South Africa Eases Visa Rules for Nigerians: Five-Year Visas and Simplified Processes Unveiled

South Africa has announced significant reforms to its visa policies for Nigerians, streamlining processes to encourage tourism and facilitate business travel. The changes were revealed by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Cape Town, attended by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.

The new measures include five-year multiple-entry visas for qualifying Nigerian businesspeople and the ability for tourists to apply for visas without submitting a passport. According to President Ramaphosa, these changes aim to create a favorable environment for increased travel and investment.

“Our efforts to create a favorable environment include our simplified visa process for Nigerian business people to travel to South Africa,” he said.

Marking three decades of diplomatic relations, the two countries are committed to strengthening ties. South Africa hosts numerous Nigerian businesses, and South African companies have a significant presence in Nigeria.

“There is much more we need to do,” Ramaphosa noted. “We need to remove the remaining constraints to greater investment and address challenges faced by companies in both countries.”

The reforms are expected to pave the way for enhanced bilateral trade, investment, and tourism. South Africa also looks forward to welcoming more Nigerian companies to its market.

President Ramaphosa also highlighted South Africa’s upcoming G20 presidency in 2025, promising to champion the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and ensure inclusive development for the Global South.

“It will be the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held on African soil,” he said.

These visa reforms reflect South Africa’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with Nigeria and the broader African continent. As barriers to travel and investment are lowered, the potential for meaningful economic collaboration grows, paving the way for a prosperous future for both nations.

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com