South Africa relaxes visa Rules for Kenyans

South Africa has announced radical visa rules for Kenyans in a historic move that will ease movement of people, goods and services between the two countries. The High Commissioner of South Africa to Kenya Ambassador Koleka Mqulwana said bilateral talks arrived at the measures which will see students, patients, academics and business people enjoy long-term visas of between three and five years. The High Commisioner to South Africa Kolike Koleka Mqulwana with Standard Digital news editor after an interview on new visa regimes for Kenyans. (PHOTO: DAVID OHITO/STANDARD) Civil servants will enjoy visa waiver if the final details of the bilateral agreements are fast-tracked by Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their South Africa interior counterparts. South Africans do not require a visa to visit Kenya. A section of travellers including MPs have complained in the recent past about restrictive Visa requirements imposed by South Africa. The High Commissioner Mqulwana was categorical, “South Africa does not target Kenyans. We have challenges with our borders. We are simply policing criminals, drug and human traffickers who have been using Kenyan soil to access South African borders." In the new rules, Kenyans studying in South Africa will now renew their visas from the country without necessarily travelling back to Kenya until the end of their studies. See also: Of polls date, greed and helpless public Parents with students studying in South Africa will equally enjoy long term visas, a move that has been a cause for pain to many. Advertisement "There will be no more difficulties for persons with good records and who have no criminal past. Businesses will have visas adjusted from the current six months to a year extended upon verification of their applications. The SA High Commission also announced a reduction of Visa fees from Sh6, 800 to Sh4, 700 and clarified that this money is for the partners VSF who process the visa applications and no money is received by the South African government.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000171996/south-africa-relaxes-visa-requirements-for-kenyans