Visiting Europe could soon be an effortless experience for South Africans, as Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has officially entered into negotiations with the European Union.
Home Affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba, has proposed that EU member states relax visa requirements for South Africa.
He told a media briefing in Pretoria that he wanted reciprocity from these member states, because South Africa had already given them visa exemption when travelling to the country.
“We took a decision last year in South Africa that frequent travellers to our country will be given a three-year multi-entry visa.”
“This is because if somebody is a frequent visitor to the country and spends their money in South Africa, they have not breached our immigration laws.”
“They have not even overstayed on a single occasion, and such people should be able to enjoy the benefits and exemptions, incentives and rewards that recognise the positive contribution they have made to South African society,” Gigaba said.
He said they expected the EU to do the same.
Traveller24 reported that the Minister pointed to the following 6 immigration-related issues in relation to RSA and the EU:
- Information and data sharing in relation to migration
- Multiple-entry visas for SA business people intending to travel to the EU
- Long-term multiple-entry visas for students, academics, trusted travelers and other categories further to be identified
- Reciprocal visa arrangements for diplomatic and official / service passport holders between RSA and the EU
- Work permits for certain categories of South Africans in the EU to address brain-drain and brain-gain
- Future arrangements for visa exemptions for ordinary SA passport holders in the EU
The main aim would be to get all South African passport holders a visa exemption but they would first start with diplomats, officials and students before they expand it.
The time-frame for diplomats, officials and students getting visa exemptions is before the end of the year.
For the rest of the country, they are looking at March next year.
Photo Credit: Mountain Leon – https://mountainleon.com/
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