10 July 2019

The Minister of Home Affairs in South Africa, Hon Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announces Visa free countries.

In his speech on the occasion of the budget vote:

“While Home Affairs Department core mandate is issuing identification, we also contribute significantly to economic growth.

We do this by making life easier for our sister Departments such as Tourism to boast their tourism figures. Tourism will soar if we relax visa requirements for entry into South Africa. We know that Tourism is very important for job creation.

Out of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa – free status to 75 countries. Of these 16 are in our continent and are SADC members and 59 are from all over the world.

Today, we wish to announce an addition to our visa – free countries.

These are:

• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
• New Zealand
• Saudi Arabia
• Cuba
• Ghana
• Sao Tome and Principe

We will immediately enter into discussions with them about how a visa-free regime will work. We still have some homework to do for 3 countries whose combined populations make up close to 30% of the world’s population i.e. China, India and Nigeria.

While we are busy tackling the matter of the three countries. For now we shall this financial year, increase 2½ times the number of people who work for Home Affairs to process visas in both China and India. We shall increase 2 times the number of people who process visas to our country in Nigeria.”

This will drive tourism and make the process to travel to South Africa a much simple one.