Cyprus visa centres in six Russian cities halt applications over technical problems
In short
Cyprus visa centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk temporarily stopped accepting visa applications on October 8 because of technical problems, visa operator BLS International said. Applicants with active BLS appointments will be received on the basis of those appointments once service resumes, the company said, while centres in Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Tashkent and Minsk continue to work normally.
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Cyprus visa centres in six Russian cities temporarily stopped accepting visa applications on October 8 because of technical problems, according to BLS International, the company that accepts and processes visa documents. The affected centres are in Moscow, St Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Interfax quoted the company's statement as saying that the consulates of the Republic of Cyprus in Moscow and St Petersburg are currently unable to accept and process entry visa applications because of technical faults, and that measures are being taken to resolve the problems as soon as possible. "Applicants who have active appointments with BLS will be received on the basis of the old appointment when the service resumes," the statement said. [ 3 , 4 ]
BLS said centres in Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Tashkent and Minsk continue to work as normal, according to Vedomosti and Interfax; Kommersant mentioned Rostov-on-Don and Yekaterinburg. Kommersant reported that it is not yet known when acceptance of documents will resume. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Vedomosti reported that the service fee is 5 euros excluding VAT, while the visa fee is 90 euros for applicants over 12 and 45 euros for children aged six to 12. [ 2 ]
The suspension follows an earlier halt this year. According to Vedomosti, the Cyprus embassy in Moscow warned on June 11 that submissions through BLS International centres would stop from June 13, when its service contract with the company expired; Kommersant dates the halt to June 15 and says applications could then be filed only at the embassy's consular section and the consulates general in St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Krasnodar. Vedomosti reported that the BLS centres resumed accepting documents on July 6. [ 2 , 4 ]
Vedomosti also noted that Cyprus tightened visa requirements for Russians in December 2024, when the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said processing time had grown to 15 days and new requirements were introduced for bank statements, salary certificates, Social Fund statements and sponsorship letters. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
Russian travellers applying for Cyprus visas in six major cities cannot currently submit documents, and Kommersant reported that it is not yet known when acceptance will resume. It is the second disruption this year after BLS International centres stopped taking applications in June when the embassy's contract with the company expired, before resuming in July.
Key facts
- Cyprus visa centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk temporarily stopped accepting visa applications. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- BLS International, which accepts and processes the visa documents, cited technical problems. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to the BLS statement quoted by Interfax, the Cyprus consulates in Moscow and St Petersburg said technical faults prevent them from accepting and processing entry visa applications. [ 3 ]
- Applicants with active BLS appointments will be received on the basis of their old appointment when the service resumes, the company said. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Centres in Rostov-on-Don and Yekaterinburg continue to operate normally; Vedomosti and Interfax also list Tashkent and Minsk. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Vedomosti reported a service fee of 5 euros excluding VAT and a visa fee of 90 euros for applicants over 12 and 45 euros for children aged six to 12. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cyprus visa centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk temporarily stopped accepting applications because of technical problems. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- BLS International said applicants with active appointments will be received under those appointments once service resumes. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Visa centres in Rostov-on-Don and Yekaterinburg continue to work normally. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- BLS International visa centres for Cyprus resumed accepting documents in July after an earlier halt linked to the end of the embassy's contract with the company. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- When acceptance of documents will resume. Kommersant reported that this is not yet known; BLS said only that measures are being taken to fix the problems as soon as possible.
- The nature of the technical problems. Interfax quotes the statement as describing technical faults at the consulates in Moscow and St Petersburg; no further detail is given.
- The date the earlier halt began. Vedomosti reported the embassy said filing via BLS would stop from June 13, when the contract expired, while Kommersant gives June 15.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC reports that Cyprus visa centres in six cities stopped accepting applications because of technical problems. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti reports the suspension, citing BLS International. [ 2 ]
- Interfax quotes the BLS statement attributing the halt to technical faults at the consulates in Moscow and St Petersburg. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reports that it is not yet known when document acceptance will resume. [ 4 ]