With over 15,000 athletes (Olympic and Paralympic) competing in 32 sports, representing 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), drawing nearly 26,000 accredited journalists and 15 million visitors from around the world, the Paris 2024 Olympics promises to be a spectacle! If you haven’t been to previous editions of the Olympics, now is your chance to finally be a part of something wonderful. On the other hand, if you have, you wouldn’t want to miss this year’s competition.
However, you’ll need to have every necessary detail in place, such as securing your visa for the Paris 2024 Olympics, to be in the stance for every game. The good news is that obtaining a France visa from Nigeria is very possible and a not-so tedious process. In this post, we will show you how to secure your visa for Paris 2024 Olympics, the conditions and the necessary steps you need to take.
Where Will The Paris 2024 Olympics Take Place?
The Paris 2024 Olympics will be held in Paris, France. The games will occur across 15 Olympic and 11 Paralympic sites, extending beyond the Paris perimeter to suburbs like as Seine-et-Marne to Seine-St-Denis and Les Yvelines and Hauts-de-Seine. Specific events like football, handball, basketball and sailing will take place in Bordeaux, St-Etienne, Nantes, Lyon, Nice and Marseille. However, the surfing competition is scheduled to hold in the overseas territory of Tahiti.
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When is the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Taking Place?
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games is built to take place between July 26 and August 11, 2024 with the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games right after, from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
What Documents Do I Need For My Visit To The Paris 2024 Olympics?
If you are a holder of American, British Canadian and (of course) EU passports, you can travel to France for the Paris 2024 Olympics. You can go visa-free if your stay is less than 90 days (which is less than the stipulated duration of the Olympics). However, if you’re not from any of these countries or don’t have their visas, you can check the Paris clever portal called the “visa wizard” to confirm if you need a visa for your visit, and the all the necessary travel documents you’ll need to bring.
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France Visa Requirements
Before applying for a France visa from Nigeria, you’ll need to get a number of documents to prove your identity, including your financial situation, and your travel plans (which in this case, is the Paris 2024 Olympics). Some common documents required for France visa include the following:
- Valid Nigerian Passport: You must have a valid passport of at least three months beyond the date you plan on leaving France.
- Two Recent Passport-Size Photographs: They must be taken against a white background revealing your face clearly.
- A Signed Visa Application Form: You can get the form by downloading it from the French Embassy website in Nigeria.
- Proof of Financial Means: This include bank pay slips, statements, or a letter from an employer. You’ll also need to prove that you have enough money to cover your expenses during your stay in France.
- Travel Itinerary: You will need to provide detailed information regarding your travel plans, including your hotel, flight, and other reservations.
- Medical Insurance: You’ll be required to provide evidence of medical insurance that covers the whole duration of your stay in France.
- Proof of Accommodation: You’ll need to provide evidence of your accommodation while you’re in France; this can be in the form of hotel bookings or an invitation letter from the host.
Visa Fees
The cost of a France visa service fee can range anywhere between 85,000-90,000 NGN. However, you may need to pay about 150,000 to 160,000 NGN to get a digital nomad visa. Also note that you’ll also need to pay an additional fee to the visa application center which may vary.
Processing Time
The processing time for a France visa from Nigeria typically vary depending on the time of year and the volume of applications. However, you can get your pre-check document within 24 hours. Then, you’ll also need to submit your document at the embassy. The embassy can take 10-20 days to issue a valid visa.
Note that if your application has mistakes or is incomplete, the embassy will most likely delay your visa. Therefore, ensure you review your application twice before submitting. Also, make sure to complete all entry requirements to avoid complications on your arrival.
Where To Buy Tickets For The Paris 2024 Olympics?
If you haven’t bought your tickets to the Paris 2024 games, you’ll need to register and create an account on the games’ official site. Note that all ticket sales will now sell through a single portal. Organizers warn against buying tickets outside the main ticketing site, else you run the risk of being denied entry. Besides, unauthorized ticket resales is a criminal offense under French law.
Currently, there are three phases of ticket sales. The first two are lottery-based sales which requires early registration. Round three opens in early July but on a first-come, first-serve basis for four events scheduled to take place outside of Paris including basketball and handball (Lille); football (Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes Nice, St-Etienne) and sailing (Marseille).
Originally scheduled to take place in 2023, the sales phase was pulled forward as a result of higher-than-expected demand. According to the organizers, over half of the 10 million tickets available were clinched in the preceding two rounds.
Remember that a resale platform will also open in the summer of 2024, so if you weren’t able to acquire tickets to your preferred event, you might still have the chance to.
This year’s Olympics will also witness four new additional events added to the games roster, including skateboarding, sport climbing, breaking and surfing.
If you’re traveling in a large group, beware that the ticketing system only allows you to purchase a maximum of six tickets per online session – though you’re allowed to max out at 30 tickets per account. However, ticket prices vary according to category, sport and tournament round, starting at a minimum of €24 and topping out at over €980. The tickets for the Paralympic Games started selling since October 9, 2023 and are sold in real time on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Final Thoughts
Securing your visa & ticket for Paris 2024 Olympics can be a tedious process but is definitely worth it. This year’s events promises to be spectacular considering the fact that talented athletes from all over Nigeria will be in contention. So it wouldn’t be a bad idea to procure your tickets now for the mondial.
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