Cyprus’s brief experiment with visa centers in Russia is over

Source: Cypriot Embassy

Beginning June 15, anyone in Russia seeking a Cypriot visa must apply at the embassy’s consular section in Moscow or at a consulate general in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, or Krasnodar, the Embassy of Cyprus in Russia said.

The decision stems from the expiration of the service agreement with BLS International on June 13, “as a result of which, the visa application submission process at the company’s visa centers will cease as of that date.”

“Applicants who have submitted visa applications at BLS International visa centers before June 11, 2026, must collect their passports from the respective visa centers,” the embassy said.

The embassy said it expects to sign a new contract with an outside provider soon. For now, applicants must apply in person.

The business daily RBC noted that Cyprus opened its network of BLS International visa centers in Russia only in December 2025. The four offices — in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, and Yekaterinburg — had been open for less than six months. Visas had previously been available only at consulates.

At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.

If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at reports@meduza.io.

To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Why is it
important
to support
Meduza
now?Read here

Cyprus’s brief experiment with visa centers in Russia is over

{{ header_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ second_title }}

Cyprus’s brief experiment with visa centers in Russia is over

{{{ alt }}}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ second_title }}