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South Africa has agreed to ease visa application rules and entry conditions for Kenyan business people and academia.
This comes after extensive talks between Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government Fred Matiang’i and South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba in Pretoria on Monday.
Following the deal, South Africa will issue the aforementioned groups with multiple entry visas valid for up to 10 years while frequent travelers will be given 3-year multiple entry visas effective December 1st, 2018.
Further, government officials travelling on official business to South Africa will be given 3-month free visas with immediate effect.
“With Kenya Airways already doing an average of three non-stop flights from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to South Africa daily, the new arrangement is expected to enhance people to people contact and unlock the two countries’ tourism and business potential,” reads part of the statement from Ministry of Interior.
Technical officers from Kenya and South Africa have also been tasked with establishing ways of reducing travel restrictions within three months, with a view of permanently doing away with short term and transit visa requirements for citizens with ordinary passports.
“Technical officers from both countries were also tasked with finding ways of reducing travel restrictions, with a view of completely removing short term (180) days) and transit visa requirements for nationals from the two countries with ordinary passports,” the Interior Ministry adds.
“The governments are also in consultation on the strategies to mitigate transnational crimes, especially human trafficking and smuggling emanating from elsewhere in the continent and beyond."