Summary
• Italy had lenient rules on ancestry-based citizenship
• Government says system was abused, imposes restrictions
• Move aims at freeing up swamped consulates
ROME, March 28 (Reuters) - Italy's government tightened its citizenship laws on Friday, preventing people from delving deep back into their family history to try to claim a much sought-after Italian passport.
Under existing rules, anyone who can prove they had an Italian ancestor who was alive after March 17, 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was created, can seek citizenship.

However, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the system was being abused, with would-be Italians swamping consulates abroad for requests for passports, which provide visa-free entry to more countries than almost any other nationality.
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As a result, in future only individuals with at least one parent or grandparent born in Italy, a European Union member state, will automatically qualify for citizenship by descent.
"Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing. It's not a game to get a passport that allows you to go shopping in Miami," Tajani told a press conference.
The foreign ministry said there had been a surge in people abroad being granted citizenship, particularly in South America, where millions of Italians emigrated in the 19th and 20th centuries, often to escape grinding poverty back home.
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Between 2014 and 2024, the number of Italians living abroad rose by 40%, from 4.6 million to 6.4 million, many registering thanks to their newfound nationality. In Argentina alone, citizenship recognitions jumped to 30,000 in 2024 from 20,000 in 2023, while Brazil saw a rise to 20,000 from 14,000.
Tajani said companies were making a fortune by helping people track down their long-forgotten ancestors and seek birth certificates needed for applications - clogging up municipal offices with their demands for documentation.
"We are striking down very hard against those who want to make money from the opportunity of becoming an Italian citizen," Tajani said, adding that in future, nationality requests would be handled directly in Rome to free up overburdened consulates.

Italy has a population of around 59 million, which has been shrinking for the past decade. The foreign ministry has estimated that under the old rules, 60 to 80 million people worldwide were eligible for citizenship.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has previously suggested that Italy could overcome its demographic decline by seeking Christians of Italian ancestry from nations like Venezuela.
Critics of ancestry-based citizenship say it is grossly unfair, offering nationality to people who had no meaningful connection with Italy.
By contrast, the children of migrants born and raised in Italy who speak Italian fluently, have to wait until they are 18 before being able to apply for a passport.

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Cape Town is setting its sights on one of the world’s fastest growing global tourism markets: India. With a rapidly expanding middle class, increasing disposable income, and a strong appetite for international travel, Indian travellers have become some of the most sought-after visitors in the world. Recognising this, , Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, led a high-level delegation to key Indian cities this March. The success of the trip will undoubtedly be a boon for the hotel industry in the Cape and properties like The Capital’s 15 on Orange are looking to capitalise.

Janus Schoeman, the newly appointed General Manager at 15 on Orange, part of The Capital Hotels, Apartments & Resorts, highlights how The Capital is making its Cape properties more attractive to Indian tourists: “We’re thrilled to see that visitors from across the world are continuing to be introduced to the wonders of our city. We have definitely seen an uptick in visitors from the subcontinent and to make our guests feel more welcome we have taken steps to ensure that their stay with us feels like a home away from home.”

The Indian tourism boom and Cape Town’s opportunity
India’s outbound tourism is projected to reach 80 million travellers by 2040, according to McKinsey & Company. However, South Africa’s share of this market has fluctuated due to challenges such as the pandemic and visa constraints. Before COVID-19, South Africa welcomed over 95,000 Indian tourists annually. While the number dropped in subsequent years, 2024 saw a strong rebound, with 75,541 arrivals, a 79% recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels. Industry leaders are now targeting a 16% increase in 2025, capitalising on renewed interest and pent-up demand.

For Cape Town, this growth is an opportunity to expand its international visitor base. The city’s stunning landscapes, diverse cultural experiences and luxury tourism offerings align well with the preferences of Indian travellers. Whether it’s exploring the Cape Winelands, experiencing the vibrancy of the V&A Waterfront or enjoying the scenic beauty of Table Mountain, Cape Town has the potential to be a sought-after destination for Indian visitors.
With more than two decades of experience in the industry, Schoeman believes that Cape Town’s growing appeal among Indian tourists is due to the city’s welcoming and inclusive nature. “Cape Town is attractive to everyone but I think Indian tourists have only just started exploring it. Many still need to visit our iconic sites. South Africa’s inclusiveness, our ‘Rainbow Nation’ identity, makes it even more appealing.”

