DHA opens ‘one-stop-shop’ visa centre for corporates

THE Department of Home Affairs
opened its Premium Visa and
Permit Centre in Sandton on
May 20.
The centre aims to alleviate
the pressure of visa applications
for foreign senior executives of
companies. Corporate clients and
their families can apply for and
collect visas, permits, waivers and
exemptions at the centre, which is
managed by VFS Global. Clients will
also have access to immigrationrelated
advice and information from
dedicated Home Affairs staff.
The centre is open to large
businesses, organisations and
employers who are accredited with
the Corporate Accounts Unit based
on specific criteria, which include:
 The number of visas required in
key positions;
 National priorities and relevance
of the visa requested to the
development of national
infrastructure;
 Proof that at least 60% of the
total staff complement within the
company are South African.
“As part of the unique value
proposition we are creating for
corporate clients, we will offer
reduced turnarounds of four weeks
for most visas,” said Home Affairs
Minister, Malusi Gigaba. “To
achieve this, we are establishing
a dedicated centre of excellence
in our back office, with dedicated
adjudication staff to deal specifically
with applications received from this
centre.”
The application process at the
centre takes about ten minutes and
thereafter the applicant will wait for
about four months to get the visa
or permit as opposed to the initial
eight months. Applicants can make
appointments online, prior to visiting
the centre. Most of the application
process is done electronically,
including payment, while the
biometrics and applications are
approved at the DHA head office in
Pretoria.