Easing of Travel Restrictions

In South Africa, starting with the gradual reopening of borders and ports of entry since October 1st – with the 3 main entry ports (OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport – along with 18 land ports (Contact us for more details.)

Below are the rules and regulations released by the South African Government.

Requirements

Visitors 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. This test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and should have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted the test. Upon arrival in the port of entry, the traveller will be screened for any COVID-19 symptoms or for contact with people who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus

Vistors are encouraged to download the COVID-Alert APP which alerts subscribers and provides relevant information if they have been in contact with any person who has tested positive for the virus. Visitors will also need to provide proof of accommodation address should they need to self-quarantine at the time of arrival in the country.

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.  This test will be at the traveller’s cost.  If the COVID-19 test comes back positive, the traveller will be subjected to a 10 day quarantine at a designated site.  The accommodation at a quarantine site will be at the traveller’s cost.

The Red-List

South Africa has developed a risk categorisation model for different international visitors. This model classifies international visitors according to a scale of high, medium and low risk.

High risk (Red-List) visitors are those who come from countries with higher numbers of COVID-19 infections and reported deaths compared to South Africa.

Red-Listed Countries

  • Albania

  • Argentina

  • Armenia

  • Austria

  • Bahrain

  • Belgium

  • Bolivia

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Brazil

  • Chile

  • Columbia

  • Costa Rica

  • Croatia

  • Czech Republic

  • Denmark

  • Ecuador

  • France

  • Georgia

  • Greece

  • Guatemala

  • Guyana

  • Honduras

  • Hungary

  • Iceland

  • India

  • Iran

  • Iraq

  • Ireland

  • Israel

  • Jamaica

  • Jordan

  • Kuwait

  • Lebanon

  • Luxembourg

  • Maldives

  • Malta

  • Mexico

  • Moldova

  • Montenegro

  • Nepal

  • Netherlands

  • North Macedonia

  • Oman

  • Palestine

  • Panama

  • Paraguay

  • Peru

  • Portugal

  • Puerto Rico

  • Qatar

  • Romania

  • Russia

  • Slovakia

  • Suriname

  • Switzerland

  • Ukraine

  • United Emirates

  • United Kingdom

  • USA

  • Venezuela

N.B – The Red-List applies solely to leisure and non-essential travel. Business travel (film production included) is permitted with the usual visas and permits requirements.

Medium and Low-Risk

Travellers from medium and low-risk countries will only be allowed into the country subject to the prevailing visa requirements.

Long term FIVA (film visa) visa holders will be allowed to travel to South Africa. These travellers will also be subject to health screenings for COVID-19 symptoms at the port of entry.

Travellers from African Countries will be allowed. However, travelling to our neighbouring countries will also be determined by the Covid-19 policies and restrictions of that county as well as their normal visa requirements.

If the passport of the traveller from a high-risk country indicates that he/she has spent 10 days or more in a low-risk country before departure, he/she will be considered to be arriving from a low-risk country.

Contact us for more information.