Starting September 15, the visa center (VFS BY), in coordination with the Embassy of Italy in Belarus, has suspended the registration of new applicants on the waiting list. "Application intake is frozen until further notice," the center's website states. According to the Republican Union of Tourism Organizations (РСТО), the changes do not affect everyone: tour operators continue to collect and submit tourists' documents for Italian visas in the usual manner.

Recall that earlier it was reported about changes for tourists. The measure was described as forced; the visa center is awaiting new instructions from the diplomatic mission, with no reasons given. Information about the resumption of registration will appear on the official website.

At the same time, for those who have already joined the queue, nothing changes: all applications remain valid. As soon as free dates become available, a notification will be sent to the email address provided during registration. Travelers are advised to regularly check their inbox, including the spam folder.

Applicants are asked to monitor news on the website and not to submit duplicate requests. Attempts to duplicate the inquiry will not help advance in the queue nor speed up obtaining a date for document submission.

Added

According to the Republican Union of Tourism Organizations, the changes concern tourists who submit documents for Italian visas individually.

"Companies that are bus operators on the Italy route and accredited at the Italian Embassy report that, at present, nothing has changed for anyone planning to travel on tours through tour operators. Travel agencies continue to collect, verify, and submit documents in the normal routine," the statement on the РСТО website says.

It is also reported that a meeting of accredited travel agencies with representatives of the visa center and the Embassy of Italy in Belarus is scheduled for Monday. It is planned to discuss possible changes regarding quotas and the document submission procedure.