By Ogova Ondego
Published June 20, 2015
Indian nationals visiting South Africa have to undergo in-person biometric visa application with effect from June 1, 2015.
Travellers who arrive in South Africa without the required documentation, South African Airways says on its website, can be detained or deported immediately.
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Like every other traveller, Indian nationals travelling with minors, i.e. children under 18 years to and from South Africa have to bring along the children’s unabridged birth certificates reflecting the particulars of the parents of the children. The document “is not required for passengers remaining in transit, unless s/he requires a transit visa.”
Expressing fear that South Africa could experience a dip in Indian tourist arrivals, Thulani Nzima, Chief Executive Officer of South Africa Tourism, is quoted by Tourism Breaking News of India on on May 19, 2015 as having said: “Home Affairs is concerned about the security of the state and protection of children. Our job is to market South Africa as a leisure and business destination. So when they introduced new rules that include these two specifications among others, it became a problem for us….one of the things our tourism minister will question is whether there is a need between South Africa and India to have visas at all, or perhaps visa on arrival.”
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