If you need assistance with VFS applications visas or other documents, we may be able to assist. Feel free to contact us via info@relocationafrica.com or on 2721 763 4240, or visit our website here for more information.
VFS is an acronym that stands for Visa Facilitation Services. There are a number of companies to facilitate this process such as an Indian company known as VFS Global, which also handles other passport issues. Established in 2001, this private company is now, as the name suggests, in most parts of the world. So, what is the procedure for VFS tracking in South Africa?
VFS South Africa
In line with the changing South African immigration regulations, the Department of Home Affairs contracted the services of VFS Global, an external organization, in opening of Visa Application Centers across the country. These centers are located in Bloemfontein, Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, George, Nelspruit, Kimberly, Port Elizabeth, Mangaung, Pretoria, and Rustenburg. This move eradicated the need for applicants to submit visa applications to the Department of Home Affairs regional offices but instead encourages physically handing in of biometric data and applications at the VFS centers. Applying for South Africa Temporary Residence Visa or Permanent Residence permit? Here is how you can track your application after following the application procedure.
VFS tracking South Africa
Now, you have prepared your application, correctly followed the application steps, and after submission, you can track the progress of the process. Here are the simple steps for VFS South Africa tracking 2019.
- Visit VFS Global South Africa website.
- Click on the “click here” button and then enter the required reference number.
- You will be redirected to the page where you will be required to enter the tracking or AURN number and your last name.
- After feeding these details, click on submit and you will get information on your application’s progress.
Depending on the outcome of the application, you can collect the decision yourself, or send a representative to the Visa Facilitation Centre with the required details to collect the decision.
How long does it take to get a visa in South Africa?
Depending on the category of visa application, Temporary Residence Permit applicants can wait for a minimum of 8-10 weeks for the process to be carried out. On the other hand, Permanent Residence Permit applicants have to wait for 8-10 months. Since each application is evaluated individually, processing time varies. So, note that South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs does not give a specific length of time to process visa applications. How long does it take to get a visa to go to South Africa? For those in other countries, there is no standard period but it all depends on the visa policies in your country.
Visa costs in South Africa
Different countries have different regulations as well as varying payment systems and rates. In South Africa, visa payments are done online. If you have all the supporting documents, fill the online application form and pay the mandatory pre-pay minimum amount of R1,350 to secure and schedule your appointment online. This pre-payment can be made:
- Online through the secure online portal using a debit or credit card
- At Standard Bank, you will be required to download and then complete the online generated bank receipt and then deposit the cash into the nearest Standard Bank or make an EFT payment through a secure online portal.
It is important to note that after paying the amount, you can visit your online application form after three business days to schedule your appointment. For the Financially Independent Permanent Residence applicants, you will be required to pay R120,000, which should be deposited into the account of the Department of Home Affairs prior to the issuance of the permit, and the proof of payment forwarded for attention to the relevant email addresses.
What are the requirements for South Africa visa?
For those outside South Africa, the requirements for each country vary but there are some general things that you must have. These things include:
- A valid passport that has at least three clear pages. It has to have a validity of at least one month when you leave South Africa.
- A photocopy of the bio-data page of the passport and a professional passport size photograph.
- Self-employed people need to have letters from their business, certificates of ownership, and registration of the business. Retired people must present proof of retirement.
- A completed application form.
- A copy of a yellow fever certificate.
- A return ticket that can be verified or something similar.
- If you are going to work, you need a signed proof of employment from the employer.
- A non-refundable fee that you will be informed of during the application. The fee does not include the VFS service fee.
Above are the mandatory requirements. Anything else aside from this will be unique to the type of visa you want. For those in South Africa, to get the temporary or permanent residence permit, here are the steps to follow:
- Complete the appropriate online form and then pay the required pre-pay fee to schedule an appointment. Have all the documents required for the application.
- Go with your printed online application form, appointment letter, proof of payment, valid passport or travel papers and the supporting documents to the Visa Facilitation Centre on the day of the appointment.
- At the centre, collect a token and wait for your turn. After the application process, you will be given an acknowledgement receipt which you should keep safe as it will be needed for you to be given the decision later on.
Note that you will have to register your photograph and fingerprints at the Visa Facilitation Centre, and select whether you will personally collect the decision or send a representative.
The Hout Bay neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa. SA is a popular destination for international tourists and for those looking to start a new life in a diverse country, with an economy full of promise, a rich history, and great weather for outdoor activities.
Can you travel to South Africa without a visa?
This depends on the passport you have. For example, people with US passports are free to visit South Africa without a visa if they are visiting for a period of less than 90 days. Other countries that have a similar privilege to the US include the UK, Norway, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, and many more. Regardless of the type of visa, VFS tracking in South Africa should be able to assist you anytime.
And there you have it. You now hopefully have a deeper understanding of VFS tracking in South Africa, as well as of the related costs and visa application processes. Hopefully your application is a success.
