Travel

Documents

All international travellers are required to have:

• A valid passport, with at least six (6) months of validity remaining, and with at least two blank pages. 
• A valid yellow fever certificate
• A valid Visa, where required and applicable

South African law regards any person younger than 18 years as a child. As such, refer to the conditions of entry specific for children travelling to and from South Africa as specified below or visit the official government agency website for the latest travel entry requirements for children. All specified Country travel entry requirements are subject to change. Passengers are required to check the official Government agency website for the latest updates.

The following requirements apply for children under the age of 18 travelling to and from South Africa:

Children Accompanied By Both Parents:

South African nationals travelling to and from South Africa, under 18 years of age, accompanied by both Parents, require the following:

• Valid Passport
• Copy of Birth Certificate or equivalent containing the details of the parent or parents of the child.

Non-South African nationals travelling to and from South Africa, under 18 years of age, accompanied by both Parents, require the following:

• Valid Passport

Children Accompanied By One Parent:

South African nationals travelling to and from South Africa, under 18 years of age, accompanied by only one Parent, require the following:

• valid passport.
• copy of a birth certificate or equivalent document.
• parental consent letter.
• copy of the passport / identity document of the absent parent.
• contact details of the absent parent.
• where applicable-
  • copy of a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child.
  • copy of a death certificate of the deceased parent.

Non-South African nationals travelling to and from South Africa, under 18 years of age, accompanied by only one Parent, require the following:

• valid passport.

Children Accompanied By A Person Who Is Not The Biological Parent:

South African nationals travelling to and from South Africa, under 18 years of age, travelling with a person who is not their biological parent:

• valid passport
• copy of a birth certificate/equivalent document
• parental consent letter(s)
• copy of the passport(s)/ identity document(s) of the parent(s)/legal guardian(s)
• contact details of the parent(s)/legal guardian(s)
• where applicable-
• copy of a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights / legal guardianship in respect of the child.
• copy of a death certificate of the deceased parent(s).
• copy of an adoption order.

Non-South African nationals travelling to and from South Africa, under 18 years of age, travelling with a person who is not their biological parent:

• valid passport

Children In Alternative Care:

South African & Non-South African nationals travelling to and from South Africa in Alternative Care, classified by South Africa Law as foster care and temporary safe care, require the following.

• Valid passport
• Letter from the Provincial Head of the Department of Social Development where the child resides authorising his or her departure from the Republic as contemplated in section 169 of the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).

The South African Department of Home Affairs (http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/applying-for-sa-visa) says the following:

General Information

Visitors’ Visas are for international travellers (citizens of other countries) who have permanent residence outside South Africa and who wish to visit the country on a temporary basis for tourism or business purposes for a period of 90 days or less.

A Visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed at a South African embassy, mission or consulate and that the consular officer has determined you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.

The Visa will allow you to travel to a South African port of entry where an immigration official will then determine if you are allowed to enter, and for how long you can stay for that particular visit. Visitors are restricted to the activity or reason for which their visas were issued.

On entry to South Africa, a Visa is considered to be a visitor’s permit. The permit’s period of validity is calculated from the date of entry into the country and will be set out under the heading “conditions” on the Visa label. You must ensure that you apply for the correct Visa/permit. Entry in the country may be refused if the purpose of visit was not correctly stated.

Requirements for visitor’s Visas differ from country to country and the requirements are subject to change. As each application is treated as an individual case and you should make enquiries with your nearest South African mission or consulate abroad or any office of the Department of Home Affairs to see whether or not you are required to apply for a Visa.

Remember that there is a fee charged for issuing a Visa, and you should check the cost with the office as well as this is updated annually. The fee is payable in different currencies in different countries.

Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials are obliged to insist on Visas before allowing passengers to board. If you arrive without a Visa, immigration officials are obliged to put you onto a flight back to your home country.

Foreigners with long term status (work permits/permit residence) in the neighbouring countries who transit the Republic to return to their employment or residence are not subject to the transit visa, provided they are in possession of proof of their status.

