Will SADC ever get a univisa?

A single visa for all Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries sounds like a great idea in theory, but in practice there are a number of issues to consider, which could explain why there has been little progress since the SADC protocol on the development of tourism signed in 1998. 

It made provision for a univisa for its 15 member countries, with a date of implementation set for 2002, but over the years the project appears to have reached a bureaucratic stalemate. 

BDLive reports a South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) report has once again highlighted the univisa as a good move to promote tourism in the region since it would introduce a smooth entry for regional and international visitors, especially within trans-frontier conservation areas.

It could result in as much as 3%-5% annual growth, according to SAIIA but unfortunately cumbersome visa application processes currently act more as an inhibitor than a facilitator.

Among the key issues of concern include safety and security concerns, with the South African government worried that it could spell an influx of illegal immigrants. South Africa recently underwent an extreme overhaul of its visa application processes, with biometric data required from all applicants, which means an in person application process as well as an unabridged birth certificate requirements for travelling for children coming into effect in June this year.

The report does however show that business travel would occur more easily and intra-regional trade could be boosted. Currently SAIIA shows Africa has the lowest level of intra-regional trade, at 12% of total trade, compared with 40% in North America and 70% in Europe.   

But home affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete says in the report that despite the stalled appearance, the project is “very much alive and negotiations between SADC states are continuing” 

Tshwete says the idea is for the univisa to apply to incoming international tourists, which in turn raises the concern that most tourists would choose Johannesburg as their point of entry. Revenue share would have to be worked out carefully since tourism visas are an important source of income for a number of the SADC countries.  

The SAIIA report also goes on to detail a United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) study which shows southern Africa is lagging in terms of easing its visa regulations and scores only 29 out of 100 on the "openness to tourism" scale.

According to SAILA, none of the southern African states has implemented the e-visa and only a few southern African states offer visas upon arrival, in contrast to East Africa, which launched a univisa for Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in 2014 .