South Africa Travel requirements, advice , Coronavirus status and Visa Policy

2022-10-21 16:19:02

South Africa is located in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a developing country. Current Travel Advice to visitors travelling to South Africa is Exercise Increased Caution. Check South Africa Travel Advisory, visa Requirements below.



Travel advice and advisories

Published 17.05.2022
1. Passengers can only land at Cape Town (CPT), Durban (DUR), Nelspruit (MQP) or Johannesburg: Lanseria International (HLA) and OR Tambo International (JNB).
2. Passengers entering or transiting through South Africa are subject to a COVID-19 antigen test upon arrival and to quarantine if the test result is positive, if they do not have:
- a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point; or
- a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken at most 48 hours before departure from the first embarkation point; or
- a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received one dose of AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covishield, Covovax, Janssen, Moderna (Spikevax), Nuvaxovid (Novavax), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm (BIBP) or Sinovac. The US COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card is not accepted; or
- a positive COVID-19 PCR test taken at least 11 days and at most 89 days before arrival, and a COVID-19 recovery certificate.
- This does not apply to passengers younger than 12 years.
3. Passengers must complete a "Traveller Health Questionnaire" upon arrival. The form can be found at https://health.gov.za/covid19/assets/downloads/faq/ENTRY%20SCREENING%20THQ%202.pdf
4. Passengers and airline crew are subject to medical screening.
5. Airline crew could be subject to a COVID-19 test upon arrival.


Travel Advisory By USA

Wed, 05 Oct 2022

Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime and civil unrest.

Country Summary:  Violent crime, such as armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles, is common.  There is a higher risk of violent crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark.

Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently.  These can develop quickly without prior notification, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services; such events have the potential to turn violent.

Please see our Alerts for up-to-date information.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to South Africa.

If you decide to travel to South Africa:


Visa Policy for Visitors travelling to South Africa

Visa required

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Visa not required

  • Andorra (90 days)
  • Angola (30 days)
  • Argentina (90 days)
  • Australia (90 days)
  • Austria (90 days)
  • Bahamas (30 days)
  • Barbados (30 days)
  • Belgium (90 days)
  • Belize (30 days)
  • Benin (30 days)
  • Bolivia (30 days)
  • Botswana (90 days)
  • Brazil (90 days)
  • Canada (90 days)
  • Cape Verde (30 days)
  • Chile (90 days)
  • Costa Rica (30 days)
  • Cyprus (30 days)
  • Czech Republic (90 days)
  • Denmark (90 days)
  • Ecuador (90 days)
  • Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) (30 days)
  • Finland (90 days)
  • France (90 days)
  • Gabon (30 days)
  • Germany (90 days)
  • Ghana
  • Greece (90 days)
  • Guyana (90 days)
  • Hong Kong (30 days)
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  • Ireland (90 days)
  • Israel (90 days)
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  • Jamaica (90 days)
  • Japan (90 days)
  • Jordan (30 days)
  • Lesotho (30 days)
  • Liechtenstein (90 days)
  • Luxembourg (90 days)
  • Macau (30 days)
  • Madagascar (90 days)
  • Malawi (30 days)
  • Malaysia (30 days)
  • Maldives (30 days)
  • Malta (90 days)
  • Mauritius (30 days)
  • Monaco (90 days)
  • Mozambique (30 days)
  • Namibia (90 days)
  • Netherlands (90 days)
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  • Russia (90 days)
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (90 days)
  • San Marino (90 days)
  • São Tomé and Príncipe (90 days)
  • Saudi Arabia (90 days)
  • Seychelles (30 days)
  • Singapore (90 days)
  • South Korea (30 days)
  • Spain (90 days)
  • Sweden (90 days)
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  • Tanzania (90 days)
  • Thailand (30 days)
  • Trinidad and Tobago (90 days)
  • Tunisia (90 days)
  • Turkey (30 days)
  • United Arab Emirates (90 Days)
  • United Kingdom (90 days)
  • Uruguay (90 days)
  • Venezuela (90 days)
  • Zambia (90 days)
  • Zimbabwe (90 days)

eVisa

  • China (30 days)
  • Congo [DRC]
  • India
  • Philippines

Visa Requirements for South Africa Citizens

References