Regulations that require people applying for visas to South Africa to apply in person and submit biometric information are not going to be changed, according to Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba.
“We are not going to change that decision. That regulation is going to be implemented without any consideration of a change of heart or mind on our part,” said Gigaba. “What we need to do is pay attention to the implementation measures that are going to give effect to the implementation of these regulations to ensure that we do not inconvenience the applicants.”
Gigaba was speaking at the official launch of the Visa and Permit Facilitation Centres in Johannesburg. This comes after the Department of Home Affairs appointed Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) Global to facilitate the application, extension, renewal or change of visas and permits for non-South Africans. Eleven centres have been established in all nine provinces across the country.
According to Gigaba, the department was open to discussions on the challenges around the implementation of the regulations. However, he said the security of the country could not be compromised and would not be up for discussion. “Certainly the requirement of people visiting South Africa to give us their biometrics will not be up for discussion.”
Gigaba said the department was ready to discuss the implementation of other regulations, including the requirement that parents produce an unabridged birth certificate when they are travelling with children or that people produce an additional affidavit from the parent(s) if both parents are not travelling with the child. “South Africa has international obligations in terms of the campaign against child pornography, child smuggling and child trafficking,” he said. “If we compromise on these things, we would be turning our backs against the world.”
Gigaba said the regulations have been introduced to ensure the safety of South Africans as well as foreign nationals inside the country.
He added that the department would continue to engage VFS Global about expanding its services at visa facilitation centres established outside the country, especially in countries that send SA high volumes of tourists and investors, including China and India. “This is to ensure that we are able to process speedily and conveniently their applications.”
He said it was possible to expand these services because the cost of establishing these centres were borne by the company, which recouped the investment with the fees it charged for its services. Responding to a question from the media, Gigaba said there were no timelines for when these services would be expanded.
Have you had any cancellations following the introduction of the new regulations? Let us know by emailing editor@tourismupdate.co.za as we would like to follow this up.