African countries tightening their visa requirements - Here's how to navigate your business travel

Source: Traveller 24, 05/10/2016

South African business travellers beware: countries on the continent
are tightening their requirements for business visas.
African countries are now often requiring not only a letter of
invitation and an itinerary‚ but also proof of company registration‚
bank-account statements‚ tax-clearance certificates and a minimum bank
balance.


"Contrary to popular belief‚ countries are getting stricter in terms
of their requirements.


Two‚ three years ago you could get away with the minimum. Now they are
really strict‚" says Raylene Pienaar‚ general manager of Corporate
Traveller‚ one of South Africa`s top travel
Pienaar says while South Africans do not require business visas for
many countries – and especially those within the South African
Development Community – those requiring permits are becoming more
demanding.


Apart from a written invitation from a local company‚ South African
passport holders also need to provide a letter from their company in
South Africa‚ a certificate of incorporation and three months` bank
statements‚ reflecting a balance of at least R18‚000.


"They`re also very particular about the documentation. So‚ for
example‚ to visit Nigeria‚ Angola and Ghana‚ you cannot just have any
letter of invitation. It needs to be very specific. The addressee is
specific and the name on the invitation has to be exactly the same as
what`s in the traveller`s passport. For example‚ if your name is
William but everybody calls you Bill‚ the invitation has to be
addressed to William‚" says Pienaar.


Some countries also require all documents to be translated into the
local language‚ while still others require a tax-clearance certificate
in addition to the other paperwork. Foreigners working for South
African companies need to produce a residence or work permit valid for
at least six months‚ she adds.


"If there's not a six-month validity period‚ they will not consider
the application‚" Pienaar says‚ noting that South African passport
holders also have to ensure their passports are valid for at least six
months.


She urges business travellers to make sure they are acquainted with
whether they require visas‚ as well as with the documents needed‚ as
it be can be arduous and expensive to get an emergency visa (if the
option exists).


"Business travellers need to start thinking about getting their visas
as soon as they start planning their trip‚" says Pienaar. "They can no
longer afford to wait until the last minute. Forewarned is forearmed
when it comes to securing a business visa."