How do I become a volunteer?

If you are at least 15 years old and are ready to commit to a minimum of one month, you are welcome to become a volunteer! Students also have the possibility to validate their experience in the Volunteer Service as an internship. Just fill out the application form below and email the form and a short motivational letter to volunteer@hermitage.ru

A member of our team will then get in touch with you.

Application form

Knowledge of the Russian language is greatly appreciated but not compulsory, since our volunteers and visitors come from all around the world. We do encourage you to take Russian classes during your stay in St. Petersburg, as it makes everyday life much easier. We collaborate with the Russian Academy of Sciences, which can offer you private language lessons at a very reasonable rate.

The visa you need depends on how long you are planning to stay in Russia. For a stay of up to 30 days, a tourist visa will suffice, which you can apply for without an invitation from us. Please contact your local travel agency or Russian consulate for more details. If you are planning to stay for a longer period, you will need a student visa and an official invitation from the Hermitage Visa Service. However, if you would like to stay for more than 90 days, you will have to return home or to a neighbouring country for a short period after the first 90 days in order to receive a new visa. The application process can take a while, so we advise you to start preparing it at least one or two months in advance. To obtain the official invitation, we will need a scanned copy of your passport, the precise dates of your arrival and departure, as well as the name and address of the institution you represent (university, school, place of employment, etc.). Once you have received this invitation, you can apply for a visa through the Russian Embassy or Consulate in your country. If you receive a visa invitation from the Hermitage, it is important that once you have arrived in Russia, you are only registered by us and within two business days of your arrival in the country. On your first day, you will need to bring your passport and migration card, which you will receive at the border. While the visa and registration process may initially seem intimidating, our 90-day visa regime invariably runs very smoothly and is based on standard parallel agreements between countries, so there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

At the end of your stay, we will be happy to provide you with an official certificate specifying the various tasks you accomplish.

What do the volunteers do?

They provide information to our visitors, welcome special guests, help with the translation and editing of the Hermitage publications, implement interactive and educational programs and activities for all ages, and help organize special events (conferences). More generally, the Volunteer Service is ready to assist all of the museum’s departments whenever help is needed. Our team collaborates on a regular basis with the Archeology and Antiquities departments. Volunteers and interns are also encouraged to develop projects based on their own personal goals and interests.

We strongly encourage all volunteers and interns to become part of the Hermitage Volunteer Service group on vkontakte (vk.com/hermitagevolunteers), where you can find up-to-date information on current projects, important announcements, and participate in project discussions and brainstorming sessions.

Our office is open every day except Mondays and Sundays from 10.30 am to 6.00 pm. Working hours are flexible, and volunteers will be able to set their own schedule. Interns are expected to work full-time.

The Volunteer Service can only provide unpaid internships. However, we will gladly assist you if you have any questions and will put you in touch with other volunteers.