Question to the Minister of Home Affairs - NW2084

13 June 2022 - NW2084

De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

(a) What number of tourism visa applications were (i) received and (ii) issued in each month, (b) from which countries were applications made in each case, (c) what number of applications were received from each country in each month, (d) what number of applications were received from missions abroad, (e) what is the average turnaround time from receipt of application, (f) what processes, procedures and mechanisms have been put in place to improve turnaround times and (g) how are the specified mechanisms measured in the (aa) past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2022 in each case?

Source
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Reply:

(a) (b) & (c) Please see the attached statistics for the different geographical regions as submitted by the Diplomatic Missions as follows:

Annexure “A” for the European Geographical Region
Annexure “B” for the Australasia and Oceania Geographical Region
Annexure “C” for the Africa West and Central Geographical Region
Annexure “D” for the Africa East and North Geographical Region
Annexure “E” for the Africa SADC Geographical Region
Annexure “F” for the Americas Geographical Region
Annexure “G” for the Middle East Geographical Region

d) The Statistics received from the Missions were consolidated and reflects in Annexure H.

(e) The maximum processing timeframe for the issuance of visas is 10 working days.

(f) With the advent of the Corona virus-19 there has been a steep decline in international travel which also impacted on the volumes of Visa applications that went hand in hand with a curb in Government spending and an economic decline. There was therefore no specific focus in addressing the turnaround times for visa processing periods.

(g) The continued prevalence of the Coronavirus globally and the response thereto by the individual countries hinders the effective response mechanisms.

(aa)-(bb) The continued prevalence of the Coronavirus globally and the response thereto by the individual countries hinders the effective response mechanisms.

END