French Consulate in Ukraine issued 2,500 visas to soccer fans going to Euro 2016

France has issued 13,000 visas to citizens of Ukraine since year to date, including 2,500 visas specifically for soccer fans who have provided documents to the Visa Section of the Embassy of France in Ukraine to attend the European Football Championship Euro 2016, French foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal told Ukrinforms own correspondent in France in his comments on the progress of visa issuance to Ukrainian fans. 

"The Visa Section of the Embassy of France in Ukraine is extremely overloaded due to the approaching Euro2016. In connection with this fact we have added additional staff. We have issued 13,000 visas year to date, including 2,500 visas especially for this championship," said the diplomat.

He noted the French Embassy in Ukraine has requested the Ukrainian fans to apply beforehand by starting the process in April. "Our embassy has asked [soccer] fans to apply for visas starting from April. Visa application submitted by ticket owners for Euro2016 are considered in a priority mode," said Nadal.

Ukrinform's diplomatic sources in France have denied they have showed bias towards Ukrainian fans who have applied for French visas to attend Euro2016 games.

tl