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BULAWAYO – Residents in Zimbabwe’s southern regions can now apply for UK visas without travelling to Harare, following the launch of a new visa application centre at the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel.
The facility, operated by VFS Global on behalf of the UK government, will open every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, offering full visa services including biometric enrolment and document submission.
British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pete Vowles, hailed the opening as a “significant milestone” that will strengthen ties between the two nations.
“This centre makes travel more accessible for people in southern Zimbabwe,” Vowles said.
“It opens new pathways for trade, tourism and investment while reflecting our commitment to deepening people-to-people connections.”
The Bulawayo centre mirrors services available at the main Harare facility in Sam Levy’s Village, including premium options like application assistance, real-time notifications and the “Keep My Passport While Applying” service.
Alok Singhal, VFS Global’s Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, said:
“This enables us to serve Zimbabwe’s growing number of UK travellers with the same convenience and best-in-class services as our Harare facility.”
Applicants can book appointments online via the VFS Global website. The launch comes as demand for UK visas peaks during the summer travel season.
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