The Department of Home Affairs, South Africa, has launched the Meetings, Exhibitions, Events and Tourism Scheme (MEETS), a new visa reform initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s position as a leading global destination for international conferences, exhibitions, sporting tournaments and major cultural and entertainment events.
The scheme establishes a framework for processing high-volume, time-sensitive group visa applications associated with major international events. It is designed to streamline application procedures and enable faster processing through digital systems.
Domestic event organisers with relevant experience are invited to submit expressions of interest to participate in the scheme, subject to qualifying criteria. Approved organisers will enter into formal agreements with the Department of Home Affairs to regulate participation and implementation.
South Africa regularly hosts large-scale events, including music concerts, global trade gatherings such as Mining Indaba, sporting tournaments, and international academic conferences, which attract high volumes of international participants. These events often require coordinated travel for teams, performers, delegates, and technical staff within strict timelines.
The MEETS initiative is designed to support these requirements by modernising visa processing for large delegations through a more secure and coordinated approach. It enables streamlined online submissions tailored to major international events, with the aim of improving efficiency in handling high-volume visa applications.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, said, “The launch of MEETS marks another decisive step in our journey of digital transformation. By modernising our visa system, we are positioning Home Affairs as an economic enabler that supports tourism, investment, and allows for job creation. The events sector is a powerful driver of growth, and MEETS ensures that our visa regime matches South Africa’s ambition to host world-class international gatherings.”
He added, “South Africa already possesses the infrastructure, venues and global appeal required to host premier international events. Through MEETS, we are ensuring that our visa system becomes a competitive advantage that helps attract even more conferences, exhibitions, sporting tournaments and cultural events that create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”
