French Consulate in Cape Town closes visa office
The French Consulate visa offices in Cape Town has closed down and will no longer process visa applications. Here’s why…
French Consulate visa office closes up shop
South Africans in Cape Town who are looking to travel to France will not be able to apply for visas at the Cape Town French Consulate, now that the visa offices there has closed.
According to Travel News, the French Consulate in Cape Town has stopped processing visa applications since 1 September, leaving the Johannesburg French Consulate as the sole authority for French visas in South Africa.
Tristan Roussignol-Retif, the Head of Communication Department of the French Embassy said that the visa branch at the French Consulate in Cape Town had been transferred to Johannesburg.
“Since September 1, 2024, all visa applications submitted in South Africa are processed by the Consulate General of France in Johannesburg, which is the only authority authorised to make decisions regarding visas.” Roussignol-Retif said as per Travel News.
Consul General in Johannesburg, Étienne Chapon, also explained that the decision to have just one consulate for visa applications was part of a global effort to enhance efficiency.
“In big countries like China, India and South Africa, we think that it is more efficient when only one institution processes all visas. It’s faster, and it consumes fewer human resources,” Chapon revealed.
VFS Global opens more offices
As one door closes, three more have since opened up in South Africa, after VFS Global was appointed the official partner in South Africa and Botswana to provide visas those looking to travel to Ireland.
The visa company said that services had already commenced from 10 July at functioning centres in three cities in South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
“The opening of three new centres in key locations is part of VFS Global’s plans to enhance cooperation with the Government of Ireland and offer a convenient and secure visa application platform to outbound travellers from South Africa and Botswana and efficiently cater to the growing travel needs from both countries.” Hariprasad Viswanathan, Head of VFS Global Sub Saharan Africa, said.