Middle income Kenya rejected visa free travel to South Africa, now will pay visa on arrival

[Geza Ulole]

South Africa to relax visa rule for Kenyans
By Graham Kajilwa
Published: May 11th 2018 at 07:49, Updated: May 11th 2018 at 07:49

President Uhuru Kenyatta (R) with ex-South African President Jacob Zuma (PHOTO: FILE)

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya is among the African countries that are set to benefit from a new visa regime by South Africa that is aimed at increasing intra-Africa travel.

In what signals thawing relations between the two countries, South Africa has announced it will start issuing visas on arrival for travellers from selected countries, including Kenya.

The two coutries have been involved in a tit-for-tat visa requirement that almost degenerated into a full-blown diplomatic row.

ALSO READ: South Africa to introduce visa on arrival

At one point Kenya threatened to introduce a new travel rule requiring South African passport holders to apply for a visa prior to traveling or transiting through the country after the latter refused to reciprocate.

South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom has, however, said his country is in the process of revising its visa regime.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa Travel Indaba Conference in Durban, Mr Hanekom said Kenya was among the countries that would benefit from the new arrangement, with those who make their applications online set to be issued with the document upon landing.

Henkom said the decision was based purely on prevailing relations between South Africa and specific countries, especially the accruing economic benefits. For example, SA was forced to introduce visa requirement for New Zealand after the country also did the same.

“But I do not really understand why it (visa requirement) has not been lifted on other countries, especially for a country like Kenya,” said Hanekom.

When former SA President Jacob Zuma met with President Uhuru Kenyatta in October 2016, Kenyans hoped the two leaders would help resolve the current bottlenecks in the visa application process.

ALSO READ: Uhuru ranked second in Facebook following

Zuma, however, instead said there were key underlying issues that needed to be addressed before such a major development could be made.

Minister Hanekom said new President Cyril Ramaphosa had taken a keen interest in the matter as he was the chairman of the committee that was tasked with coming up with revisions to the country’s visa regime.

“It is sad that to connect to some African countries one has to fly to Europe,” said Hanekom.

MY TAKE
Ni pale unajiita middle income halafu another middle income inakukatalia visa free entrance. Jameniii muache ku-cook data! Chaa na Mjipangee..

My friend Mkikuyu- Akili timamu what's ur take on this? Isn't this slap on the face on Uhuru's globaltrotting tours? May be he should try avoid this kind of shuttle diplomacy stuff!

I once talked about them doing things to try to manoeuvre Tanzania or trying to get favor just because Tanzania got!

My opinion cab be Read here

Is Kenya-Mozambique bilateral agreements, a COW2 attempt?

South Africa to relax visa rule for Kenyans
RELATED TOPICS:
South Africa
Jacob Zuma
Uhuru Kenyatta

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[Geza Ulole]

Kenya grants SA visitors 90-day visa free stay
TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2017 21:42
BY MUTHOKI MUMO

Nairobi has granted South Africans additional time to visit Kenya without visas, pointing to a thawing of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Interior secretary Joseph Nkaissery says in a legal notice published last Friday that South Africans can now visit and stay in Kenya without a visa for up to three months, up from the previous 30 days.

The notice says South African “civil servants, holders of diplomatic, official or ordinary passports” can visit Kenya without visas “for a period exceeding (sic) ninety (90) days”. The Ministry of Interior later clarified that there was an error in the notice, and that it ought to have read a period “not exceeding ninety (90) days”.

The extended visa free travel notice further tips the balance of diplomatic relations in favour of South Africa, which has been tightening visa rules for Kenyans.

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Kenya has long expressed discomfort with the many hurdles its citizens travelling to South Africa continue to face with little response from Pretoria.

In particular, Nairobi has raised concerns over the high costs of South African visas as well as the extended processing period, which now takes at least five days.

The situation has been particularly unfair given that South Africans can get visas on arrival in Kenya.

Mr Nkaissery’s decision may, however, be a signal that Pretoria is preparing to reciprocate the move by easing entry of Kenyans to South Africa.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had raised Kenya’s concerns over South Africa’s tough visa rules with President Jacob Zuma during his visit to Nairobi last year, but Mr Zuma refused to commit on measures to ease them.

READ: Kenya issues travel warning on South Africa

South Africa claimed that its visa rules are meant to insulate it from irregular migration, a sore topic in a country that has suffered numerous bouts of xenophobic attacks against foreigners.

