South Africa will be rolling out two new digital visas designed to supercharge the country’s appeal as a hotspot for international film productions and major global events.
According to BusinessTech, Minister Leon Schreiber unveiled the upcoming visa initiatives during the Home Affairs budget vote in Parliament.
STAGES and MEETS, as the new visa schemes are called, will be two major overhauls aimed at cutting red tape and unlocking billions in potential revenue for the country.
New STAGES and MEETS visas for South Africa
STAGES, short for Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme, will offer a streamlined visa process for film and television crews.
Schreiber emphasised the urgency of modernisation, citing a recent example where South Africa lost out on a R400 million Netflix production from Mexico due to clunky, paper-based systems.
“But thanks to STAGES, companies will now be able to apply via a dedicated online portal, receive visa decisions within hours, and will no longer be required to visit missions in person abroad,” Schreiber said, as per BusinessTech.
The second initiative, MEETS, which stands for Meetings, Events, Exhibitions and Tourism Scheme, targets global event organisers.
Despite South Africa’s reputation as a premier events destination, visa delays have long been a pain point for international attendees.
MEETS will basically allow participants of conferences, expos, sporting events, and festivals to apply for visas digitally, with promises of quick turnaround times.
What do you think of these new initiatives from the department?
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