Travelling to South Africa is about to get easier, thanks to upcoming changes in the country's visa policies. The South African government has decided to reform its strict immigration rules to attract more skilled workers and boost tourism. This is a big shift from their previous approach, which had received a lot of criticism for being too rigid and complicated.

One of the key updates includes introducing a points-based system for work visas. This means that if you have specific skills in demand, you'll automatically be eligible for a visa. On top of that, a new remote work visa is expected to be approved soon, making it easier for digital nomads and freelancers to live and work in South Africa.

Currently, getting a visa for South Africa can be a long and frustrating process, especially for foreigners with job offers in the country. Many applicants have to wait months or even years to hear back, and sometimes, they don't even know why their visa was denied. While tourists from Western countries can usually get visas on arrival without much trouble, travellers from key markets like China and India often face a lot of paperwork, discouraging them from visiting

To fix this, the South African government plans to digitise the visa process within five years. This would make the system faster, more efficient, and less prone to fraud or bias from immigration officers. These changes are happening amid ongoing discussions about immigration, particularly regarding African migrants, who are sometimes blamed for taking jobs during a time when many South Africans are unemployed.

(With inputs from multiples reports)