Direct flights and visa facilitation: key to growth
One of the biggest hurdles to attracting more Indian tourists has been connectivity. Currently, there are no direct flights between India and South Africa, making travel less convenient. Addressing this issue is a priority for the delegation visiting India. Securing direct flights would significantly improve accessibility and increase travel numbers.
Visa processing has also been a challenge. Easing visa restrictions or implementing streamlined application processes could make South Africa a more attractive option for Indian tourists, placing Cape Town in direct competition with destinations like Dubai, Thailand, and Mauritius.

A new era for Cape Town tourism
Schoeman notes that the timing of the uptick in visitors from India and the subcontinent couldn’t be more perfect. “Their travel period usually falls within our slow season, which makes it very attractive for us. So we are hoping that this is not a short-term marketing blitz. That will make the slow season sustainable for all.”
For Indian tourists, Cape Town offers a mix of world-famous attractions and cultural familiarity. “They have the iconic sites to explore, but also a diverse culinary scene that complements their own, particularly Cape Malay cuisine,” says Schoeman.

Looking ahead
With strategic efforts in place to secure direct flights, simplifying visa processes and tailor-made offerings to Indian travellers, Cape Town is poised to become a top destination for Indian tourists in the coming years. For The Capital and the broader hospitality sector, this represents a major opportunity.

Schoeman, emphasises the importance of guest interaction and cultural exchange. “I absolutely love learning about different cultures. We hope that this initiative isn’t just about numbers but about making Cape Town a welcoming home for Indian travellers for years to come.”
As Indian tourism continues to rise, Cape Town’s businesses, hotels, and tourism operators must be ready to embrace and cater to this growing market. By doing so, the city can establish itself as a preferred international destination, one that fosters long-term economic growth and cultural exchange.

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The United States is one of the top three most visited countries in the world. The big draw cards – cities such as San Francisco, New York and Chicago and national parks such as Yosemite – have attracted international tourists for decades. This combined with its role as a global business powerhouse meant it had 66.5 million visitors in 2023 – and the 2024 figure is expected to be higher still.

But a lot has changed in recent months, and 2025’s figures may not be as strong. The 2024 reelection of Donald Trump as the president of the United States and the consequential changes in foreign diplomacy and relations, alongside internal cultural shifts, are starting to change global attitudes towards the US – attitudes that appear to be affecting tourists’ desire to visit the US.

In a recent report by research firm Tourism Economics, inbound travel to the US is now projected to decline by 5.5% this year, instead of growing by nearly 9% as had previously been forecast. A further escalation in tariff and trade wars could result in further reductions in international tourism, which could amount to a US$18 billion (£13.8 billion) annual reduction in tourist spending in 2025.

There is already some evidence of travel cancellations. Since Trump announced 25% tariffs on many Canadian goods, the number of Canadians driving across the border at some crossings has fallen by up to 45%, on some days, when compared to last year. Canada is the biggest source of international tourists to the US. Air Canada has announced it is reducing flights to some US holiday destinations, including Las Vegas, from March, as demand reduces.
According to a March poll by Canadian market researcher Leger, 36% of Canadians who had planned trips to the United States had already cancelled them. According to data from the aviation analytics company OAG, passenger bookings on Canada to US routes are down by over 70% compared to the same period last year. This comes after the U.S. Travel Association warned that even a 10% reduction in Canadian inbound travel could result in a US$2.1 billion (£1.6 billion) loss in spending, putting 140,000 hospitality jobs at risk.

An unwelcoming environment?
Some would-be visitors have cited an unwelcoming political climate as part of a concern about visiting the US – including angry rhetoric about foreigners, migrants and the LGBTQ+ community. The Tourism Economics report also cited “polarizing Trump Administration policies and rhetoric” as a factor in travel cancellations.

There are other factors that may influence travellers from, for instance, western Europe, which represented 37% of overseas travel to the US last year. These include US tariffs pushing prices up at home and the US administration’s perceived alignment with Russia in the war in Ukraine.
Canadian trips to the US are going down.

Research by YouGov in March found that western European attitudes towards the US have become more negative since Trump’s reelection last November. More than half of people in Britain (53%), Germany (56%), Sweden (63%) and Denmark (74%) now have an unfavourable opinion of the US. In five of the seven countries polled, figures for US favourability are at the lowest since polling began in November 2016.

