• Since the start of the war in Ukraine, 1.5 million people have left the country.

  • Several hundred have attempted to reach relatives or family in Britain.

  • Half of them were turned back for failing to show up with a visa to make the crossing.

Administrative confusion.

Since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine, more than 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled their country.

While most remain in neighboring countries, others try to join family or relatives in Europe, particularly in Great Britain.

But to cross the Channel, the British authorities require a visa that several hundred refugees did not have time to obtain before arriving in Calais.

According to figures from the Pas-de-Calais prefecture, 517 Ukrainians have arrived at the border with Great Britain since February 28.

Arrived at the port of Calais or at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Coquelles, 250 were prevented from boarding because they had not obtained a visa beforehand.

Visas are issued in Brussels or Paris

In fact, the British authorities do not refuse to issue visas to Ukrainian citizens who request them.

The problem is that visa applications cannot be made on site.

“This situation is not realistic because it forces people, already exhausted by their long and painful journey, to go to Paris or Brussels”, deplores the representative of the State in Pas-de-Calais.

If a team of advice from the British immigration services was dispatched to Calais, no visa was however issued on the spot despite the insistence of the French government through the voice of the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin.

These officials are there only to help the Ukrainians in their efforts.

Among the Ukrainian refugees stranded in Calais, 136 find themselves in an even more complicated situation since they fled their country without any means of payment.

They have been temporarily housed at the town's youth hostel and will have to wait there until they find a way to get to an embassy or until Britain relaxes its arrangements.

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  • Britain

  • War in Ukraine

  • Refugees

  • Society

  • Calais

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