Travelers should avoid all travel to South Africa. If you have Permanent Residency in South Africa, you can leave and re-enter South Africa but must carry valid documentation with you proving your permanent residency rights. For more information, contact the South African High Commission or the South African Department of Home Affairs. Foreign nationals in South Africa with an expired visa that was issued for up to 90 days may legally remain in South Africa until 30 June 2021 without being declared as undesirable when leaving. Those who present COVID-19 symptoms which include elevated body temperatures and flu-like symptoms, will be required to take a COVID-19 test which should be covered by the travel insurance. Travellers from medium and low risk countries will only be allowed into the country subject to the prevailing visa requirements. Quarantine Requirements: There are no compulsory quarantine-on-arrival travel requirements in South Africa. Travel advice for Dubai residents Find out the process for returning to Dubai, whether you’re already overseas or you plan to fly from Dubai and return. 3. Receipts issued by the Department of Home Affairs for applications to renew a permit will not be accepted by the immigration authorities. What are the requirements for travellers wishing to travel to South Africa from medium and low risk countries? What Are the COVID-19 Entry Requirements for South Africa? This may result in some delays at land borders. All health and safety protocols, social distancing, hygiene and sanitation guidelines, however, must still be followed at all times during Level 1, including the mandatory wearing of face … Which land ports of entry will be opened for travellers from other African countries? In England, you must have a permitted reason to travel abroad and complete the declaration form. When will borders be opened for international travel? A passenger in transit must be in possession of a negative PCR test certificate or a valid COVID-19 negative test certificate, obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel, from an accredited laboratory. This can also be completed online at South Africa Department of Health. South Africa has implemented biometric capturing at all ports of entry. Government has adopted a gradual reopening of borders and ports of entry for international travel for business, leisure and other travel guided by the communique published by the Word Health Organisation (WHO) on Public Health on considerations for international travel on 30 July 2020 as well as epidemiological and transmission rates both in South Africa and the traveller’s countries of origin. Under South African law, all occupants of motor vehicles equipped with seatbelts are required to wear them while the vehicle is in operation. An Operator must ensure the following risk mitigation measures for crew members: (a) conduct risk assessments to ensure that crew members are fit and proper before they undertake their travel duties and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 crew infections; and. Should the test results come back positive, the traveller will be subjected to mandatory quarantine, which will also be paid for by the traveller or the travel insurance. Entry and exit to South Africa via some land borders is restricted. Failure to do so will result in you being sent to quarantine at your own cost. Passengers are required to wear face masks at all times and may only remove face masks during emergencies or when instructed by cabin crew to take them off, and must observe social distancing, ensure hand washing, and sanitize regularly. The visa free status of citizens from the following countries and territories has been reinstated: Are business persons providing services across borders be allowed multiple entry? Gatherings are permitted, subject to limitations on size and social distancing, including religious, social, political and cultural gatherings with a maximum number of people of 100 for indoor and 250 for outdoor gatherings. In a move to prevent the introduction of SARS-CoV2-variants, the German Government on 30th January 2021 has imposed a general ban on travel and entry from countries with widespread occurrence of such virus variants (referred to as areas of variant of concern). The questionnaire is available from the South Africa Department of Health. The test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and the certificate must have the name and signature of … Unless otherwise stated, this information is for travellers using a full ‘British Citizen’ passport. It is possible to transit South Africa and travel to a third country via air. These crew members will also be medically screened for COVID-19 symptoms. In the event of the passenger’s failure, for whatever reason, to submit a certificate as proof of a negative PCR test certificate or a valid COVID-19 negative test certificate upon arrival in South Africa, the passenger shall be subjected to a compulsory quarantine at a government designated facility as contemplated for in Health Directions, at his or her own cost. Strict health protocols are in place for international travellers to South Africa. Please check the country-specific entry requirements of the country you are planning to travel to and review the passport, visa and health travel document requirements page. South Africa has conducted over 4 million COVID-19 tests in both public and private health care facilities. This is because masks can restrict breathing for small children as their airways are smaller than older children and adults. Daily commuters who reside in cross-border areas/towns and those who are from neighbouring countries including those with relevant work permits and school children and teachers will be allowed to enter and exit the borders for work purposes. Because of the current situation in South Africa even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to South Africa. What about daily commuters from neighbouring countries? You should comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the authorities. However these daily commuters will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before they enter the country. Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website. Negative PCR test result requirement. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Are home PCR tests allowed, which are sent to a testing laboratory? What are the compliance requirements for Airline Operators? Travellers intending to visit the country will be expected to produce a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that is not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa; and be presented before travelling to South Africa. Your passport should be valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended date of exit from South... Travelling with children. You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. The test must have taken place no more than 72 hours before your departure. A passenger must provide to the Operator a negative PCR test certificate or a valid COVID-19 negative test certificate, obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel, from an accredited laboratory and in line with the World Health Organization requirements. complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form; provide evidence that you have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a COVID-19 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out no more than 72 hours before you arrive into Ireland, or have evidence that you are exempt from this legal requirement Business travellers providing services across the borders between South Africa and the Southern African Development Community are allowed multiple entry subject to producing a certificate of negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) result not older than 72 hours from the time of departure. For any questions regarding the process to enter South Africa, you should speak to your local South African High Commission. Passengers must comply with COVID‑19 requirements of the destination. There are different requirements for unaccompanied children entering South Africa. If a passenger is symptomatic, the necessary protocols of the Department of Health will be followed. REASON FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENT: In response to COVID-19 OTHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A valid South Africa Visa (depending on your nationality); A valid certificate of a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 that is less than 72 hours old at the time of departure (if you don’t have this, you’ll have to take an antigen test on arrival at your own cost, and in … Additional screening may include temperature measurements and check on recent travel to affected areas. South African citizens who wish to travel to high-risk countries must check with the country if their borders are open and requirements of travel. All travellers will be subjected to medical screening for COVID-19 upon entering South Africa and if required, can be isolated or quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. South Africa is open to international travel, subject to health and safety protocols. All Rights Reserved, Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) Self Registration Portal, COVID-19 vaccine frequently asked questions, Isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19. You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Check the latest COVID-19 travel and testing requirements for Dubai, including advice for Dubai residents, tourists and connecting passengers. Some countries have closed borders, and any country may further restrict travel or bring in new social distancing rules with little warning. South Africa– Blue Sky Publications (Pty) Ltd T/A TheSouthAfrican Number: 2005/028472/07. Extra Documentation and/or Services Required: Travellers will also have to download an app to … 18 land points of entry will be opened. A Foreign Operator (meaning an airline) is required to submit procedures that show the level of compliance with South African COVID-19 legislation for approval to the South African Civil Aviation Authority. Should the traveller display any COVID-19–related symptoms or been in contact with an infected person(s), they will be expected to take a mandatory COVID-19 test. A passenger who is unable to wear a face mask due to an underlying medical condition must submit a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner to the Operator prior to departure. Travel and entry requirements Many countries around the world have specific regulations in place for arriving and departing passengers in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. These airports are OR Tambo International (in Johannesburg, Gauteng), Cape Town International (in Cape Town, Western Cape) and King Shaka International in (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal). South Africa. They should be in possession of a PCR test certificate, which is not older than three (3) months when they embarked the ship. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. South African crew disembarking at South African ports from a vessel that has not effected crew changes or visited a foreign port 10 days prior arrival will be subjected to screening and proceed home to rest if they do not have any symptoms. Crew members from the cargo ships will be allowed to crew changes. You should comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the authorities. Regular entry requirements Passport validity. If you do not present proof of a test upon arrival, you may be required to quarantine at your own cost. We advise that you carry several paper copies of your test, as you may need to present it more than once on your journey. A child under the age of two years may be exempted from wearing a face mask. Will business and leisure travellers from Africa also have to produce a 72-hour old PCR test on arrival at borders? The COVID-Alert APP alerts subscribers and provides relevant information if they have been in contact with any person who has tested positive for the virus. These include South Africa… This has brought about further relaxation of the restrictions that have been in place, and a welcomed easing on immigration. Follow current COVID-19 rules where you live: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Visa services, including submission of applications through VFS Global, have resumed in the following categories: Visitor’s visas; study visa; treaty visa; business visa; crew visa; medical treatment visa; relative’s visa; general work visa; critical skills work visa; intra-company transfer work visa; retired person visa; corporate visa; exchange visa;  waiver of prescribed requirement, as contemplated in section 31(2)(c); and appeals or reviews contemplated in section 8 of the Immigration Act.