Education under the IB program: a financial guide for parents
On August 25, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation recognized the International Baccalaureate (IB) program as an undesirable organization. All Russian schools are required to immediately cease any cooperation with IB, including financing and participation in programs. The ban also applies to Russian citizens whose children are studying under this program abroad—violations may lead to liability, including criminal responsibility.
It is permissible to pay for education at a foreign school only on the condition that the invoices do not contain separate payments in favor of IB: registration fees, exam fees, or licensing deductions. In practice, this means it is necessary to review all financial documents and ensure that the tuition fee is indicated as a total amount without detailing IB-related payments.
If the contract or invoice includes separate lines with IB contributions, you should contact the educational institution with a request to reissue the documents. If it is impossible to exclude mentions of IB, it is recommended to consider switching to alternative programs, such as “A-Level” or “Foundation Year”.
