THE TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE
THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU MUST TAKE NOTE OF WHEN TRAVELLING
TO SOUTH AFRICA
**********ATTENTION: NEW TRAVEL & IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS**********
South Africa issued new immigration and travel regulations effective on May 26, 2014.
The following guidance is based on those regulations. The South African government has announced that the new regulations pertaining to the travel of children (below) will not be enforced until 01 October 2014, but travelers are encouraged to obtain birth certificates, parental consent affidavits, and other documentation well in advance of this deadline. All travelers should visit the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) website and check the latest requirements with the nearest South African embassy or consulate before traveling. If traveling by air, you may also wish to consult your airline.
Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after your intended date of departure from South Africa.
South African law requires travelers to have two fully blank visa pages. Blank “endorsement” pages are not sufficient. The blank pages must be “visa” pages. All travelers should have at least two fully blank passport visa pages upon each arrival in South Africa, including following trips to neighboring countries.
Travelers without the requisite blank visa pages in their passports may be refused entry into South Africa, fined, and returned to their point of origin at
their own expense.
As a general precaution, all travelers should carry a photocopy of the photo/bio information page of their passport and keep it in a location separate
from their passport.
U.S. citizen visitors to South Africa for tourism, short business meetings, or in transit do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days. Applications to extend tourist visas are no longer accepted under the new regulations unless the visitor is in need of emergency life-saving medical treatment for longer than three months, or is an accompanying spouse or child of a holder of a business or work visa, who wishes to apply for a study or work visa.
All other travelers, including academics, students on educational trips, entrepreneurs, workers, and volunteers, need visas. Applicants for all visas must apply in person for such visas in the country where they ordinarily reside or where they hold citizenship. For example, U.S. citizen travelers who intend to work in South Africa must apply for work visas before arrival; otherwise, travelers risk being refused admission and returned to their point of origin. Applications to extend visas other than tourist visas must be submitted no less than 60 days prior to the expiry date of the traveler’s visa, and if the visa was issued for less than 30 days, not later than seven working days before the expiry of the visa. Such extensions may be applied for in South Africa.
In the event that travelers overstay their authorized period of stay up to 30 days, they may be declared “undesirable” by immigration authorities and barred from entering South Africa for a period of 12 months. In the case of travelers who overstay a second time within 24 months, they may be declared undesirable for two years. And in the case of travelers who overstay for more than 30 days, they may be declared undesirable for a period of five years.
Rules for Children – To be enforced on 01 October 2014
These rules apply to children who are entering or departing South Africa. Therefore, the required documents should be retained in all circumstances throughout the stay of the child in South Africa.
The South African regulations use the term “unabridged birth certificate.” The exact contents of unabridged birth certificate vary among the different jurisdictions that issue birth certificates (countries, states, counties, cities, etc.), but the key distinction between an “abridged” and “unabridged” birth certificate is that an unabridged birth certificate identifies the parents of the child.
Where BOTH parents are travelling with a child, parents must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents of the child.
In the case of ONE parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an unabridged birth certificate and:
(i) Consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child authorizing him or her to enter into or depart from South Africa with the child he or she is travelling with;
(ii) A court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or
(iii) Where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate,
Where a person is travelling with a child who is NOT his or her biological child, he or she must produce:
(i) A copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child;
(ii) An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the child;
(iii) Copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child; and
(iv) The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child,
(Note: Where the parents of the child are both deceased, and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to the child or the child’s parents, the South African authorities have the discretion to approve such a person to enter or depart South Africa with the child.)
An unaccompanied minor must produce:
(i) Proof of consent from one or both his or her parents or legal guardian, as the case may be, in the form of a letter or affidavit for the child to travel into or depart from South Africa: Provided that in the case where one parent provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of a court order issued to him or her in terms of which he or she has been granted full parental responsibilities and rights in
respect of the child;
(ii) A letter from the person which is to receive the child in South Africa, containing his or her residential address and contact details where the child will be residing;
(iii) A copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in the South Africa; and
(iv) The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.
