In order to help promote tourism to the country,South Africa(SA) decided on finalising a number of visa waiver agreements with other countries,permitting travellers to go to the country without a visa. This announcement was made by the minister of Home affairs,Mausi Gigaba on Tuesday in Pretoria.
Citizens from countries which will now no longer require a visa to travel to SA includes Algeria, Egypt,Morocco, Ghana, United Arab Emirates, Qatar,Iran,Lebanon, the state of Palestine, Belarus, Georgia and Cuba.
These countries will join the Uk, US, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Australia, Brazil and Canada whose citizens already have visa waiver agreements.
Gigaba said “we have implemented a visa waiver for all citizens of the Russian federation and Angola on 1st April 2017 and 1st December 2017,respectively, to travel to SA without having to apply for a visa”.
Despite being part of the top 10 overseas tourism market,nationals from China and India still require visa to visit SA. Gigaba,however, said his department is simplifying visa requirements for these countries.
Prior to the above, the date for the commencement of the visa waiver agreements has been finalised.
Based on the meeting they had in October 2018,it was noted that the visa waiver agreements commences in February 2019.Hence individuals from countries such as,Ghana,Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, united Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, Lebanon, the state of Palestine, Belarus, Georgia and Cuba will no longer need or require visas to go to south Africa starting February 2019.
Furthermore, this visa waiver agreements will include biometrics taking on arrival in SA,which will help the speeding up of getting through customs for tourist from China and India as well as permitting visa applications through courier and the issuing of five -years multiple entry visas.
