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S. Africa announces measures to relax visa rules for Kenyan travellers

Xinhua, May 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

The South African government on Tuesday announced a series of measures to relax visa rules for Kenyan travellers as a fresh move to strengthen bilateral ties.

The measures include visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports, issuing of three-year multiple entry visa for frequent travellers, and a 10-year multiple entry visa for frequent business travellers and academics, the SA Department of Home Affairs (DHA) said.

South Africa will also issue study visas for the duration of study (including extending permanent residence to those studying within the critical skills category) and remove transit visas for travellers transiting through South African airports, the DHA said in a statement.

Service fee for visa applications will be cut from 71 U.S. dollars to 49 dollars, the department said.

The DHA made the announcement as SA Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba was paying a three-day visit to Kenya.

Gigaba held talks with Kenyan officials on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest, including updating each other on the various respective initiatives being undertaken to fight trans-national crimes such as terrorism, drug-trafficking, illegal arms, money-laundering and illegal migration, the department said.

"These are issues that continue to be constraints on implementing free movement of travellers," it said. Endit