The Russian press agency AKM has published the consolidated holiday schedule for EU visa-application centres, confirming that all Italian VACs in Russia will be closed on 31 December and will not reopen until 2 January 2026. Centres in Moscow, St Petersburg and regional cities processed final appointments on 30 December.
The closure coincides with Russia’s extended New Year public holiday and affects Schengen short-stay as well as national long-stay (D-type) visa applicants. Biometric submissions and passport pick-ups are suspended, and courier return of issued visas will resume only after 2 January. Applicants with imminent travel dates must factor in the blackout and, if necessary, re-book flights or obtain emergency appointments in third-country VACs.
Travellers who find themselves caught by the shutdown can turn to VisaHQ for assistance; the platform’s Italy desk can pre-check documentation, flag missing items and help secure appointments in alternative jurisdictions where centres remain open. Up-to-date guidance on all Italian visa categories is available at https://www.visahq.com/italy/.
![Italian visa centres in Russia close on 31 December; applicants urged to plan around holiday shutdown]()
For Italian universities onboarding January-intake students and employers awaiting seasonal workers under the 2026 quota, the shutdown could push arrivals into mid-January. Mobility teams should verify that invitation letters and nulla osta documents remain within validity windows; if not, refresh them to avoid re-application.
The consular section of the Italian Embassy in Moscow reminds travellers that 11 January marks the start of mandatory fingerprinting for long-stay visas, potentially lengthening appointment slots when VACs reopen. Early-morning bookings are recommended to avoid same-day capacity caps.
Although routine, the holiday closures highlight the importance of aligning mobility timelines with local calendar realities—especially in markets where religious and civil holidays create multi-day office shutdowns.
The closure coincides with Russia’s extended New Year public holiday and affects Schengen short-stay as well as national long-stay (D-type) visa applicants. Biometric submissions and passport pick-ups are suspended, and courier return of issued visas will resume only after 2 January. Applicants with imminent travel dates must factor in the blackout and, if necessary, re-book flights or obtain emergency appointments in third-country VACs.
Travellers who find themselves caught by the shutdown can turn to VisaHQ for assistance; the platform’s Italy desk can pre-check documentation, flag missing items and help secure appointments in alternative jurisdictions where centres remain open. Up-to-date guidance on all Italian visa categories is available at https://www.visahq.com/italy/.
For Italian universities onboarding January-intake students and employers awaiting seasonal workers under the 2026 quota, the shutdown could push arrivals into mid-January. Mobility teams should verify that invitation letters and nulla osta documents remain within validity windows; if not, refresh them to avoid re-application.
The consular section of the Italian Embassy in Moscow reminds travellers that 11 January marks the start of mandatory fingerprinting for long-stay visas, potentially lengthening appointment slots when VACs reopen. Early-morning bookings are recommended to avoid same-day capacity caps.
Although routine, the holiday closures highlight the importance of aligning mobility timelines with local calendar realities—especially in markets where religious and civil holidays create multi-day office shutdowns.