For more information straight from the VFS South Africa website, click here.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: Julie Kwach via Briefly [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2], Sofia M [3].
Tracking Your South African Visa Application in 2019
If you need assistance with VFS applications visas or other documents, we may be able to assist. Feel free to contact us via info@relocationafrica.com or on 2721 763 4240, or visit our website here for more information.
VFS is an acronym that stands for Visa Facilitation Services. There are a number of companies to facilitate this process such as an Indian company known as VFS Global, which also handles other passport issues. Established in 2001, this private company is now, as the name suggests, in most parts of the world. So, what is the procedure for VFS tracking in South Africa?
VFS South Africa
In line with the changing South African immigration regulations, the Department of Home Affairs contracted the services of VFS Global, an external organization, in opening of Visa Application Centers across the country. These centers are located in Bloemfontein, Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, George, Nelspruit, Kimberly, Port Elizabeth, Mangaung, Pretoria, and Rustenburg. This move eradicated the need for applicants to submit visa applications to the Department of Home Affairs regional offices but instead encourages physically handing in of biometric data and applications at the VFS centers. Applying for South Africa Temporary Residence Visa or Permanent Residence permit? Here is how you can track your application after following the application procedure.
VFS tracking South Africa
Now, you have prepared your application, correctly followed the application steps, and after submission, you can track the progress of the process. Here are the simple steps for VFS South Africa tracking 2019.
Depending on the outcome of the application, you can collect the decision yourself, or send a representative to the Visa Facilitation Centre with the required details to collect the decision.
How long does it take to get a visa in South Africa?
Depending on the category of visa application, Temporary Residence Permit applicants can wait for a minimum of 8-10 weeks for the process to be carried out. On the other hand, Permanent Residence Permit applicants have to wait for 8-10 months. Since each application is evaluated individually, processing time varies. So, note that South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs does not give a specific length of time to process visa applications. How long does it take to get a visa to go to South Africa? For those in other countries, there is no standard period but it all depends on the visa policies in your country.
Visa costs in South Africa
Different countries have different regulations as well as varying payment systems and rates. In South Africa, visa payments are done online. If you have all the supporting documents, fill the online application form and pay the mandatory pre-pay minimum amount of R1,350 to secure and schedule your appointment online. This pre-payment can be made:
It is important to note that after paying the amount, you can visit your online application form after three business days to schedule your appointment. For the Financially Independent Permanent Residence applicants, you will be required to pay R120,000, which should be deposited into the account of the Department of Home Affairs prior to the issuance of the permit, and the proof of payment forwarded for attention to the relevant email addresses.
What are the requirements for South Africa visa?
For those outside South Africa, the requirements for each country vary but there are some general things that you must have. These things include:
Above are the mandatory requirements. Anything else aside from this will be unique to the type of visa you want. For those in South Africa, to get the temporary or permanent residence permit, here are the steps to follow:
Note that you will have to register your photograph and fingerprints at the Visa Facilitation Centre, and select whether you will personally collect the decision or send a representative.
The Hout Bay neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa. SA is a popular destination for international tourists and for those looking to start a new life in a diverse country, with an economy full of promise, a rich history, and great weather for outdoor activities.
Can you travel to South Africa without a visa?
This depends on the passport you have. For example, people with US passports are free to visit South Africa without a visa if they are visiting for a period of less than 90 days. Other countries that have a similar privilege to the US include the UK, Norway, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, and many more. Regardless of the type of visa, VFS tracking in South Africa should be able to assist you anytime.
And there you have it. You now hopefully have a deeper understanding of VFS tracking in South Africa, as well as of the related costs and visa application processes. Hopefully your application is a success.
For more information straight from the VFS South Africa website, click here.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: Julie Kwach via Briefly [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2], Sofia M [3].
Countries South Africans Can Visit Without a Visa in 2019
Arton Capital, a provider of residency and citizenship solutions, has released its latest Passport Index – a system that ranks travel documents by the number of countries that can be visited without having to apply for a visa.
In a surprising shake-up, the United Arab Emirates has replaced Singapore as having the most valuable passport in the world.
Recently, four new countries were added to its visa-free list bringing the total to 167.
Singapore (167) and Germany (166) round up the top three, with the top of the list dominated by European countries.
While South Africa ranks 44th on the overall list, it has shown steady annual improvements – rising to 94 countries in 2018 from 90 countries at the end of 2017.
This number could increase even further in 2019 as the Department of Home Affairs plans to implement a range of visa changes to encourage foreign investment and travel.
South Africa is negotiating visa waiver agreements for ordinary passport holders with a number of countries, as well as simplifying visa requirements for countries such as China and India.
This may result in reciprocal arrangements which could see these countries lower the requirements for South African tourists.
Below is a list of the countries South Africans can currently visit without a visa.
