The governments of Angola and Namibia have scrapped visa requirements for short-term visits between the two countries.

The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Interior Ministry of Angola in Luanda last week.

Home Affairs spokesman Kauku Hengari pointed out, however, that people intending to do business in Angola for longer than a week would still have to apply for visas.

"This special arrangement mainly pertains to tourists and short-term visitors. Students, employment seekers and those wishing to engage in business activities on a long-term basis have to apply for the relevant visas and permits," said Hengari.

In terms of the agreement, people living closer than 60 kilometres from the border would be allowed to cross it freely at any time.

Namibians doing business in Angola have complained about frustrating bureaucratic delays at border posts.

Hengari said a trade protocol still had to be ratified to improve the situation.

He said the agreement would include establishing 10 new border posts to lessen the burden on the existing entry points.

He could not say where the new posts would be or when they would be opened.

"It is a gradual process but we estimate that some 10 posts and entry points will be opened. The process will depend on the availability of funds. Once Government makes a budgetary provision, then things will start moving immediately," he added.


Source: The Namibian & AllAfrica.com

It's important for our clients to note that it will take longer to process a UK entry clearance when applications are made at Posts that are now carrying out fingerprint checks. Some visa applicants could wait for up to seven days for a decision on their visa application. This is a temporary measure and the UK Home Office is working with the IND to reduce the response time.

The Home Office is currently recording biometric data in the form of electronic fingerprint scans from visa applicants applying at its visa sections in Sri Lanka, Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Brazil have signed an agreement offering travelers from both destinations 90-day visa-free visits.

Director of Immigration of the HKSAR government Lai Tung-kwok said that the agreement, which will come into effect soon, will promote trade, business and tourism.

This makes the total number of countries and territories granting visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders to 135.

Given recent developments around the issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act and in response to media enquiries on this matter, the Department of Home Affairs recently issued a statement which we have summarized below to give our clients a clear and comprehensive picture of the situation in this regard.

Government recently repealed section 9 of the South African Citizenship Act of 1995, which regulated the use of the citizenship or nationality of another country by a major South African who has dual citizenship.

In essence, the act repealed the provision which allowed the Minister of Home Affairs to deprive a citizen of his or her citizenship for having used the citizenship of a foreign country. Consequently, the previous requirement for exemptions or letters of permission from the Minister to make use of a foreign passport has now been terminated. The issue of deprivation of citizenship was inconsistent with the Constitutional right to citizenship.

In terms of the South African Citizenship Amendment Act of 2004 which came into effect on 15 September 2004, it is now an offence for a major South African citizen to enter the Republic or depart making use of the passport of another country.

Furthermore, it is also now an offence for such a citizen, while in South Africa, to use his or her foreign citizenship or nationality to gain advantage or avoid a responsibility or duty.

Essentially, the Amendment Act provides that a South African citizen, who has dual citizenship or nationality, can freely use his or her foreign passport outside South Africa. However, they must use their South African passport to depart from or enter South Africa.

The Department has received a number of enquiries from our ports of entry on whether or not South Africans who arrive at border posts with foreign passports may be refused to enter or depart from the Republic.

The Department is obliged to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act. However, they have acknowledgedthat many affected South Africans may not yet be aware of the amendments to the Citizenship Act and the implications for themselves.

The Dept. advised that affected South Africans departing or arriving through the South African ports of entry, attempting to use a foreign passport, will be issued with a warning giving them three months to obtain a South African passport. They will be allowed to depart or enter South Africa.

Accordingly, the Department of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs wishes to advise all South Africans who have a dual citizenship and do not have South African passports to apply for their South African passports at their earliest opportunity.