“We have to ensure that there are no loopholes for criminals to take advantage of,” Mr Zuma said in response to questions on his country’s visa policies.

Kenya’s decision to issue a travel warning to civil servants visiting South Africa last month threatened to rekindle the diplomatic row, but South Africa made no public response to the memo.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had advised Kenyans travelling to South Africa to be wary of rising crime in Johannesburg, including armed robberies, carjacking and burglary.

Ideally, Kenya and South Africa are supposed to be dealing with each other under the principle of reciprocity — meaning that benefits extended by one country are mirrored by the other.

In May 2016, the two countries agreed to cut visa fees and to issue three-year multiple entry visas for frequent travellers.

South Africa agreed to issue ten-year multiple entry visas for business travellers and academics and scrapped transit visas for Kenyans travelling through South Africa.

Kenya and South Africa are important trading partners. South African firms such as MultiChoice and SABMiller have expanded into Kenya while thousands of Kenyans are frequent travellers to South Africa for business and leisure.

The value of trade between the two countries has, however, been on the decline.

Last year, Kenya’s exports to South Africa fell from Sh4.35 billion to Sh4.15 billion while imports from the country fell 31.7 per cent to Sh41.86 billion.


Nairobi grants South African nationals 90-day visa free stay

 

[Madrid boy]

Kama usemavyo Geza wanataka favour ya Tanzania na hawawezi kuipata ng'oo .Ni waambie wakenya Mandela passport yake kwanza ya kusafiria aliipata Tanzania mpo apo mtasubiri sana

 

[ojey]

Nchi yako ya Tanzania ikipewa visa on arrival utuambie, kwa sasa ni kelele tu unapiga. Giants recognize giants. Dwarfs kachezeni mbali.

 

[Oii]

Kama usemavyo Geza wanataka favour ya Tanzania na hawawezi kuipata ng'oo .Ni waambie wakenya Mandela passport yake kwanza ya kusafiria aliipata Tanzania mpo apo mtasubiri sana

Favour kiaje yani, nakumbuka Avril alishindwa kushoot video ya wimbo mkali na benpol South Africa kisa masuala ya visa, walimkatalia mazima.

 

[Madrid boy]

Favour kiaje yani, nakumbuka Avril alishindwa kushoot video ya wimbo mkali na benpol South Africa kisa masuala ya visa, walimkatalia mazima.

Sisi wabongo tukitaka kudondoka South dakika tuu

 

[Geza Ulole]

Favour kiaje yani, nakumbuka Avril alishindwa kushoot video ya wimbo mkali na benpol South Africa kisa masuala ya visa, walimkatalia mazima.

Kenyans on Twitter want South Africa visa requirements revised
By James Wanzala
Published: Oct 12th 2016 at 09:40, Updated: October 12th 2016 at 09:40

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenyans on Twitter(KOT) did not stop asking President Uhuru Kenyatta and Jacob Zuma to solve visa issue between Kenya and South Africa during the latter’s three day visit ending today, Wednesday

They also called upon President Zuma to ensure Kenyans in South Africa are treated equally without harassment.

Using the trending hashtag [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG], KOT urged the two Presidents to fast-track implementation, and to ensure that these policy changes are implemented with greater urgency to suit Kenyans visiting South Africa.

Kenya wants the cost of South African visas to be reduced by at least 30 per cent from the current $71 (Sh7,100) to $49(Sh4,900), and insists on visa exemptions for Kenyans with diplomatic passports.

This will allow Kenyan businessmen and students studying in South Africa, and in neighbouring countries of Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia to travel easily.

Kenya also wants South Africa to issue a 10-year multiple-entry visa for frequent business travelers and academics and to remove the transit visa requirement for travelers passing through South African airports.

In May, the two countries agreed to the issues and many Kenyans feel that this is the right time for implementation.

@Wakili_Ochieng: @UKenyatta ensure you include visa to South Africa in your agenda when meeting Jacob Zuma. SA is not Heaven[HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG].

@KelvohKlein: Hope u came to plan on how Kenyans are gonna get Visas to SouthAfrica otherwise u not welcme Here [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG].

@Fadhilgooner11: South Africans get visa upon arrival in Kenya, why do we have to wait for ages to get theirs? [HASHTAG]#UhuruChallenge[/HASHTAG][HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG].

