South African Department of Home Affairs offers Event Visa for 2010 FIFA World Cup

The South African Department of Home Affairs is offering an Event Visa to nationals travelling from specific non-Visa exempt African countries participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will be held from June 11-July 11, 2010. The Event Visa will be offered to spectators with proof of purchase of FIFA match ticket. The Event Visa will be issued to qualifying travellers at no cost and will be valid for a period of 90 days. Accredited FIFA delegates have been exempted from applying a Visa even if they are from countries that are not exempted from Visa requirement.

The Event Visa has been introduced with a view to hasten admissions and departure clearances in all Ports of Entries during the FIFA World Cup. The concept of such a Visa had been successfully piloted during the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa last year. The Department of Home Affairs will utilise Event Visa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and other major events.

Several programmes have been put in place to facilitate the influx of World Cup spectators in South Africa.