Southern Africa Simplifies Travel with Unified Visa Plans

Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are streamlining travel for foreign visitors by eliminating the need for separate visas. Authorities from these five countries have agreed to work on implementing a unified Schengen-style visa, as reported by VisaGuide.World.

This single visa initiative will allow travelers to move freely among Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe without needing additional documentation. Currently, Zambia and Zimbabwe have a “univisa” which allows entry to both countries and short stays in Botswana. The new plan aims to expand this arrangement to include Angola and Zimbabwe, further enhancing travel convenience within the region.

Officials believe that the introduction of this unified visa will boost tourism by simplifying the visa process. Travelers will benefit from the ease of exploring multiple countries during one trip without the hassle of applying for multiple visas. This initiative is expected to make Southern Africa a more attractive destination, encouraging longer and more extensive visits.

In a similar move, GCC countries—UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait—are also planning to introduce a single visa. Dubbed the “GCC Grand Tours” visa, it will allow travelers to stay in any of the GCC countries for over 30 days without additional procedures. Like the Schengen visa, this unified visa will enable entry to all GCC countries with a single permit, aiming to increase tourist retention and boost the region’s appeal as a travel destination.

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