Visa Update for New Zealanders Travelling to South Africa
The South African High Commission in New Zealand has announced the launch of two South African Visa Application Centres in New Zealand which will be run by VFS Global. The centres will be based in Auckland and Wellington and will open their doors on Tuesday 14 February 2017. Applicants who intend to apply for visas to holiday in South Africa will no longer need to travel to the High Commission in Wellington as these two centres will be responsible for receiving all applications from 14 February 2017.
The new VFS Global Visa Application Centres (VAC) will offer an easier, more accessible visa application process for applicants with the help of an appointment-based system, easy fee collection, along with a secure dispatch system. Walk-ins will also be accommodated at these centres. The South African High Commission remains the sole authority for processing and issuing visas.
New Zealand passport holders in Australia do not have to travel to New Zealand and can apply for visas at the South African High Commission in Canberra. In order to do this you will just need to present a bill from your municipality or telephone account as proof of residence in Australia.
Those in other countries can also submit their applications at the nearest South African Embassy, High Commission or local VFS VAC.
Acting Country Manager for South African Tourism Australasia, Yana Shvarts said “The New Zealand market remains an important and growing market into South Africa. We wish to continue to welcome New Zealanders into our beautiful country of South Africa and therefore welcome these positive developments to make the visa application process as seamless as possible”