South Africa Adds Seven Countries To Its Visa-Free Travel List

The South African government on Wednesday announced it has added seven countries to its visa-free travel list. This brings the total number of countries enjoying visa-free travel to South Africa to 75, reported Africa News.

The announcement was made by Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi when he presented his department’s budget before the Parliament members on Wednesday.

The seven countries whose nationals will now be permitted to enter South Africa visa-free are Ghana, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, and Sao Tome and Principe.

Motsoaledi said the government’s decision to relax visa requirements for entry into South Africa will boost tourism in the country and tourism is very important for job creation. He said out of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa-free status to 75 countries and of these 16 are in the African continent and are SADC members and 59 are from all over the world.

Mr. Motsoaledi said his office will immediately enter into discussions with the respective countries about how a visa-free regime will work. He also announced that plans for a new online visa application system are well underway.

“The President has announced in the SONA in both February and June that we will accelerate the implementation of the e-visa system,” Mr. Motsoaledi said while addressing the National Assembly. “E-visa will make it easier for tourists to visit, and for companies to acquire employees with critical skills. It will be an online application with a risk-based adjudication and issuance of your visa electronically as opposed to a hard copy. On receiving the electronic message by email, you just continue straight to your airport and head on to South Africa.”

The minister added that discussions will also be held for countries like China, India, and Nigeria.