"Newcomers are given a short visa — 15-30 days." Belarusians share how Italy is now issuing visas

Difficulties with Italian visas began after it became known that the Russian citizen suspected of sabotage at Leipzig airport received an Italian visa precisely at the embassy in Minsk. Previously, Italy was considered one of the most favorable countries for issuing multiple-entry long-term visas to Belarusians.

Registration for the VFS waiting list has been suspended since September 15. However, those who were previously registered on the waiting list continue to be served. And these are tens of thousands of people.

New applications are now accepted only from tour agencies.

One of the visa assistants shared his observations from the last week of one consul's work. He notes that now, with rare exceptions, the maximum period for which visas are issued is one year.

Out of 12 cases, a two-year visa was issued only once. "And that was a special case: an invitation plus a substantial amount in the account and an Italian visa history," the specialist clarifies.

Two other individuals, who previously had two-year Italian visas, were now issued one-year visas.

This was also the case when a person previously had three Italian visas (for six months, one year, two years) and a full package of confirmations of visits to that country.

Other people with an Italian visa history, but not as extensive, in most cases received a multiple-entry visa for three months and 30 days of stay.

A family that previously had one-year visas for Hungary, Poland, and Spain received a visa for six months and 90 days of stay.

"Accommodation reservation and insurance hardly affect the term. Accommodation reservation is mostly unpaid, and this did not prevent getting [a visa for] 6 months or more," writes the assistant.

As for visa newcomers, they are given short visas for 15-30 days (multiple-entry or single-entry).

In the comments under the post, people began to share their experiences. For example, one user recently received a new visa for only six months after a two-year visa.

A woman who applied on September 17 shared that after a two-year Italian visa, her new one was issued for 15 days of stay. At the same time, she claims, all documents were in perfect order: photos, bank statements, hotel bookings.

Another Belarusian woman has been traveling to Italy by invitation from her daughter since 2012 and spends five weeks there every year. She wrote that she was now given a visa for 21 days, which even caused her return flight ticket to be forfeited.

Павялічыць

Another person wrote that after a three-month visa received last year, she was granted a six-month visa this September.

Comments also suggest that the outcome depends on the consul, with some claiming one issues visas more generously than another.

However, the overall situation is that after the incident in Leipzig, long-term visas for a year or more have become much rarer.

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