The South African Cabinet has agreed to amend the immigration regulations, so that, within the next three months, travel to South Africa will be made easier.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will accept visa applications by post from countries that require a visa to visit South Africa, but which do not have a South African consulate or embassy. Recommendations for accredited travel agents to make visa applications for their clients have also been approved by Cabinet.
The DHA will capture and implement biometrics of travellers, including fingerprints and photos, on arrival at ports of entry, dispensing with the need to apply for visas in person. OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, King Shaka International Airport in Durban and Cape Town International Airport will serve as pilot sites to begin with.
As regards in-bound child travel, where visas are required, submission of original birth certificates or certified copies of the required documents will still be required during the visa application process. For visa-exempt countries, travellers are strongly advised to carry proof of the relationship and consent from the absent parents or guardians. South Africans under the age of 18 still need to travel with an unabridged birth certificate.
The DHA is also considering the introduction of an Accredited Tourism Company (ATC) Programme, initially for countries such as China, India and Russia. These companies will be able to make visa applications on behalf of their clients, thus addressing the issue of tourists having to travel long distances to apply for their visas.
For more details please visit the DHA website.