@PatohMslim: [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG] many have come and gone, obama,Pope etc....what we want is equal treatment of Kenyans in SA.

@Pitahnjuguna1: [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG] while University students are been molested in SA.. Is it dodging responsibility?.

Kenyans on Twitter want South Africa visa requirements revised

 

[BlietzKrieg]

Kenyans on Twitter want South Africa visa requirements revised
By James Wanzala
Published: Oct 12th 2016 at 09:40, Updated: October 12th 2016 at 09:40

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenyans on Twitter(KOT) did not stop asking President Uhuru Kenyatta and Jacob Zuma to solve visa issue between Kenya and South Africa during the latter’s three day visit ending today, Wednesday

They also called upon President Zuma to ensure Kenyans in South Africa are treated equally without harassment.

Using the trending hashtag [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG], KOT urged the two Presidents to fast-track implementation, and to ensure that these policy changes are implemented with greater urgency to suit Kenyans visiting South Africa.

Kenya wants the cost of South African visas to be reduced by at least 30 per cent from the current $71 (Sh7,100) to $49(Sh4,900), and insists on visa exemptions for Kenyans with diplomatic passports.

This will allow Kenyan businessmen and students studying in South Africa, and in neighbouring countries of Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia to travel easily.

Kenya also wants South Africa to issue a 10-year multiple-entry visa for frequent business travelers and academics and to remove the transit visa requirement for travelers passing through South African airports.

In May, the two countries agreed to the issues and many Kenyans feel that this is the right time for implementation.

@Wakili_Ochieng: @UKenyatta ensure you include visa to South Africa in your agenda when meeting Jacob Zuma. SA is not Heaven[HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG].

@KelvohKlein: Hope u came to plan on how Kenyans are gonna get Visas to SouthAfrica otherwise u not welcme Here [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG].

@Fadhilgooner11: South Africans get visa upon arrival in Kenya, why do we have to wait for ages to get theirs? [HASHTAG]#UhuruChallenge[/HASHTAG][HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG].

@PatohMslim: [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG] many have come and gone, obama,Pope etc....what we want is equal treatment of Kenyans in SA.

@Pitahnjuguna1: [HASHTAG]#ZumaInKenya[/HASHTAG] while University students are been molested in SA.. Is it dodging responsibility?.

Kenyans on Twitter want South Africa visa requirements revised

Unachanganya links za 2016/2017 na iyo latest ya may 2018.
achanga ujinga

 

[Mwanzi1]

Nchi yako ya Tanzania ikipewa visa on arrival utuambie, kwa sasa ni kelele tu unapiga. Giants recognize giants. Dwarfs kachezeni mbali.

Acheni wivu, Tanzania hatuhitaji visa, we just pack our bags and go, same as South Africans who want to visit Tanzania.

 

[Mkikuyu- Akili timamu]

Uhuru Must be a very lousy negotiator, All these trips to SA and all over the world and no free visa to SA?? JPM has not left Magogoni and Tznians get free entry? What a waste!

 

[Geza Ulole]

Unachanganya links za 2016/2017 na iyo latest ya may 2018.
achanga ujinga

Still u will have to pay visa my friend! While South African enters for free in Kenya!

 

[Emc2]

Tanzania
VISA FREE DESTINATIONS FOR A TANZANIAN - Travelstart Tanzania's Travel Blog

Kenya
68 Countries Kenyans can travel to visa-free or obtain visa on arrival - Capital Lifestyle

 

[Geza Ulole]

Tanzania
VISA FREE DESTINATIONS FOR A TANZANIAN - Travelstart Tanzania's Travel Blog

Kenya
68 Countries Kenyans can travel to visa-free or obtain visa on arrival - Capital Lifestyle

Actually umekosea

For Kenya is 36 countries

VISA NOT REQUIRED

1) Antigua and Barbuda
2) Bahamas
3) Barbados
4) Botswana
5) Burundi
6) Hong Kong
7) Dominica
8) Eritrea
9) Ethiopia
10) Fiji
11) Gambia
12) Ghana
13) Grenada
14) Haiti
15) Indonesia
16) Jamaica
17) Kiribati
18) Lesotho
19) Malawi
20) Malaysia
21) Mauritius
22) Micronesia
23) Namibia
24) Panama
25) Philippines
26) Saint Kitts and Nevis
27) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
28) Senegal
29) Singapore
30) Swaziland
31) Tanzania
32) Trinidad and Tobago
33) Uganda
34) Vanuatu
35) Zambia
36) Zimbabwe​

