UK visas still required for South Africans

October 15 2009 by Liam Clifford

South African nationals will still be required to get UK visas before entering the UK.

The South African home affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has told MPs that the country must be “standing on firm ground” before it tries to negotiate with the UK over visa requirements.

Earlier in 2009, UK immigration announced that people travelling to the UK from South Africa would need to obtain UK visas to do so. Previously, South African nationals did not require UK visas for shorter trips.

The decision caused much disappointment in South Africa, but Dlamini-Zuma says the decision lies with UK immigration officials. She stated, “as for the UK visa... it was the UK that decided on [this], it wasn't us. So it's not likely that we can determine when that will change."â¨â¨

Some South Africans are angry because UK nationals are still not required to apply for a South African visa to visit the country, but this arrangement is no longer reciprocal.

UK immigration made the decision to require South Africans to obtain UK visas after fears emerged that it was too easy to forge or steal passports in South Africa. These passports could then be used by questionable individuals to enter the UK, or even move to the UK.

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