South Africa: All South African visa applications filed in India to be submitted through VFS
South Africa: All South African visa applications filed in India to be submitted through VFS
Effective 1 June, all South African visas filed in India must be submitted through VFS Global in India. VFS Global is a popular third-party visa and passport processing agency through which several countries outsource many of their consular procedures. VFS Global has long processed short-term visa applications for South Africa; however, before 1 June, the High Commission of South Africa in Mumbai previously maintained authority over all long-term visa applications (including those for employment purposes).
Shortly after the 1 June transition, VFS Global made several amendments to the document requirements for Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa applications. Beyond adding a new processing fee of INR 1,382-1,643 (USD $20-25) for all applications, the following new documents and/or information must be provided for the local South African worker as part of the required Skills Transfer Plan documentation:
- Certified national identification
- Certified educational qualifications
- Certified resume
Employers should anticipate a possible delay in processing times due to the transition of all visa applications to VFS Global the increase in application volume.
