Visa

TO BRING TO CAPE TOWN:

Print out of your return ticket. Without a printed copy of your return tocket you will NOT be allowed to enter South Africa by immigration at the airport.

Participants should be in possession of a valid passport. Valid passports must meet the following requirements:

• It should not be less than 6 months from the date of expiry
• There should be at least 1 full, free page in the passport for stamping by officials
• Citizens from countries that require visas for the Republic of South Africa (RSA), who arrive without visas, will be refused entry into the RSA and placed on return flights in terms of legislation.
• Visas are not issued on arrival at South African ports of entry
• Please follow this link for more information about the existing SA Missions Abroad. You can also find more information whether a Visa is required or not following this link. We do urge you to contact your closest embassy in case of confusion.

• Immunisation for Yellow Fever is an entry requirement if the journey starts or entails passing through the Yellow Fever belt of Africa or South America.

• When booking your flight, please check whether a transit via is needed for the places you will change plane.

 

•  For those who are staying at UWC and need to indicate a place of stay for their visa, please indicate to be staying at

University of the Western Cape
Modderdam Road,

Belville 7535

 

Cape Town
South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)21 959 3097 

Please find below more information of requirements and countries of which participants do not need a Visa to enter South Africa.

• Click here for the website showcasing countries of which participants don’t need a Visa

• Click here for the website of the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa showcasing countries of which participants need a Visa and the contact details of South African Mission Abroad per country. 

1.  The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official visit] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit.

* Northern Ireland, British Islands, Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man and Virgin Islands

**British Overseas Territories who are in possession of British passports 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 on Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.

***Zimbabwe (*temporary measure until further notice)

2.  The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official] visit for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:

*Hong Kong [only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports]

**Macau [only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)]

3.  Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders.

Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of the following countries do not require visas in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official visit] for the period indicated and transit

General Information

Notwithstanding this Schedule, a foreigner whose visa exemption has been withdrawn shall comply with the visa requirements until notified by the Department that his or her visa exemption has been reinstated by the Department on petition or of its own accord.

Visas are not required by passport holders of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi who are entering the Republic as commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers provided their visits do not exceed 15 days and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company on entry.

Staff members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on SADC laissez-passers are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide business visits up to 90 days and transit.

The following categories of the UN as well as their spouses, dependent relatives and other members of the households are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days for purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued, and for official business purposes and transits and when accredited for placement at a UN mission in the Republic for the duration of their accreditation, provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of a UN agency.

·         Holders of United Nations Laissez-passers

·         Volunteers attached to the UN

·         Persons involved in any United Nations agency

·         Persons performing services on behalf of the UN