Cyprus Resumes Visa Processing in Russia – BLS International Centers Reopen July 6
- Xavi
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
Moscow, July 7, 2026 — Cyprus has resumed visa processing at its third-party centers across Russia, nearly a month after a contract lapse forced the country's consulates to temporarily take over operations.
Visa processing through private operator BLS International resumed on Monday, July 6, 2026. The service had been suspended on June 13, 2026 following the expiration of the company's previous agreement.
Key Updates at a Glance
Detail | Information |
Resumption Date | July 6, 2026 |
Suspension Period | June 13 – July 5, 2026 |
Service Provider | BLS International |
Visa Fee (adults 12+) | €90 (~8,100 rubles) |
Visa Fee (children 6-11) | €45 (~4,050 rubles) |
BLS Service Fee | 547 rubles |
Appointment | Required – walk-ins not accepted |
Where to Apply
BLS International visa application centers operate in eight Russian cities:
City |
Moscow |
St. Petersburg |
Yekaterinburg |
Kazan |
Samara |
Nizhny Novgorod |
Rostov-on-Don |
Novosibirsk |
Applications are also accepted at BLS centers in Minsk (Belarus) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan).
What Happened During the Suspension
When the contract with BLS International expired on June 13, the Embassy of Cyprus in Moscow and consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Krasnodar were forced to handle all visa applications directly.
The suspension lasted nearly a month until a new agreement was reached.
"Applicants who submitted documents at BLS International centers before June 11, 2026, must collect their passports from the respective visa centers," the embassy stated at the time.
Important Travel Notes
No direct flights between Russia and Cyprus as of July 2026
Travelers must transit through hubs such as Turkey, UAE, Armenia, Georgia, or Serbia
Airports accepting international flights: Larnaca and Paphos
Visa Application Process
Book an appointment online through BLS International's Cyprus visa portal
Submit documents at any BLS center in Russia, Belarus, or Uzbekistan
Pay visa fee (€90 for adults, €45 for children 6-11) + BLS service fee (547 rubles)
Wait for processing – standard processing times apply
Background Context
Cyprus is an EU member state but not a full member of the Schengen Area, though it has harmonized visa procedures and fees with Schengen standards.
The EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in 2022 and moved to deny Russian citizens multi-entry visas in November 2025. Those collective restrictions have dramatically reduced EU visa issuance to Russians from several million annually to hundreds of thousands.
For the latest Cyprus visa updates, Russia travel news, and 2026 European immigration developments, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/categories/cyprus
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