The Embassy of Ukraine today announced the opening of two new visa application centres in Saudi Arabia in partnership with VFS Global, an outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide.

In a joint statement, VFS Global and the Embassy said that both the centres – in Riyadh and Jeddah –  have started accepting visa application submissions for processing both short-term and long-term visas to Ukraine.

Head of consular section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, Yurii Tereschenko, said: “The new visa application centres have been opened in the light of increasing number of travellers to Ukraine from Saudi Arabia. The centres will considerably ease the visa application process providing streamlined service to expatriates from the kingdom wishing to travel to Ukraine for both tourism and business purposes.”

The inauguration of the centre was done in the presence of Serhii Pushkarsky, deputy head of Mission and Bohdan Kostiuk, consular assistant of the Embassy of Ukraine.

The opening of the visa application centres follows the VFS Global mandate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Under the terms of the contract, VFS Global is entrusted with the opening of 10 visa application centres in eight countries across the Middle East, Levant region and South Asia.

The VFS Global Ukraine visa application centre in Riyadh is located on the Basement level, 2591, Al Hada District, besides the Courtyard Marriot Hotel. In Jeddah, the centre is located at the Ground Floor of Al Etimad Visa Centre, TasHeel Commercial Plaza on Suwaid Bin Sakher Street, off Jundub Bin Kaab Street (Off Prince Sultan Street), Al Mohammadiya District 1.

Commenting on the launch, Vinay Malhotra, regional group COO for Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global, said: “We are confident that the opening of the Ukraine visa application centre in Saudi Arabia will help catalyse travel to the East European country from the kingdom. Increasingly, Ukraine is a sought after destination for expatriate tourists as well as the business fraternity of Saudi Arabia and we are committed to providing them with excellent and seamless service.”

The visa application centre is managed by professionals who are trained to provide secure and time-efficient processing of entry permit requirements in a friendly ambience. Applicants can also opt for the comfort of a Premium Lounge for more personalised service. - TradeArabia News Service