NEWSFLASH – NOVEMBER 2015

Download Newsflash – NOVEMBER

Angolan Visas

The Angolan embassy has confirmed that its visa application process remains the same, whereby applicants need to physically visit the Angolan embassy to apply for a visa. This comes after some visa centres were advising agents that Angolan visas had to be applied for and paid for online, where a form needed to be completed and submitted with assisting documents to one of the embassies in either Johannesburg or Pretoria. Thereafter the applicant would be called in to take fingerprints on collection.

Multi Currency Solution to Launch in Kenya

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Planet Payment a provider of international and multi-currency transaction services, will launch Pay In Your Currency (PYC) in Kenya in the first quarter of 2016. The conversion solution enables international visitors using an eligible VISA or Mastercard to pay in their own currency. The solution supports approximately 100 currencies. PYC will be the first currency conversion solution in the region.

Confusion Around Brazilian Transit Visas Persists

South African passport holders do not require a visa when travelling to Brazil. Therefore they do not require a transit visa. SAA has advised that from the 1st of October passengers who are travelling to South America via Brazil now need to obtain a transit visa if they are travelling on separate tickets. However, if they are travelling with an e-ticket that includes their complete itinerary, a transit visa is not required.

SAA Opens New Lounge

SAA has opened a new lounge in the domestic departure area of OR Tambo International Airport. Passengers travelling to local destinations will now be able to enjoy a new, contemporary VIA lounge following its months of extensive refurbishment.

British Airways Offers Discounted Fares

British Airways is offering Johannesburg to Mauritius fares starting from R5 598 return, including all taxes and surcharges. The offer is available immediately for outbound travel between now and the 28th of November with the return flight before the 5th of December.

Information on New Visa Regulations Changes

Embassies to have their biometric information taken and for children travelling in and out of South Africa to produce an unabridged birth certificate, which details the particulars of both the mother and the father of the child. Changes to be implemented by the Department of Home Affairs:

In countries where there is no South African mission, the department of home affairs will accept applications by post. This will apply for tourist and medical visitors only.
Postal applications will see biometrics of travellers, including finger prints and photos, captured on arrival at ports of entry.
Biometric pilot site ports of entry are OR Tambo Airport, King Shaka Airport, Cape Town International Airport.
South African children travelling out of the country will still be required to submit the current child-travel requirements, including a parental consent affidavits as a means to protect the minors. The validity of this affidavit will be extended to no longer than 6 months.
Details of parents will also be printed in passports so that parents whose particulars are printed would therefore not be required to carry the birth certificates.
For inbound travellers, the proof of original birth certificates or certified copies would only be required during the application process, as this is in line with practise in many other countries.
Cabinet also approved changing the term “unabridged birth certificate” to “birth certificate containing parental details”