Demand for travel to the US from South Africa’s neighbouring countries has sharply declined since the introduction of visa bonds and changes to visa issuance processes.
The visa bond requires applicants from selected countries to pay a refundable bond of US$5 000 (R82 000), $10 000 (R164 000) or $15 000 (R246 000) when applying for a B1/B2 visa. The exact amount is determined at the visa interview.
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa currently on the list include Malawi and Zambia, both of which were believed to have high overstay rates and have been on the list since August 2025. Botswana and Namibia were added early in January this year, followed closely by Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda and Nigeria. The list then expanded in April to include Mozambique, Lesotho, Mauritius, Seychelles and Ethiopia.
Impact on demand
Travel advisers say uncertainty is the main driver behind reduced demand for US travel.
“Many potential travellers are uncertain about the application process, processing times and likelihood of obtaining visas,” says Tryphine Mapungu, Travel Consultant in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has also seen routine visa processing suspended at its US Embassy in Harare, forcing applicants to travel to neighbouring countries for interviews. The US Consulate in Johannesburg is currently the only listed alternative.
Mapungu says this has made travellers reluctant to commit to bookings, resulting in postponements and cancellations. The leisure travel market has been most affected, with travellers turning to destinations such as the UAE, South Africa, the UK and parts of Asia, where visa processes are more accessible and predictable.
Despite this, she notes that higher-income travellers, corporate executives, business owners and those having to travel urgently continue to travel, absorbing additional costs.
“Essential travel continues, albeit at a higher cost and with more complex travel planning.”
She says she has seen a clear shift in travel purpose. “Business trips, family reunification visits, educational travel, medical travel, and attendance at important events now account for a larger proportion of US-bound travel.”
Corporate pullback
Tendai Kahuni, Manager of Cardinal Travel Point, a Zimbabwe-based travel agency, says US leisure and business travel have become increasingly constrained due to higher costs and suspended visa processing.
“It is an extra cost to travel to neighbouring countries and there is no guarantee that the visa will be issued,” Kahuni says, adding that corporate clients are avoiding travel to the US entirely in favour of alternative destinations.
“Study travel is dead now and medical travel is now mostly to India and China.”
Purpose-led travel continues
Some markets have seen less pronounced shifts, with demand patterns historically favouring other destinations. In Namibia, purpose-led travel remains stable while leisure travel has declined.
Chantell Van den Heever, Agency Owner at XL Travel, who caters for this market, says it is difficult to attribute Namibia’s decline in US interest to the introduction of visa bonds. “Factors such as travel costs, distance, visa processes, appointment availability are also likely contributors.”
She says recent bookings are largely limited to travellers who already hold valid US visas, those with European passports, or those travelling for defined purposes such as business, study, sporting events or family visits.
“Leisure travel to the US remains a smaller segment of the overall enquiries, compared with other long-haul destinations.”
