South Africa has announced relaxed visa rules for Nigerian nationals, a move designed to facilitate travel for both business and tourism. In a significant policy shift, President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that Nigerian tourists can now apply for South African visas without the need to submit their passports, while Nigerian businesspeople can access five-year multiple-entry visas.
These reforms are part of South Africa’s broader efforts to foster a better business environment and eliminate barriers to investment, addressing challenges faced by companies in both countries.
Historically, Nigerians seeking South African visas faced delays that sometimes left their passports stuck at the embassy, preventing travel to other destinations. This new development means applicants can now travel to other countries while waiting for their South African visa processing. The introduction of five-year multiple-entry visas also offers Nigerian travellers more flexibility, allowing them to enter and exit South Africa multiple times within the visa’s validity period.
In the past, many Nigerians had expressed frustration with visa denials despite meeting the requirements, with frequent delays pushing wait times well beyond the standard 10 to 15 days. Some applicants, including students, investors, and tourists, had been denied visas even after fulfilling all necessary criteria.
This situation had a tangible impact on air travel, with Air Peace suspending flights to Johannesburg in 2022 due to visa approval delays. The airline resumed operations but reduced its seating capacity, opting for smaller aircraft, a move linked to the high rate of visa denials. Similarly, South African Airways had reduced its flight frequency to Nigeria post-COVID-19, with the number of travellers sharply declining.
Travel experts are hopeful that the new reforms will reverse these trends and lead to an increase in flight frequencies between Nigeria and South Africa. Olumide Ohunayo, a travel industry analyst, anticipates that more Nigerian airlines will resume services to South Africa, encouraging a greater number of tourists and business travellers. He also noted that the reforms could make travel to destinations like Australia and New Zealand cheaper and faster.
Seyi Adewale, CEO of Mainstream Cargo Limited, suggested that the policy changes would enhance trade cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, offering Nigerian businesses fairer opportunities to operate within South Africa. He also pointed out that the reforms could help mitigate xenophobic attitudes and attacks on Nigerians, promoting a more cooperative relationship between the two nations.
While the new visa rules are a step forward, travellers are still required to meet several conditions, including having a valid passport, sufficient funds for their stay, a return ticket, and a yellow fever certificate if applicable. These reforms signal a promising new chapter in Nigerian-South African relations, offering enhanced travel and business prospects for both nations.
