The new ruling is set to come into effect on Tuesday 3 March 2009. At the time of publishing applying for a single, double and multiple visit visa valid up to six months will cost a whopping R991.

However, until mid-2009, South African nationals who have previously travelled to the UK on their current passport will be exempt from the visa requirement.

The moves follow South Africa's absence from the launch of the Youth Mobility Program in late-2008; the visa regime which replaced the popular Working Holidaymaker Visa.

According to a statement from the British High Commission, the decision to abolish South Africa's visa-free status "follows a global review of the UK's pre-entry immigration controls and reflects the UK government's commitment to strengthen its borders".

In March 2007, the UK government announced that all countries outside of the European Economic Area would be subject to a Visa Waiver Test, part of a radical overhaul of the UK's immigration system. The Test used a wide range of criteria designed to determine the overall level of harm to the UK posed by a particular country. Criteria for this test were:

• Issuing secure passports,
• Co-operation in re-documentation and return of nationals being deported or removed from the UK for immigration and other offences;
• A sufficiently low incidence of identified immigration abuse.
• A sufficiently low risk posed by the country's nationals in terms of terrorism and criminality;
• The steps taken by the country to combat terrorism, crime and immigration abuse internally;
• The economic impact on the UK of the imposition of a visa regime; and
• The impact on political and cultural relations between the country and the UK and how this will affect the UK.

Last July the UK government announced that in the case of 11 countries, including South Africa, a decision had been taken in principle to impose a visa regime. This was subject to a six-month period of mitigation and was largely seen as an opportunity for the Department of Home Affairs to get their house in order. The Department had come under fire for corruption and fraud in the issuing of passports.

Each government was given a list of the main areas of concern to the UK and warned that unless there was significant progress in these areas by the end of the year, visa regimes would be implemented.

The British High Commission says that "abuse of the South African passport remains a serious concern".

"In the last two years there has also been a significant increase in the number of South African nationals detected working illegally or overstaying after their leave to remain in the UK has expired. "

The UK Border Agency say that they are aware of the Department of Home Affairs' ambitious Turnaround programme and recognise that if and when these plans are successfully implemented the risk to the UK border originating in South Africa may be significantly reduced.

"Further global reviews of our visa operations will be conducted and there will be an opportunity to assess South Africa's progress," says the High Commission.

Commenting on the development, the British High Commissioner, the Rt Hon Paul Boateng said: "The introduction of a visa requirement is in no way a reflection of any deterioration in our continuing and strong relationship with South Africa. The maintenance of warm and friendly relations and the close links between our two countries remains of paramount importance.

"We are committed to continuing to welcome South Africans travelling for legitimate reasons to the UK. The UK remains a favourite destination for both business and tourism for South Africans and will continue to be so. Our aim is to provide a first class service to all. Visas will provide added security and protection for travellers to the UK."

"This, together with the introduction of biometrics, will ultimately provide a safer and better experience for the ordinary travelling public."

Visa applications have been outsourced to VFS Global, according to their website; a commercial company working "in partnership with the UK Border Agency and the British High Commission" in South Africa.

For more information on the new visa rules, and how to apply, visit www.vfs-uk-za.com or call 082 234 4450.

What do you think of the new visa regulations? Will it make you think twice about travelling to the United Kingdom?