Spanish and Italian visa application centres in Moscow have extended processing times for Russian nationals to 45 and 60 days respectively, according to statements from operators BLS International and AVS. The delays, attributed by the centres to a sharp increase in the volume of applications, mark a further tightening of practical access to the Schengen area for Russian citizens. BLS International, which handles Spanish visas, advised applicants to submit documents well in advance and warned against fraudulent intermediaries offering paid appointments or accelerated processing. Italian operator AVS similarly recommended filing at least three months before intended travel. Industry sources in Russia note that available appointment slots for Spanish visas are rapidly exhausted, with the next batch of openings expected imminently.

Viewed from Moscow, the lengthening queues reflect sustained demand for European travel despite a more restrictive visa environment. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia reports that Italy, Spain and France remain the most sought-after Schengen destinations, with Italian visa approval rates holding above 90 percent. However, the suspension of the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement in late 2022 has already increased standard visa fees from €35 to €80 and extended maximum processing times. The closure of Cyprus’s visa centres in Russia in June, following the expiry of a contract with BLS International, has further narrowed the consular footprint, limiting applications to diplomatic missions in four cities.

In a parallel development, Spain is concluding a mass regularisation programme for undocumented migrants already on its territory. According to NGOs and union officials cited by Reuters, more than 1.2 million applications had been filed by late June, nearly double the government’s initial estimate. Organisations including CEAR and Cepaim are conducting a final push to submit incomplete dossiers before the 30 June deadline, advising migrants that missing documents can be provided later. The process has exposed bureaucratic hurdles for nationals of countries such as Iran, Mali and Venezuela, where obtaining apostilled certificates or consular records has proven difficult. Some NGOs have reported technical problems with the application platform in the final hours.

Analysts in Madrid note that the two trends — slower visa issuance for Russians and a large-scale regularisation of undocumented residents — illustrate the divergent pressures on Spain’s migration apparatus. While the EU-wide suspension of visa facilitation for Russia has increased administrative burdens for short-stay applicants, Spain’s domestic regularisation initiative reflects a broader effort to integrate an estimated 840,000 off-the-books workers. The Migration Ministry has stated it does not plan to extend the regularisation deadline, though NGOs argue that a permanent mechanism is needed to prevent migrants from spending years in irregular status. The programme’s outcome will be measured by the rejection rate, which some organisations fear could reach 20 percent due to incomplete paperwork and limited administrative flexibility.