Border issues
Some high-profile cases at the US border could also be putting off tourists. In March, a British woman was handcuffed and detained for more than ten days by US Customs Enforcement after a visa problem. In the same month, a Canadian tourist was detained after attempting to renew her visa at the US-Mexico border. During the 12-day detention, she was held in crowded jail cells and even put in chains.

Mexico is the US’s second largest inbound travel market. Tourism Economics suggests that issues around new border enforcement rules will raise concerns with potential Mexican tourists. During Trump’s first term in office, Mexican visits to the US fell by 3%. In February this year, air travel from Mexico had already fallen 6% when compared to 2024.

Many countries including Canada have been updating their travel advice for the US. For instance, on March 15 the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its advice for the US, warning visitors that “you may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules”. The previous version of advice, from February, had no mention of arrest or detention. Germany has made similar updates to its travel advisory, after several Germans were recently detained for weeks by US border officials.

Multiple European countries, including France, Germany, Denmark and Norway have also issued specific travel warnings to transgender and non-binary citizens, as US authorities demand tourists declare their biological sex at birth on visa applications. This comes as the US has stopped issuing of passports with a X marker – commonly used by those identifying as non-binary – for its own citizens.

Alternative destinations
As thousands of travellers cancel their trips to the US, other destinations are seeing a spike in interest. Hotels in Bermuda have reported a surge in enquiries as Canadians relocate business and leisure trips away from the US, with some predicting a 20% increase in revenue from Canadian visits.

Europe too has reported increased bookings from Canada, with rental properties experiencing a 32% jump in summer reservations when compared to last year, according to some reports.

There are already growing concerns that visa and entry restrictions will disrupt fans and athletes from enjoying 2026 men’s Fifa World Cup, held on sites in the US, Canada and Mexico. Visitors from some countries, such as Brazil, Turkey and Colombia, could wait up to 700 days to obtain visas. The International Olympic Committee has also raised concerns over the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles, although US officials have insisted that “America will be open”.

With mounting visa delays, stricter border enforcement and growing concerns over human rights and anti-minority rhetoric, the United States risks losing its appeal as a top holiday destination. The long-term impact on its tourism industry may prove difficult to reverse.

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Some of the home affairs applications in the backlog were 10 years old. Home affairs has extended a visa concession for foreign nationals.
• The concession protects long-term visa applicants from adverse effects that may be created by delays in the assessment of applications.
• The department has made substantial progress in addressing the delays in recent months, but some delays persist.

For the third time since Minister Leon Schreiber took office, the Home Affairs Department has extended a temporary concession to protect foreign tourists, students, and workers from delays while they await the outcome of their visa applications.

The concession was introduced in 2022 to protect long-term visa applicants from adverse effects if their status expired while they are awaiting the outcome of an application.
This concession was set to expire at the end of March, but a notice published by the department on Friday said it had been extended for six more months until the end of September 2025.
Home affairs has justified the concessions by acknowledging that processing delays for some visa and permit categories have meant that people may be left with an expired document through no fault of their own, while trying to go through the legal application process.

Schreiber extended the concession in July last year in his first official act as home affairs minister. The concession had expired a few days prior, leaving people at risk of adverse consequences, including being declared "undesirable", which can result in a ban from the country when someone overstays their visa term.

"Without this concession, international tourists and workers who contribute to our economy would have been punished if their documentation expired while they awaited the outcome of home affairs processes.

"This would not only be unfair and irrational but would also discourage investment, tourism and skills transfer," Schreiber said in a post at the time.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has further extended a temporary concession to protect foreign tourists, students, and workers from delays while they await the outcome of their visa applications. (Amanda Khoza/News24)

The extension meant that the concession was supposed to last until the end of 2024, but it was extended again before the new year to the end of March 2025.
In its notice this week, home affairs said that while it had "addressed the backlog in its visa and permitting regime" between the December extension and the further extension announced this week, the system still had deficiencies.

"Many outcomes of applications will not be ready for collection prior to the deadline of 31 March 2025 on the previous concession, primarily due to delays in the printing process.
"Furthermore, the processing of the resultant appeals, as well as some manual category applications, will not be completed by the expiry of the current concession and is now the focus of the department's work," the notice said.
Jaco Brits, the head of immigration at Xpatweb, a South African immigration and work permit provider, welcomed the concession extension in a blog post.
Brits said that the work done to eliminate the visa application backlog has been "commendable", although an increase in rejected applications and appeals seems to have created a new set of challenges.