While for Tanzania 38 countries

1. Botswana – No Visa required for a maximum of 90 days.
2. Burundi – No Visa required for a maximum of 30 days.
3. Gambia – No Visa required for a maximum of 90 days.
4. Guinea – No Visa required
5. Kenya – No Visa required for a maximum of 3 months.
6. Lesotho – No Visa required for 90 days.
7. Mauritius – No Visa required for a maximum of 3 months.
8. Mozambique – No Visa required.
9. Namibia – No Visa required for maximum stay of 3 months.
10. Rwanda – No visa required for a maximum of 90 days.
11. South Africa – No Visa required for a maximum of 90 days.
12. Swaziland – No visa required for a stay of 30 days.
13. Uganda – No Visa required for 3 months.
14. Zambia – No Visa required for a maximum of 90 days for a tourist and 30 days for business travelers.
15. Zimbabwe – No Visa required for a stay less than 3 months.
16. Antigua & Barbuda – No Visa required.
17. Bahamas – No Visa required for maximum 3 months.
18. Barbados – No Visa required for a mazimum stay of 6 months.
19. Belize – No Visa required.
20. British Virgin Islands – No Visa required for maximum of 30 days.
21. Cayman Islands – No Visa required for tourist, for a stay of 60 days and for Business travelers for 10 days.
22. Dominica – No Visa required for maximum 6 months.
23. Ecuador – No Visa required for 90 days.
24. Grenada – No Visa required for maximum of 3 months.
25. Haiti – No Visa required for maximum of 3 months.
26. Jamaica – No Visa required.
27. Montserrat – No Visa for 6 months required.
28. Saint Lucia – No visa required for 6 weeks maximum stay.
29. Bangladesh – No Visa required for 90 days maximum stay.
30. Hong Kong – No Visa required for 90 days maximum stay.
31. Indonesia – No Visa required.
32. Macau – No Visa required for maximum 90 days.
33. Malaysia – No Visa required for 90 days maximum stay.
34. Philippines – No Visa required for a maximum stay of 30 days
35. Singapore – No Visa required for a stay less than 30 days.
36. Cook Islands – No Visa required for maximum 6 months.
37. Federated states of Micronesia – No Visa required for 30 days or less of a stay.
38. Wallis and Fatuna – No Visa required for a stay less than 30 days.

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[KichwaNgumu254]

Very lope-sided thinking this is! What has mid-income status got to do with visa restrictions? Last I checked even New Zealanders need a visa to SA! To your pedestrian hanky panky thinking,get to know that all this is about the huge pool of Kenyan professional and business experts who pose a great threat to positions held by a few black S.Africans hence the protection of their turf by visa imposition! Hustler Tanzanians pose no such danger hence welcome in pretex of anti-apartheid support payback!
Think beyond sentimentals!

 

[Mkikuyu- Akili timamu]

Very lope-sided thinking this is! What has mid-income status got to do with visa restrictions? Last I checked even New Zealanders need a visa to SA! To your pedestrian hanky panky thinking,get to know that all this is about the huge pool of Kenyan professional and business experts who pose a great threat to positions held by a few black S.Africans hence the protection of their turf by visa imposition! Hustler Tanzanians pose no such danger hence welcome in pretex of anti-apartheid support payback!
Think beyond sentimentals!

Do you know the difference between a visa and a work permit? The amount of money in foreign lobbying spent by Jubilee including state visits is a shame if they cant secure such simple things as free visa to SA, a task that magufuli does while sitting at magogoni seeping tea 😀😀

 

[KichwaNgumu254]

Do you know the difference between a visa and a work permit? The amount of money in foreign lobbying spent by Jubilee including state visits is a shame if they cant secure such simple things as free visa to SA, a task that magufuli does while sitting at magogoni seeping tea 😀😀

Don't be silly,is it rhetorical or just much ado about nothing!? In any case, every work permit anywhere is preluded by a visa. Knowing that majority of would be Kenyan experts to SA aren't the sneaking type,it could be a diplo-speak way by S.Africans restricting an influx of trail-blazing Kenyans! Look at Namibia and Botswana whose civil service and other professional sectors private/public is well anchored by Kenyans,SA is protecting its turf and out to appease its own!