07 May 2017

The South African High Commission has collaborated with VFS Global to open a visa application centre in Gaborone.

The move is intended to meet the growing demand for visas to South Africa and enhance visa application services.

The centre was launched in Gaborone on May 4 as part of a global rollout of South Africa visa application centres on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs.

The key features of the centre include convenient and centrally-accessed location, VIP lounge services, internet, kiosk facilities, door step delivery of passports, automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants as well as long operating business hours.

Other features include well-appointed centre for enhanced comfort of applicants, dedicated website for easy access to information, dedicated call centre for customer support and SMS services to track visa applications, 100 per cent secure handling of passports, documents, personal information and professional staff with local language capacity to handle queries and provide form filling assistance.

Deputy high commissioner of South Africa, Ms Bulelwa Kiva said the centre would be operational for longer working hours, and that applicants could submit applications and collect documents at a time of their convenience.

“With South Africa being a popular destination for travellers from Botswana, applicants now experience greater convenience and ease when applying for visas through customer-centric and professionally managed services including the VIP lounge service offered at the centre,” she said.

Currently VFS Global, the world’s largest visa outsourcing service provider, serves the government of South Africa in 18 countries across 42 cities.

Ms Kiva said the setting up of 13 new visa application centres in less than a year across the globe signified the company’s strengthening association with the South African government.

However, VFS Global would be responsible only for accepting applications for high commission of South Africa in Gaborone, while all applications submitted would continue to be assessed and processed by the high commission of South Africa in Gaborone.

The timelines for turnaround of visas would be the discretion of the authorities. ENDS