The Consulate General of Spain in Moscow has resumed accepting visa applications, reversing a temporary suspension that had caused concern among potential travelers. The announcement of the resumption comes after a period of uncertainty following a notification on the BLS Visa Application Center website stating the acceptance of documents was suspended “until further notice”.

The BLS Visa Application Center has clarified that appointments to submit documents are free of charge. Applicants should be aware that the processing time for applications may take up to 45 days.

The temporary suspension, announced on September 13 and attributed to technical reasons, had fueled speculation, especially in light of reports that the European Commission was considering stricter visa policies for Russians.

Despite these concerns, Spain, along with France and Italy, remains a leading issuer of Schengen visas to Russian citizens. In 2024, Spain issued 111,500 visas, marking an increase of 15,000 compared to the previous year. Italy issued the most with 152,200 visas, and France followed with 123,900.