Visa-free travel: Another country to welcome South Africans
Ghana becomes the next country to open up visa-free entry for South African passport holders for periods of 90 days.
Ghana is another country that will open its doors to South African passport holders by allowing visa-free entry.
South African passport holders have seen increasing mobility in recent months.
This is due to a rising number of countries relaxing entry restrictions, or allowing easier entry for SA nationals, by virtue of e-visas.
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VISA-FREE ENTRY FOR SOUTH AFRICA
BBC reports that the governments of Ghana and South Africa have signed a visa waiver agreement.
A reciprocal visa waiver will be implemented for passport holders from both countries.
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This will therefore allow visa-free entry for citizens of both countries.
From next month, Ghana will allow South African nationals to enter and stay for periods of up to 3 months.
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THE VISA-FREE 90 DAY RULE
The agreement will take effect on 1 November. This will allow visa-free entry for holders of ordinary passports from both countries for a cumulative period of up to 90 days per year (without the right to seek employment).
Tourism Update reports that South Africa has already made it easier for passport holders from Ghana to enter SA when it added Ghana to the eVisa platform.
This enabled Ghanaians to apply for entry visas to South Africa without needing to visit the SA High Commission.
The South African High Commission in Ghana states that once the 90 days is exhausted within 12 months, ordinary passport holders must apply for a visa to enter South Africa.
TOURISM SOURCE COUNTRY
The move is expected to draw interest from Ghanaian nationals who are an increasingly important tourism source country for South Africa.
Entry visas for South Africa cost 280 USD (ZAR 5320) for Ghana passport holders.
SA has seen rising numbers of visitors from African countries post the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, South African Airways also offers several flights a week from Accra in Ghana to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.