Visa-free for 30 days
eVisa/Visa on arrival
To view the interactive Arton Global Passport Index, click here.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
African Development Bank Starts Electricity Cooperative Feasibility Studies in Nigeria and Ethiopia
The African Development Bank has kicked off a feasibility study to explore the potential of electricity cooperative business models in Nigeria and Ethiopia.
The effort is part of the Bank’s goal of achieving universal electricity access across Africa by 2025. Currently, power shortages diminish the region’s GDP growth by 2-4% per year, holding back job creation and poverty reduction efforts.
The study, funded by the South-South Cooperation Trust Fund, will be conducted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International over three months. NRECA will consider regulatory, legal, technical and socio-economic factors that impact the creation of electric cooperatives in the two nations.
Electricity cooperatives are tax-exempt businesses set up and owned by the consumers who benefit from the services provided in generation, transmission and/or distribution.
They are used in many parts of the world to provide last mile connections to rural areas through grid extensions and cooperative enterprises. Where successful, they also improve rural electrification, while creating sustainable businesses.
Speaking at the kick-off meeting, Batchi Baldeh, the Bank’s Director of Power Systems Development, thanked the South-South Cooperation Trust Fund for financing the initiative. “This study is timely and aligned with the Bank’s New Deal for Energy in Africa. We look forward to working with NRECA International to execute the study, and to leverage its extensive experience in electricity cooperative business models to pave the way for the implementation of transformational projects across Africa” he said.
Underscoring the importance of Government cooperation and commitment, he added that the cooperatives rely on strong partnerships among governments, rural/local communities and development partners for implementation and success.
“We selected Nigeria and Ethiopia following dialogue with their respective ministers of energy during the Bank’s Africa Energy Market Place held in July 2018, where they expressed their governments’ commitment to improve rural access through established models. We rely on this cooperation to explore this innovative model of delivering our High 5 to light up and power Africa”, said Baldeh
Findings of the study will be delivered in May this year. They will inform the viability of plans to pilot the model in the selected countries.
For more information about the African Development Bank Group, click here.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: VOA [1], [2].
Load Shedding (Power Outages) in South Africa Explained
Written by Quintin Coetzee
Load Shedding Explained
Currently, South Africa has one major electricity provider – Eskom. Due to financial and maintenance constraints, Eskom has periods where it needs to shut off power delivery to areas, on rotation, during periods of maintenance, in order to prevent a full-scale blackout.
In a blackout, almost the entire country’s electricity would go out, and may take days to come back up again. It goes without saying that everything must be done to prevent this from happening, as the consequences would be dire. Hence the process of load shedding.
Various areas simultaneously have their power disconnected for a period of a few hours during periods of load shedding. When one group comes back online, another goes down, while Eskom manages delivery and performs necessary maintenance.
Load shedding does not occur every day in South Africa. Residents follow local news, apps, and city websites, in order to see if and when shedding will occur. The South African government says that it is developing long-term solutions to make load shedding a thing of the past, but until these become a reality, load shedding will be an unfortunate part of life for South Africans. This does not mean that people have to sit idly by while it happens, however. We have provided some information and tips below to help during periods of load shedding.
Load Shedding Stages
Load shedding may take place under a number of different stages, depending on the degree to which Eskom is short on power. The higher the stage, the more areas need to have their power turned off simultaneously. When load shedding is announced, the stage that applies is announced at the same time, and corresponding schedules need to be checked.
More information about the various stages can be found on the Eskom website here.
Area Schedules
It is a good idea to bookmark or print your schedule, so that you can check it easily. It is quite likely that your work is in a different load shedding area to your home, so it is advisable to check the schedules for both.
A popular app (for Android and iOS devices) that will notify you when it is your time for load shedding can be found here.
Eskom schedules can be found on the Eskom website here.
City schedules can be found on the websites of local municipalities:
Due to the Steenbras dam’s hydro-power system that feeds into the local grid, the City of Cape Town often manages to avoid Stage 1 load shedding.
Action Plan
There are some important things to consider if you may be caught up in load shedding. We have outlined a few below.
Businesses
It is important to note that, unlike Relocation Africa, which has a solar power system you can read more about here, many businesses in South Africa do not have backup power provision for when load shedding occurs. Even those that do may have periods when they switch over, during which they do not have a supply of electricity. This may mean that their employees may not have access to emails when servers are down, and phone lines may not work for inbound and outbound calls. Many supermarkets use backup generators to keep certain lights on, as well as continue to run fridges, so you should still be able to do shopping at certain stores when the power in the area is out. The only sites where load shedding does not occur are buildings deemed essential to the operations of the city as a whole (such as Parliamentary buildings, waste processing plants, and hospitals), and certain buildings in close proximity to those. All other businesses have to react to the outages in much the same way as South African residents do at home.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: Frédéric Paulussen – Fredography [1], [2].