In the past, anyone travelling with an Italian, South Korean, Spanish, German, American or British passport were allowed to enter South Africa visa-free. Now, amid their status as ‘high-risk’ countries due to the coronavirus pandemic, these passport-holders will be required to apply for a visa, according to Tourism Update.
In a statement at a media briefing held on Monday 16 March, Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, said: ‘It is through these visa applications that we will be able to control their movement in and out of the country.’
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday 15 March that a travel ban on eight high-risk international countries has been implemented. He also stated that Chinese and Iranian nationals would have their existing visas revoked and that no further applications would be processed.
‘Between January and February we had issued 8,389 visas to China and they will be revoked immediately. In the same period, we issued 429 visas to Iran and they will be revoked as well,’ said Motsoaledi.
Medium-risk countries such as Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore all require visas to enter the country. High-intensity screenings would also be required.
Motsoaledi also said that people who are in the country on study or work visas will not be affected. ‘Things will only change if they want to go home to one of the countries identified as high risk,’ he said.
The end date for the bans has not been stipulated. Ramaphosa has however ensured that the bans will be regularly revised in accordance with risk factors and whether these factors change or not.
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