Yellow Fever Vaccinations
Travelers entering South Africa from WHO-designated yellow fever countries are required to present their current and valid “International Certificate of Vaccination as approved by the World Health Organization (WHO)” (commonly called a “yellow card”) or statement of medical exemption (also located on the same yellow card). Additionally, South Africa treats Zambia and Tanzania as yellow fever countries. This requirement has been imposed on travelers flying to South Africa via yellow fever countries, even when travelers transiting a yellow fever country do not deplane in the yellow fever country (e.g., flights stopping in Dakar, Senegal; Accra, Ghana; or Nairobi, Kenya), or if the plane makes an unscheduled landing in a yellow fever country. As a precaution, all travelers to South Africa should carry their original yellow vaccination card. South African immigration inspectors do not generally accept letters, scans, copies, or faxes regarding prior yellow fever vaccination. While this requirement may not be consistently applied, travelers who cannot present an original and currently valid yellow card risk being refused entry into South Africa. Yellow fever vaccinations are not administered at South African ports of entry for the purpose of entry into South Africa. Travelers are reminded that they are required to obtain a yellow fever vaccination at least ten (10) days prior to their arrival in South Africa in accordance with WHO regulations. South Africa may apply these requirements to people traveling from or through both high-risk yellow fever countries and low-risk yellow fever countries.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of South Africa.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page. For country specific information about customs regulations, please visit the website of the South African Revenue Service.
WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT VISITING
SOUTH AFRICA
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING SOUTH AFRICA
As a visitor to South Africa’s sunny shores there is a lot of information that will be helpful for you to know. Which side of the road do I drive on? Can I pay for petrol/fuel/gas with my credit card? Banking hours? What about malaria? How much do I tip? What about emergency services, or contacting my local embassy in time of need? For these and many other helpful hints and tips, read on!
The nationwide emergency telephone number is 10111.
Cape Town has adopted a single number for all emergencies, which is 107. If using a cell phone, the number to dial is 021 480 7700.
Crime in South Africa
Most of South Africa’s high crime occur in the townships, informal settlements and in other areas away from the main tourist destinations. The South African authorities and police services give high priority to protecting tourists. Tourism police are deployed in several large towns and cities.
In the past there have been a few incidents involving foreigners being followed from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to their destinations by car and then robbed, often at gunpoint. We recommend you exercise particular caution in and around the airport and extra vigilance when leaving the airport.
As in other countries, thieves also operate at international airports, bus and railway stations. Keep your baggage with you at all times. Due to theft of luggage at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, it is recommended that where possible, and where local regulations permit, hold (checked) luggage is vacuum wrapped.
There have been attacks on hikers and tourists on Table Mountain. Some attacks have been violent. You should be cautious when in the quieter areas of the Park, especially early in the morning or just before the park closes. Park authorities, who are attempting to address the problem, recommend that visitors should walk in groups and take precautions.
Passport theft is common. It is usually opportunist and non-violent (and mainly occurs at airports on arrival or departure), although some passports are taken during muggings. You should carry photocopies of your passport with you.
Looking after your personal items
Some suggestions for looking after your personal effects, jewellery and money.
keep large amounts of money, expensive jewellery, cameras and cell phones out of sight.
do not change large sums of money in busy public areas.
do not give personal or financial account information details to unknown parties: there are international fraud rings operating in South Africa, as there are in other parts of the world, which may target visitors, foreign businessmen and charities.
the risk to visitors travelling to the main tourist destinations is low.
consult a reliable tour guide if you are visiting a township.
there is a high incidence of credit card fraud and fraud involving ATMs.
users of ATMs should be vigilant to ensure their PIN number is not observed by others when withdrawing money.
when using an ATM, offers of assistance from bystanders should be refused.
do not change large sums of money in busy public areas.
closely protect any documents containing details of credit card, PIN numbers and bank accounts.
Passports, travel safety and insurance
Your passports must also be valid for 30 days after the end of your intended visit. South African authorities state officially that only one blank passport page is required for entry. There have been cases where visitors have been refused entry when this is the case. To be on the safe side, make sure you have two blank pages in your passport on arrival.
Keep a photocopy of your passport with you in a separate place to your passport.
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel, medical insurance and medical advise before travelling. South Africa actively promotes an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. But given the high level of HIV/AIDS in the country, you should seek immediate help if you are sexually assaulted or otherwise injured.
Avoid isolated beaches and picnic spots across South Africa. Walking alone anywhere, especially in remote areas, is not advised and hikers should stick to popular trails. Call the police at the first sign of a threat.
Climate, sun protection
South Africa has a warm sunny climate. Most areas in South Africa average more than 2 500 hours of sunshine per year. You should wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 10am and 4pm, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not.