Schreiber has previously said that visa application turnaround times have improved significantly as the department has tackled the backlog.
He said some of the applications in the backlog were 10 years old.

Who does the concession apply to?
According to the home affairs notice, the three categories of applicants who will benefit from the concession are:
• Applicants whose waiver application outcomes are still pending;
• Applicants whose visa applications are still pending;
• Applicants whose waiver application outcomes are still pending.
The concession does not apply to people waiting for a permanent residence permit outcome.
The concession only applies to people who have been legally admitted to the country and who have submitted an application through VFS Global, the department's official partner.

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A Business Plan is a mandatory requirement for a South African Business Visa application. Below is a very detailed explanation of why it’s needed, what it must include, and how it should be structured to meet Department of Home Affairs (DHA) standards.

1. Is a Business Plan Required for a South African Business Visa?
✅ Yes, a comprehensive business plan must be submitted with your visa application.
• The DHA requires it to assess whether your business will be viable, sustainable, and beneficial to South Africa’s economy.
• Without a properly structured business plan, your application will likely be rejected.

2. Purpose of the Business Plan in the Visa Application
The business plan helps the DHA evaluate:
✔ Feasibility – Is your business realistic and well-planned?
✔ Economic Contribution – Will it create jobs for South Africans?
✔ Financial Viability – Do you have sufficient capital and revenue projections?
✔ Compliance – Does it meet investment requirements (ZAR 5 million or ZAR 2.5 million if waived)?

3. Detailed Structure of the Business Plan for a SA Business Visa
Your business plan must include the following sections:
Section 1: Executive Summary
• Brief overview of the business (name, type, location).
• Amount of investment (ZAR 5m / ZAR 2.5m if waived).
• Number of jobs to be created (minimum 60% South African employees).
Section 2: Business Description
• Legal structure (Pty Ltd, sole proprietorship, etc.).
• Industry sector (e.g., manufacturing, IT, agriculture).
• Business objectives and mission statement.
Section 3: Market Research & Analysis
• Target market (who will buy your product/service?).
• Competitor analysis (existing businesses in the same sector).
• Demand for your product/service in South Africa.
Section 4: Operational Plan
• Business location (lease agreement or property ownership proof).
• Equipment and technology needed.
• Suppliers and logistics.
Section 5: Financial Plan (Most Critical for DHA)
• Startup costs (breakdown of how the ZAR 5m / ZAR 2.5m will be spent).
• Projected revenue & expenses (3–5 years).
• Cash flow forecasts (monthly/annual).
• Funding sources (proof of available capital).
Section 6: Job Creation & Skills Development
• Number of South African citizens to be employed.
• Job roles and salaries.
• Training plans (if applicable).
Section 7: Risk Analysis & Mitigation
• Potential risks (economic, regulatory, competition).
• Strategies to overcome challenges.
Section 8: Supporting Documents
• Company registration documents (if already registered).
• Bank statements (proof of available funds).
• Tax clearance certificates (if applicable).
• Lease agreements or property documents.

4. Who Should Prepare the Business Plan?
• You can draft it yourself if you have business experience.
• Recommended: Hire a South African business consultant or accountant familiar with DHA requirements.
• The plan must be professional, realistic, and well-researched.

5. Common Reasons for Business Visa Rejections Due to Business Plan Issues
❌ Incomplete financial projections (no clear breakdown of the ZAR 5m investment).
❌ Unrealistic job creation claims (e.g., promising 50 jobs with insufficient capital).
❌ No market research (failing to prove demand for the business).
❌ Copy-paste templates (DHA officers can spot generic plans).

6. Submission & Approval Process
1. Submit the business plan with your visa application at VFS Global or a South African embassy.
2. DHA reviews the plan for feasibility and compliance.
3. Possible interview – You may be asked to explain aspects of your business.
4. Approval/Rejection – If approved, you must fulfill the investment within 24 months.

7. Can I Modify the Business Plan After Visa Approval?
• Minor changes are allowed, but major shifts (e.g., switching industries) may require notifying DHA.
• You must still meet the investment and job creation commitments.

Final Checklist for a Strong Business Plan
✔ Clear financial breakdown (ZAR 5m / ZAR 2.5m investment).
✔ Realistic job creation (60% South African employees).
✔ Market research (proof of demand).
✔ Professional formatting (no grammatical errors).
✔ Supporting documents (bank statements, company registration).

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