Bulawayo residents can now apply for United Kingdom visas more easily following the launch of a new Visa Application Centre at the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel, eliminating the need to travel to Harare. The development marks a significant step in improving access to UK travel services in southern Zimbabwe.
The new centre will operate every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is managed by VFS Global, the UK government’s official visa services partner. Applicants can book appointments online through the VFS Global website to submit documents and complete biometric enrolment without needing to travel hundreds of kilometres to the capital.
The opening comes at a time when demand for UK visas is surging, particularly during the peak summer travel period. For residents in Bulawayo, Matabeleland, Midlands, and surrounding provinces, the facility significantly reduces the logistical and financial burdens previously associated with visa applications.
British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pete Vowles, officially unveiled the centre, describing the development as a “significant milestone” in strengthening UK-Zimbabwe relations and improving access to essential services.
“This new Visa Application Centre will make travel to the UK more accessible for people in the southern region of Zimbabwe,” said Vowles. “It’s a practical response to growing demand and, more importantly, it underscores our commitment to deepening people-to-people connections. Whether it’s for education, business, tourism, or family reunification, this facility opens new doors.”
He added that the move is also part of a broader effort to enhance cooperation between the UK and Zimbabwe, particularly in areas such as trade, tourism, and investment.
The Bulawayo centre complements the main UK Visa Application Centre in Harare, which has been operating from Sam Levy’s Village in Borrowdale since November 2024. Together, the two centres aim to provide more inclusive and regionally balanced access to UK visa services across Zimbabwe.
VFS Global has assured applicants that the Bulawayo facility will offer a full suite of premium services similar to those available in Harare. These include assistance with filling out visa applications, real-time SMS and email notifications on application progress, courier return of documents, and the increasingly popular “Keep My Passport While Applying” option, which allows travellers to retain their passports during the decision-making process.
UK Opens Visa Application Centre in Bulawayo, Bringing Relief to Southern Zimbabwe
Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa for VFS Global, welcomed the launch of the Bulawayo centre as a demonstration of the organisation’s continued efforts to improve service accessibility in Zimbabwe.
“This new facility allows us to extend the same comfort, convenience, and best-in-class service available in Harare to applicants in the south of the country,” said Singhal. “As travel demand to the UK from Zimbabwe continues to rise, especially for students, tourists, and professionals, this expansion is both timely and necessary.”
The development has been warmly welcomed by local residents, community leaders, and business stakeholders in Bulawayo and surrounding areas. Many see the move as a boost not only to individual travel opportunities but also to broader efforts aimed at enhancing Zimbabwe’s global integration.
Bulawayo resident and travel consultant Nqobizitha Moyo said the centre will ease the strain on families and small business owners who previously had to budget for both the visa fees and travel expenses to Harare.
“This is a major win for southern Zimbabwe. Many clients used to abandon travel plans simply because of the cost and inconvenience of travelling to Harare for just an appointment,” Moyo said. “Now they can apply right here at home. This is a game changer.”
Business groups have also hailed the initiative as a step forward in attracting investment and fostering international cooperation.
“The opening of this centre is not just about visas,” said Matabeleland Chamber of Commerce Chairperson, Nomusa Sibanda. “It’s about unlocking opportunities for our entrepreneurs, our students, and our families. It means more people can participate in global opportunities — from studying abroad to forming trade partnerships and attending international events.”
The UK remains one of Zimbabwe’s most popular destinations for travel, with thousands of Zimbabweans residing in the UK and a growing number of Zimbabwean students enrolling in British universities each year.
With the Bulawayo Visa Application Centre now operational, officials are confident that the region will see increased mobility, smoother application processes, and a renewed sense of connection with the United Kingdom.
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