Miscommunication leads to visa confusion

MISCOMMUNICATION
between the Italian
embassy in South
Africa and Capago’s visa
application centres has led to
confusion about whether South
African travellers need extra
insurance when travelling to
the country.
Capago – the company
issuing visas on behalf of the
Italian embassy – told TNW
that to qualify for an Italian
Schengen visa, travellers
would now need to have
an additional day of travel
insurance in place that would
cover them up to at least
one day after their arrival back
in South Africa. (See TNW
August 13).
The Italian Embassy has
since advised that there
have been no changes to
the insurance requirements
for SA travellers to Italy.
“South Africans don’t need
any additional insurance,” a
spokesperson said.
Capago, however, continued
to advise travellers that they
would require additional travel
insurance that would cover
them up to at least one day
after their arrival back in South
Africa. TNW contacted the visa
application centre on several
occasions and was told each
time that the requirements had
changed for Italian Schengen
visas and that the additional
insurance was a necessity.
The Italian Embassy
told TNW it was in the
process of clarifying any
misunderstandings with
Capago on any incorrect
infor