THE UK and France have
both made changes to
their visa policies and
procedures, which will make
it easier for South Africans
applying for visas.
As of December 1, South
African nationals who hold
a valid visa for Australia,
Canada, New Zealand or the
USA will be able to use them
to transit airside via the UK to
anywhere in the world without
obtaining a Direct Airside
Transit Visa.
Travellers who hold visas to
these countries can transit
the UK (airside) given that
they provide an expanded
list of exemption documents
in place of a Direct Airside
Transit Visa.
The criteria are that the
traveller:
must arrive and depart by
air from the same UK airport
and on the same day to
another country outside the
Common Travel Area1 (i.e. a
travel zone that comprises
the United Kingdom, Channel
Islands, Isle of Man and
Republic of Ireland);
is properly documented for
your onward destination;
holds a valid exemption
document in accordance
with one of the following:
– residence permit or visa that
allows entry to Australia,
Canada, New Zealand or the
United States of America,
regardless of their route and
final destination,
– an EEA or Swiss category
D visa or residence permit,
regardless of their route and
final destination,
– an Irish biometric visa,
regardless of their route and
final destination.
In addition, the United
Kingdom made changes
recently to its transit visa
policy, which is positive news
for South Africans. The direct
airside transit visa fee was
reduced to £30 (R536) in
October this year, and its
routine validity was extended
to two years.
Different rules apply to
Landside Transit Visas where
en route restrictions do apply
to the exemption document
criteria. Landside Transit
refers to passengers who
arrive at one airport but are
catching an onward flight
from another UK airport or
who have to pass through UK
immigration to collect and
re-check baggage before their
onward journey, and therefore
need to enter the UK.
France
Meanwhile, South African
applicants who wish to apply
for short- or long-stay visas
for France, regardless of their
residence address, may apply
at any of the three Capargo
premises, the company in
charge of data collection, in
Johannesburg, Durban and
Cape Town.
Visas will then be processed
and issued by one of the
two French consulates in
Johannesburg or Cape Town.
In the past, applicants
were restricted to applying
at centres that fell within
their region of residence.
By giving the choice of the
visa applications location,
the French authorities want
to better facilitate the visa
process for South Africans.
