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Chinese trade to process visa applications – DHA

Source: Tourism Update, 11/12/2015

Accredited tourism companies in China will be able to make visa
applications for their clients, while biometrics will be taken on
arrival.

An accredited tourism company programme, allowing accredited travel
agents and tour operators to make visa applications for their clients,
is expected to be rolled out in China with immediate effect,
Department of Home Affairs Director General, Mkuseli Apleni, told
industry stakeholders on Thursday.

Arrivals from China have shown significant decline since the
introduction of new immigration regulations that required Chinese
nationals to make visa applications in person, although the decline is
also ascribed to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. Before the new
regulations, accredited Chinese agents were able to make visa
applications for their clients, which will allow the system to be
re-implemented immediately.

The biometrics and photos of these travellers will be taken on
arrival.

According to Apleni, the programme will also be rolled out in India
and Russia. However, he said the tourism sectors in these countries
were not as well-regulated as China and the Department of Tourism had
therefore been requested to define the criteria on how to progress
with this objective.

Apleni added that other concessions announced by the Inter-ministerial
Committee in October that had been implemented included the issuance
of long-term multiple-entry visas for a period exceeding three months
and up to three years and the development of biometric capacity at
SA`s major international airports.

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