Has anyone recently applied for a tourist visa to Italy — how long is the wait in Moscow right now? In summer it usually takes 2–3 months, and people say it’s the same now. Is that true? I want to plan the timing for buying tickets.
For tourist visas, the Italian consulate is actually processing faster than other Schengen consulates right now — that’s true. Two to three months in summer — yes, those are the figures. You need to factor that risk in when buying tickets, especially non-refundable ones.
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Timelines are all over the place right now — they say 2–3 months is normal, but at peak it can stretch to 4. Non-refundable tickets are a lottery with those timelines; I’d pick flexible fares or wait to buy until you have the passport in hand.
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Listen, acquaintances in Moscow literally got a tourist visa done in a week, while others in Yekaterinburg have been waiting since June 12. So Moscow is really one of the fastest consulates right now, but 2–3 months is the average estimate you should plan for. I wouldn’t buy non‑refundable tickets for that timeframe — only flexible ones, or wait until you have the passport in hand.
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2–3 months is the average estimate, but timings jump around depending on the region and the summer influx. I wouldn’t rely on non‑refundable tickets at all — the queue for fingerprint appointments can stretch out longer than stated. In theory Moscow is one of the faster consulates, but it’s not guaranteed you’ll get in within those two months.
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The variation between cities is real — Moscow is one of the quicker ones, that’s true, but in summer (June–August) it’s still peak season and the queues crawl. It’s sensible to plan for three months, and only use flexible fares — with your passport and visa in hand, that’s when to buy the tickets.
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