There have been many concerns about visas and dual-citizenship following president Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a State of Disaster and a travel ban for high-risk countries,
These countries are Italy, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland.
Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced at an inter-ministerial press briefing held at OR Tambo International Airport on March 17 that South Africans with dual-citizenship would be treated as a citizen of that high-risk country, should they be returning from the country.
“We won’t be stopping South Africans with dual-citizenship to travel to their other home country,” said Aaron.
Immigration specialist at Xpatweb, Moeketsi Seboko, explained that the government would not be allowed to deny any South African entry into the country.
“Travelling to these high-risk countries for all citizens is discouraged at this stage, whether you have dual-citizenship or not,” explained Moeketsi. “However, South Africans travelling from a high-risk country cannot be denied entry as that would be against the Constitution.
“When a traveller with dual-citizenship leaves and enters South Africa, they are using their South African passport,” Moeketsi elaborated. “They need to be treated as a South African citizen when they are here, even if they have dual-citizenship from a high-risk country and have returned from such a country.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the revoking of visas from high-risk countries that were issued between January and February. Seboko explained how those already in the country had no reason to panic.
“What the Minister of Home Affairs failed to explain is how many of those visas issued had already been used,” said Moeketsi. “Visas already active before the travel ban cannot be revoked by the government, only those that were issued but not used by the time the travel ban was announced.”
Although Aaron explained that the Department of Home Affairs would being giving opportunities to renew visas for those who don’t wish to go home to a high-risk country, Moeketsi has concerns about certain visas.
“We are waiting for the Department to give clear direction on renewing visas like the Intra-company transfer that cannot be extended in South Africa,” said Moeketsi. “We are not sure if the government will give those with such visas any concessions or the opportunity to change the status of the visa.”
