THE South African government has eased its visa regulations for Nigerian tourists and business travelers, allowing them to apply for visas without submitting their passports.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the development today during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, attended by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s efforts to simplify visa processes to encourage travel and investment.
Among the measures introduced is a five-year multiple-entry visa for eligible Nigerian business travelers.
“Our streamlined visa process aims to facilitate travel for Nigerian business people visiting South Africa. Qualified applicants can now obtain a five-year multiple-entry visa,” Ramaphosa stated.
He also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to fostering greater economic collaboration by removing barriers to investment and resolving challenges faced by businesses in both countries.
“Celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations, we envision a stronger partnership built on our enduring friendship, paving the way for deeper economic cooperation,” he said.
Ramaphosa acknowledged Nigeria’s role in hosting numerous South African companies and emphasized the need for increased collaboration and investment.
“Nigeria has been a welcoming host to South African businesses, and our country remains open to Nigerian investment. However, we must address the remaining barriers to investment and resolve challenges faced by companies operating in our countries,” he added.
He also lauded Nigeria’s reforms aimed at creating a more investor-friendly environment and reiterated South Africa’s ongoing efforts to enhance its business climate to attract global investors.
“Our government remains committed to improving the ease of doing business in South Africa, fostering an environment that enables trade, investment, and opportunities across various sectors. We look forward to more Nigerian companies investing in South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
He concluded by stressing the importance of addressing Africa’s development challenges and ensuring they feature prominently on the G20 agenda.