THE Consulate
General of Angola in
Johannesburg has warned
that immigration will
be clamping down on
business travellers who
try to pass as tourists to
obtain a tourism visa on
arrival rather than apply
for a business visa prior
to travel.
Toward the end of
the year, Mozambique
undertook a similar
clampdown, implementing
fines for businesses
meeting with business
people visiting on tourist
visas.
Jaendre Terblanche,
owner of Visas Zone,
says it makes sense that
business travellers would
take the opportunity to
travel through as tourists.
“Obtaining a tourism visa
on arrival rather than a
business visa beforehand
eliminates the processes
in South Africa, which
are time consuming and
costly,” he explains.
“Business travellers always
have time constraints, so
they might use gaps like
this to their advantage.”
According to Liam
Fletcher, director of Simply
Visa, another reason why
business travellers may go
this route is because a lot
of them struggle to obtain
the documents required to
apply for a business visa.
If there is an influx of
travellers obtaining tourism
visas on arrival, Jaendre
says immigration will likely
pick up on the pattern and
question those who look
suspicious. If immigration
finds business travellers
guilty of trying to pass as
tourists, they can deny
them entry, Jaendre
adds.
Business travellers to Angola – beware!
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