Can I come to Russia on a tourist visa to take examinations?

Following is the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official reply to the question: a foreign citizen can be denied entry to Russia if they misstate the purpose of their trip in the visa application. You cannot apply for a tourist visa if entering a university is the declared purpose of your visit. Please keep in mind that if you’re admitted to university, you will need a student visa to legalise your stay in the country. In that case, you will have to return to your home country to reapply for a Russian visa. To avoid waste of time and money you might want to apply for a student visa from the beginning: it is valid for three months and you can have it extended in Russia by the Interior Ministry’s Migration Department. Refer your questions to the Russian consulate or Embassy in your country first to learn the visa procedure. Find out more in “Visa” and "Russian Migration Law" sections.