VFS Global launches new UK visa application centres open in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA — VFS Global has announced that South African residents travelling to the UK can book appointments to submit their visa applications through VFS Global’s new Visa Application Centres located in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria.

VFS Global is the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist for governments and diplomatic missions.

Effective 22 October 2024, customers applying for a UK visa will be directed to VFS Global to book an appointment to complete their visa application. Customers will also have the option to choose additional services designed to make the application process easier.

“We are excited to embark on this new journey with UK Visas and Immigration here in South Africa,” Mr. Alok Singhal, Head- Sub-Saharan Africa, VFS Global, said.

“We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003 and look forward to now bringing travellers from South Africa our best-in-class services.”

UK visa customers can now choose from a range of optional services offered by VFS Global to enhance their comfort and convenience. 

These include document upload assistance, Prime Time for application submission outside of business hours, SMS notifications, document checking service, and courier return of the passport once a decision has been made.

With our On Demand Mobile Visa service, customers can also submit their UK visa applications from the comfort and safety of their home, office, or any other preferred location. 

VFS Global’s Keep My Passport While Applying service allows customers to keep their passports once their application is submitted and biometrics have been enrolled. Customer will only need to re-submit their passport when a decision is reached.

As a partner to the UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, VFS Global offered visa services in 58 countries before the new contract and has now been awarded the contract to provide UK visa services in 142 countries worldwide. 

In the African region, VFS Global will provide Visa Application Centres for the UK in 31 countries, from October 2024

Earlier this month, the Department of Home Affairs, Australia, appointed VFS Global to provide biometric collection services for Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Sub-Saharan Africa region includes seven countries, and Australian Biometric Collection Centre services will be rolled out at 12 locations in 13 countries by February 2025. 

This includes setting up Centres in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

This is in addition to the seven regions awarded in August 2023 to provide biometric collection services –the Americas, Mekong, Middle East and North Africa, North Asia, Pacific, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

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