Visas & passports for West Africa.

[suby]

I have a UK passport and a South African passport, which would require the least visas and be the easiest to use if I am working in West Africa?
Cheers

[Mike Kidd]

Stay clear of using your Yarpy passport especially in Angola, some of the immigration people have long memories 😯

[suby]

Yea best keep that one hidden! Whats it like with visas for my UK passport?

[Andy Shiers]

Depends how much you put in it when you go for the Visa !

[RSescorts]

OK Visa’s Situation in Angola.

The Goverment has started to make it difficult to visas for Angola.

Short term Visa, you are now only allowed a maximum of 3 short term angolan visas in your passport. or heavy fines need paying.

short term visas are easy to get at the moment but
if you have 3 short term visas in you’ll need to apply for a 12mth visa.
this process takes a couple of weeks to about 16 weeks depends who you work for, and which agency they use to apply for the visas.

you’ll need a police report, copies of certificates and qualifications.
employment contract, and a copy of your passport, then you’ll get an approval letter from the immigartion which you can take to the embassy in london for a same day stamp in your passport for the 12mth visa.

try to avoid leaving your passport with an agent in angola as it has happend that they can loose them, people have been here for 16 wks becasue passports were lost and they didn’t have a 2nd passport available.

hope this info helps shed some light on the process.

cheers……Ken

[melvodon]

Changes to Angola Immigration Laws with effect from November 1st 2007

Introduction
Everyone should be aware of the significant changes, in the process, for obtaining visas for foreign nationals working in Angola by the Angolan Government. Effective November 1st 2007 .

STV’s
All employees must have a valid work visa. (STV is not a work visa)
– STV’s should be avoided at all costs. The law states it is illegal to work with this type of visa. Immigration will turn a blind eye for the individuals who require this type of visa because they are awaiting MINPET approval or if an individual has to enter the country for an emergency.
– STV”S are only valid for 7 days starting Nov 1st and can only be renewed for an additional 7 days. If the individual remains offshore after the visa expires, we will be subject to a daily fine of $150/day.
– When the STV is issued, the individual MUST enter Luanda WITHIN 72 hours of the visa being issued

VISTO TRANSBORDO
All employees must have a valid work visa. (Visto Transbordo is not a work visa)
– Visa is designed for Marine crews and is valid for 180 days
– Must be in possession of a Seamans book
– Individual cannot be involved in any technical work.
– If caught, individual will be ejected from the country as he is working illegally

WORK VISA
All employees must have a valid work visa. (This is the only correct visa to have)
– Valid for a maximum of 3 years
– Passport must have a minimum of 6 clean pages available in their passport
– Passport should have a minimum of more then 3 years remaining
– After submitting all required documentation (List has not changed) including a newly signed Angolan contract to Oceaneering Angola, application will be submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum ( MINPET ) for approval.
– Approvals should be obtained within 15 days
– When approved, Oceaneering will courier the approval to either the nearest Oceaneering office or to the individual himself or herself.
– Individual will then be required to submit the approval and their passport to the Angolan embassy in their own country.
– Individuals whose country does not have an Angolan embassy, they can then proceed to the nearest one to their country
– For individuals who are in Luanda. Oceaneering can submit directly to immigration locally
– Visas issued outside of Luanda. Expect a 15 day processing time
o After MINPET approval. Individual has only 60 days to get the visa put into their passport
o Once visa is in passport. Individual must enter the country within 60 days to activate visa
– Visas issued within Luanda. Expect up to 4 weeks processing time
o After MINPET approval. Individual has only 60 days to get the visa put into their passport
o Once visa is in passport. Individual must exit and return into the country within 60 days to activate visa

RENEWAL OF WORK VISA
For employees who are currently in possession of 1-year visas. Upon expiry and subsequent renewal, they will be extended to 3 years.
– Information presented above is exactly the same. (WORK VISA)
– Personnel will be required to sign a new Angolan contract, valid for three years
– A new document package will be required
– Should the one year visa expire, we will be subject to a $1000 fine along with an additional $150/day for everyday the visa is expired until the new visa is issued
– For persons who have a second passport. If there is a case whereby the Passport with renewed visa has still not been returned from immigration and the Individual concerned needs to return for their Rota in Angola, an STV will be issued for entry into Angola in the Individuals second passport. This will be in the form of a 7 day STV and will not need to be renewed as the individual has MINPET approval and passport is in Immigration awaiting release
– Visas issued outside of Luanda. Expect a 15 day processing time
o After MINPET approval. Individual has only 60 days to get the visa put into their passport
o Once visa is in passport. Individual must enter the country within 60 days to activate visa
– Visas issued within Luanda. Expect up to 4 weeks processing time
o After MINPET approval. Individual has only 60 days to get the visa put into their passport
o Once visa is in passport. Individual must exit and return into the country within 60 days to activate visa

TRANSITION PERIOD
As in every new Immigration legislation and in view of Angola being a developing country , we do not expect each and every transaction to go without error , especially on the part of the Angolan Authorities involved who may not all be up to speed with their individual requirements. Therefore we ask all parties concerned to be understanding until the changeover has been completed fully.
Our Team in Angola are working closely with the respective Angolan Government departments. We assure all concerned parties that we will do our level best to achieve the challenges given to us.
Our concern is paramount for the Safe and unhindered passage of our employees, especially those in Angola

Hope this helps out some folks

[Balloo]

What can I say………………been there, seen it, done that, managed to get da f#ck out. Dont do it………….not worth the hassle down there. Hold on to your passport and look elsewhere for work!

[suby]

Cheers guys,
Sounds like a bit of a mission trying to get in and out of Angola!
Which are the "better" places to work?….. North Sea, GOM, ect 😆

[Ray Shields]

Define "better".

Best working conditions, best accommodation/food, best weather, best vessels, easiest in/out country, best safety culture, etc. Varies so much nowadays. And you can get combinations of good and bad!

[suby]

I was thinking more in the line of the country and getting in with visas and passports.

[rovbionic]

Doing my seventh trip to Angola in two weeks.

Yes the criminal record check was different this time….the rest the grown ups handle.
Angola is a cake walk compared to the Congo puppet show.

Vessel I’m on is just like anything in North Sea and all the comforts not to mention the most advanced work class in the industry….ACV 01 & 02.

Two more hitches in West Africa then the Polar Queen is off to Brazil…of yea lads 😉

[Author]

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