Cyprus visa services interrupted in Russia due to technical issues

On October 8, 2026, the consular section of the Republic of Cyprus in Russia reported technical failures affecting the processing of entry visa applications. The visa operator BLS International has suspended operations in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, and Samara. Visa centers in Yekaterinburg and Rostov-on-Don remain operational, as do facilities in Belarus and Uzbekistan.

To manage the backlog, the embassy announced that it would issue handwritten visas between October 7 and October 12, 2026. The Russian Union of the Tourism Industry (RST) advises travelers to verify their documents and carry an official letter from the consulate to prevent complications during flight boarding and border crossings. Experts confirmed that these handwritten permits are considered valid for entry.

While the current measures are scheduled through October 12, officials have not provided a definitive date for the full restoration of the automated system. Applicants who already hold scheduled appointments will be processed as soon as technical functionality is restored, though no formal timeline for a complete resolution has been released.