Seven additional visa application centres have opened in India, allowing tourists to apply for visas to South Africa in Jaipur, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Goa, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru, with effect from March 5. The centres have been opened following an extension of the partnership between VFS Global the government of South Africa.

“With the opening of these new locations in India, we offer an enhanced network and access to all travellers across India,” said South African High Commissioner to India, France Morule. “We are confident that VFS Global will continue to deliver a professional service to applicants, who now have the choice of seven additional locations in India from where they can apply.”

“It is a privilege and honour for us at VFS Global to support the initiatives of Department of Home Affairs in South Africa,” said Vinay Malhotra, COO – South Asia, VFS Global. “VFS Global has been associated with the Government of South Africa since 2010 and partnered with them to open their first visa application centres in Mumbai and New Delhi in 2011.

“The opening of the additional visa application centres extends the convenience of a seamless visa application process to the travel trade fraternity and intended travellers from India,” said Malhotra.

The development has been welcomed by the travel trade in India. Vikram Samant, MD Quantum Travels described it as “fantastic news”. “It will be a boon and a blessing for the Indian traveller as well as the Indian agent,” said Samant.

South Africa’s visa application centres in India now include four of the cities SAA services through its codeshare with Etihad (Bengaluru, New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai), while Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are serviced by the codeshare but are not among the cities where new centres have opened. Hyderabad is also included in South African Tourism roadshow to India, which also visits Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi.

At the time of publication, the Department of Home Affairs could not be reached for comment.