The Embassy of Cyprus in Moscow announced late on 11 June that it is terminating its contract with external provider BLS International and will stop accepting Schengen-type ‘Cyprus national visas’ at third-party centres across Russia from 13 June. From 15 June, travellers must file applications in person at the embassy’s consular section or one of three remaining consulates (St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar). Officials cited the expiry of the outsourcing agreement but added that a new tender would be launched “in the near future.” Applicants who already lodged files may still collect passports at their original centre. The move follows a broader tightening of Cyprus’s visa practices toward Russian nationals since 2024, including mandatory biometrics and the bearish EU stance on multi-entry visas for Russians. Business-mobility impact is twofold. First, appointment lead times are expected to lengthen because the consulates lack BLS’s nationwide footprint. Second, corporate HR teams must budget for higher travel costs as employees outside the four cities will need to appear in person. Companies with ongoing projects in Cyprus should review start dates for Russian staff and consider alternative talent pools or remote-work arrangements if delays mount. Cyprus remains outside the Schengen Area, so its national visas still allow direct entry even if other EU states refuse Schengen visas to Russian citizens. The embassy said it hopes to restore outsourced services before the September conference season, but no timeline has been set.
Source: Caliber.az
