A five-year multiple entry visa for business visitors has been introduced by South Africa to make travel between South Africa and Nigeria easier. The goal of this program, which was disclosed by South Africa’s consul general in Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, is to expedite the visa application process and cut down on processing periods to no more than seven or eight days. Additionally, the embassy has put in place systems that let candidates apply and get updates even when they’re traveling overseas. The consulate also provides assistance for travel via South Africa to other nations, such as Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Moroe pointed out that Trade volume between Nigeria and South Africa is skewed heavily in Nigeria’s favour, with roughly $72.1 billion in Nigerian exports to South Africa, mostly made up of crude oil, rubber, and petroleum, and approximately $447 million in South African exports to Nigeria. South African Airways announced intentions to add additional routes to Perth, Australia, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as expand the number of flights from Lagos to five times per week.
This visa is intended to simplify the application procedure.
To promote travel between South Africa and Nigeria, South Africa has instituted a five-year multiple entry visa for business travellers. This visa is intended to simplify the application procedure and drastically cut the turnaround time to a maximum of seven to eight days. It was announced by Bobby Moroe, Consul-General of South Africa to Nigeria, during the July Breakfast Meeting of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce in 2024. Applications can now be submitted and updates can be received even when going overseas thanks to mechanisms the consulate has put in place.
One Nigerian tech entrepreneur who has profited from this new approach is Adebola Williams. Williams has experienced drawn-out visa application procedures in the past and travels to South Africa regularly for conferences and business engagements. He can finally plan his travels without worrying about having to reapply for a visa because of the new five-year multiple entry visa. There is a significant imbalance in trade volume between South Africa and Nigeria, largely favouring Nigeria. Rubber, petroleum, and crude oil make up the majority of Nigeria’s $72.1 billion in exports to South Africa.
More South African firms might investigate opportunities in Nig.
As an example, South Africa’s exports to Nigeria are worth at approximately $447 million, of which $43.2 million comes from the sale of apples and pears alone. The trade gap indicates the possibility of more South African exports to Nigeria, according to trade specialist Dr. Kwame Nkosi. We predict that more South African companies will investigate opportunities in Nigeria as a result of the new visa regime, which could balance the dynamics of trade.” It was stated by South African Airways (SAA) that beginning in late October 2024, there will be five weekly flights from Lagos.
Also, the Airline improved connection for passengers by adding new flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Perth, Australia. The country manager of South African Airways, Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, expressed enthusiasm about the additional destinations and more frequent flight schedule. She added, “This expansion is expected to boost travel convenience for our passengers, contributing positively to business and tourism.” Travel and bilateral trade between South Africa and Nigeria are anticipated to be greatly impacted by the introduction of the five-year multiple entry visa and faster visa processing timeframes.
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Stronger economic linkages would result from these actions, which should encourage more Nigerian companies to invest in South Africa and vice versa. Over the next five years, business leaders expect a 20% rise in bilateral trade as a result of simplified immigration procedures. It is also anticipated that tourism would increase as more South Africans take advantage of Nigeria’s varied attractions. According to Nigerian businesswoman Fatima Mohammed, who visits South Africa regularly, “the new visa policy has made my business trips much more manageable, allowing me to focus on expanding my business rather than dealing with visa issues.”