Even if you have a dark complexion, you can still get sunburned if you are from a cooler climate and have not had much exposure to the sun. Sunglasses are also recommended wear, as the glare of the African sun can be strong.
Climatic conditions range from Mediterranean in the south-west of the country — where Cape Town is located — to temperate in the interior. North-east and south-east the climate is tropical. Durban — located in the sourth-east boasts an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. A small area in the northwest has a desert climate. Most of the country has warm, sunny days and cool nights. Rainfall generally occurs during summer (November through March), although in the south-west winter rains occur (June through August).
Money
Our local currency is the South African Rand. The Rand is divisible into 100 cents. Paper notes include:
R10 notes
R20 notes
R50 notes
R100 notes
R200 notes
Coins are in denominations of:
1c
2c
5c
10c
20c
50c
Although 1 and 2 cent coins are in circulation they are no longer legal tender and won’t be accepted but as a tourist you may find some in your change! As an added help, all our bank notes are slightly different sizes and each one is a different colour!
For the benefit of the partially sighted, the Reserve Bank has introduced geometric shapes on the front of the banknotes. The R10 note features a diamond, the R20 a square, the R50 a circle, the R100 a “flat” hexagon and the R200 a “honeycomb” hexagon. A coin has six distinct features by which a blind person can identify it: size, thickness, shape (not all are entirely round) pattern of grooves round the edge, the sound it makes when dropped onto a table and the raised picture on the face. One, two, three, four or five raised diamond shapes in the middle of the bottom half of the new South African bank notes enable blind people to identify them as R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200 respectively. The notes are also different lengths.
For quick and easy reference, plastic coin identifiers and money sticks (to measure banknotes) are available.
When buying goods, all values will be rounded up or down to the nearest 5c or 10c value.
The majority of ATMs will accept most international bank and credit cards.
Most shops and hotels will accept all major credit cards around the country.
South Africa has a VAT system of 14% on purchases and services. As a visitor, if you spend more than R250 on goods you are taking out of the country you can reclaim your VAT. Keep your receipts and take them to the VAT Refund Offices at the departure lounge of the airports.
How much to tip
A 10% tip — or gratuity — is acceptable in restaurants. You do not have to tip if you feel you have received poor service. You can of course tip more than 10% if you feel you have received exceptional service. A tip of R5 to R10 per piece of luggage is acceptable for porters in hotels.
In most shopping areas, uniformed attendants situated in the parking lots — usually outside parking as opposed to undercover parking — will either take a fee, or offer to mind your car for a tip if you are parked outside (without a ticket to pay for parking). The rate varies from R2 to R5 as a basic rule of thumb. If you have lots of packages or shopping parcels, the parking attendant may assist in carrying these and packing them in your car. A larger tip will be well received. Soliciting for money, either before or after a service is supplied is not allowed.
While not necessary, petrol attendants will welcome a tip of R2 or R3 for filling up with petrol, checking oil, water and tyre pressure and cleaning windscreens. Hotel porters should be tipped two to five Rands. It is also appropriate to tip taxi drivers, tour guides and even hairdressers.
There is a well developed, efficient banking system in South Africa.
There are four major banks:
ABSA
First National Bank (FNB)
Nedbank
Standard Bank
All four offer currency exchange services. Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:30pm week days and Saturday mornings. You will need some
form of picture identity document for most transactions.
Phones, mobile phones & telecommunications
South Africa has a well-developed communications infrastructure, with extensive landline phone networks and four mobile
phone service providers:
Cell C
MTN
Vodacom
Virgin Mobile
Mobile phone reception is generally very good in major towns and cities but can be intermittent in more remote spots.
Consult our list of mobile phone operators in South Africa if you have a specific question or problem.
Landline services are primarily run by Telkom, with a second operator, Neotel also providing fixed line services. Telkom has placed reliable public telephones at major tourist sites across South Africa. Coin-operated phones are blue, while card-phones are green. Both are user-friendly and compatible with hearing aid devices. Many public phones also utilise Worldcall. Phonecards and Worldcall can be purchased at most retail stores, petrol stations, post offices and airports.
You can rent mobile phones — many South Africans refer to them as “cell phones” — from the airport on arrival. You should find an internet café in even the smallest towns, and the postal service works, offering the usual letter and parcel services as well as securemail, freight
and courier services.
Lastly, enjoy your visit to our great country!
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