South African visitors’ Visas may be granted for:

• visits to family or friends and also for tourism purposes
• business purposes
• spouse to join a spouse who is in South Africa on a work or study permit
• children to join parents who are in South Africa on work or study permits
• fiancée/ fiancé to join his or her partner with the intension of marrying within 90 days
• study purposes (max stay 3-months)
• charitable or voluntary activities
• research
• conferences
• to work in the production of a movie or show (i.e. in the entertainment industry)
• for medical purposes (max stay 3-months)
• sport events

Passport holders exempt from Visas for South Africa

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the foreign countries / territories / international organisations listed below is not required to hold a visa when reporting to an immigration officer for an examination at a South African port of entry, subject to the terms and conditions set out in this list, including inter alia the intended period of stay in the Republic.

The holder of a national South African passport, travel document and document for travel purposes.

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:

• African Union Laissez Passer
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile (only ordinary passport holders)
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Finland
• France
• Germany (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of Germany in SA)
• Greece
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxemburg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Namibia (only ordinary passport holders 90 days per annum)
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Panama ​
• Paraguay​
• Portugal
• Russian Federation
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Spain
• St Vincent & the Grenadines
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania (90 days per annum)
• Trinidad & Tobago (only ordinary passport holders)
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (only ordinary passport holders)
• British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man. British Oversees Territories namely: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.
• United States of America (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of the USA in SA)
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
• Zambia (90 days per annum)
• Zimbabwe

Important Contact Information

For full details on the South African travel requirements, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website or contact 0800 60 11 90

All international travellers are required to have:

• A valid passport
• A valid yellow fever certificate
• A valid Visa, where required and applicable

All specified Country travel entry requirements are subject to change. Passengers are required to check the official Government agency website for the latest updates. Visit https://www.evisa.gov.zw/regime for the latest information. 

Travellers must ensure they have enough US Dollars to pay for Visas on arrival at immigration. The current cost is $55 US Dollars for a Single Entry Visa (this includes a service charge) and $70 US Dollars for a Double Entry Visa (this includes a service charge). Fees are subject to change and travellers must take enough cash in small notes to pay. 

Visitors are typically given entry permission for 30 days.

Travellers are not allowed to conduct any business or seek employment if they have a tourist visa. Volunteering and missionary work over a period of 30 days is considered work and a temporary employment permit is required to engage in these activities while in Zimbabwe. You must have the correct visa or work permit in order to work. 

Anyone intending to carry out journalistic activity must arrange prior accreditation. Journalists should not carry out any reporting or official photography without the proper accreditation as there is a risk of arrest, a fine and deportation. 

Category A countries

Visitors from the countries listed below are not required to have a visa to travel to Zimbabwe.

• Angola
• Aruba
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Cayman Islands
• Cyprus
• Fiji
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Jamaica
• Leeward Islands
• Lesotho
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa Western
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• St Kitts and Nevis
• Swaziland
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• United Republic of Tanzania
• Vanuatu
• Zambia

Category B Countries

Visitors from the countries listed below are not required to apply for a visa before travelling, but may pay for and obtain your visa when you enter Zimbabwe.

• Virgin Islands
• Vatican
• Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic Of)
• United States Of America
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tajikistan
• Kazakhstan
• Suriname
• Spain
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Senegal
• Serbia
• San Marino
• Sao Tome And Principe
• Samoa (America)
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Mexico
• Micronesia, Federated States Of Moldova
• Monaco
• Marshall Islands
• Latvia
• Norfolk Islands
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Norway
• Palau Island
• Palestine
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Reunion
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Rwanda
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao Special Administrative Region Of China
• Japan
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Korea (South)
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran, Islamic Republic Of
• Guam
• Guatemala
• Gilbraltar
• Greece
• Georgia
• Germany
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Ethiopia
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• French W/indies
• Czech Republic
• Comoros
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Chile
• China
• China (Non Tour)
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Burundi
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• Brazil
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Bermuda
• Bhutan
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bahrain
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Albania
• Algeria
• Andorra

Category C countries

Visitors from the countries listed below are required to pay for and obtain your visa before you travel to Zimbabwe.

• Anguilla
• Bangladesh
• Benin
• Afghanistan
• Bolivia
• Burkina Faso
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cd’ivoire
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Colombia
• Eritrea
• Congo Brazaville
• Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Djibouti Republic
• Guinea-conakry
• Guinea-bissau
• Iraq
• Kosovo
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Jordan
• Liberia
• Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• Mali
• Qatar
• Refugee
• Philippines
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Lebanon
• Mauritania
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Myanmar
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Thailand
• The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia
• Togo
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Taiwan
• Tunisia
• Viet Nam
• Yemen
• East Timor