need one, and waiting for a separate request adds weeks.
- Forgetting that Quebec expects an extra year from Russian school leavers.
- Showing funds that cannot be moved. IRCC asks whether money can leave a country with exchange controls.
- Delaying the deposit, which holds up the PAL.
- Translating documents yourself. IRCC refuses translations made by applicants or relatives.
- Choosing a college on price alone without checking whether the programme qualifies for a post-graduation work permit.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can Russian citizens study in Canada in 2026?

Yes. Russian passport holders go through the standard international admission process, and IRCC accepts their study permit applications. The university or college decides on admission, IRCC decides on the study permit and visa, and the province issues the attestation letter through the institution.

### Where does a Russian citizen give biometrics and submit the passport?

Fingerprints and photos can still be given at any of the six Canadian visa centres in Russia. The passport, once IRCC asks for it, must be taken to a document-handling centre in another country, for example in Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty or Astana.

### Is the Russian school certificate enough for a Canadian university?

For many universities, for example in Ontario, yes, without a foundation year, provided grades in prerequisite subjects and English meet the programme's bar. The University of Alberta also asks for the EGE results certificate. Quebec universities such as the Université de Montréal require a year of university study or their own preparatory year.

### Can I study in Canada for free?

No. International tuition at major universities usually starts at around $20,000 a year. Partial institutional scholarships reduce the bill, but the university decides who gets them and they rarely cover everything. Working up to 24 hours a week helps with living costs, not tuition.

### How much money do I need to show for a study permit?

First-year tuition, travel and about $16,460 (CAD 23,448) for twelve months of living costs if you study outside Quebec and apply from 1 September 2026 onwards. IRCC also checks where the money comes from and whether it can leave Russia; the visa officer decides whether the funds are sufficient.

### Does Russia recognise Canadian degrees?

Degrees from the 19 Canadian universities on list No. 186-r, including Toronto, McGill, British Columbia and Waterloo, are recognised without a procedure. For other universities and colleges, Rosobrnadzor decides after an expert review; the state fee is 6,500 roubles.

### Can a student move to a Canadian high school after grade 9?

Yes, on a study permit for school students, who need no provincial attestation letter. A student aged 17 or under travelling without parents needs a custodian in Canada and a notarised custodianship declaration. The school or school district decides on admission and IRCC on the permit.

## Sources {#section-11}

- [Government of Canada: services in Moscow and changes to visa services from 28.01.2026](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/russia-russie/moscow-moscou-info.aspx?lang=eng)
- [IRCC: proof of financial support](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html) and [PAL/TAL](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/provincial-attestation-letter.html)
- [IRCC: medical exam requirements by country](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/medical-exams/requirements-temporary-residents/country-requirements.html), [visa application centres](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/offices/vac.asp), [fees](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp), [off-campus work](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/work-off-campus.html)
- Russian certificate requirements: [Western University](https://welcome.uwo.ca/next-steps/requirements/international-high-school/russia.html), [University of Alberta](https://www.ualberta.ca/en/admissions/how-to-apply/international-admission-requirements/international-curricula/index.html), [Queen's University](https://www.queensu.ca/admission/applying/admission-requirements/russian-federation)
- 2026/27 tuition: [University of Alberta](https://www.ualberta.ca/en/admissions/tuition-and-scholarships/international-tuition-and-fees.html), [University of Ottawa](https://www.uottawa.ca/study/fees-financial-support/university-fees/tuition-international), [Université de Montréal](https://registraire.umontreal.ca/droits-de-scolarite/couts/)
- [Bank of Russia: cross-border transfers (updated 01.06.2026)](https://www.cbr.ru/faq/w_fin_sector/transgranichnie_perevodi/); [TD: International Student GIC programme and qualifying countries](https://www.td.com/ca/en/personal-banking/solutions/new-to-canada/international-student-gic-program)
- [Russian Government Order No. 186-r](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202302020018) as amended by [Order No. 298-r of 19.02.2026](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202602200041); [Rosobrnadzor: recognition of foreign education](https://obrnadzor.gov.ru/gosudarstvennye-uslugi-i-funkczii/gosudarstvennye-uslugi/priznanie-inostrannogo-obrazovaniya-i-ili-inostrannoj-kvalifikaczii/)

Sources checked 24.09–01.10.2026. US dollar amounts use the ECB reference rates of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298 = CAD 1.6095, so CAD 1 ≈ $0.702.

If you want to work through your route, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Studying in Canada for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-canada)
- [Canada Study Permit in 2026: Documents, PAL, Proof of Funds and How to Apply](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-canada-study-permit)
- [Studying in Canada After 11 Years of School: Five Routes, Requirements and Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-canada-after-11-years-of-school)
- [Colleges in Canada for International Students: Programmes, Costs and Post-Graduation Work Rights](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-colleges-in-canada)
- [Master's Degree in Canada: Admission, Costs and Funding for International Students](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-canada)
- [Western University (University of Western Ontario): Admission and Fees](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-western-ontario)

Updated: October 2026