Preparing For A Trip To South Africa?

Visa Information / Entry requirements – South Africa

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in South Africa set and enforce entry rules. If you’re unsure how South Africa’s entry requirements apply to you, contact its UK embassy, high commission or consulate.

All travellers

You can travel to South Africa for any purpose for up to 90 days without a visa. You should check the expiry date of your visa or entry stamp and make sure you do not overstay.

You may need to complete a health form to enter South Africa.

See Visas and Passport validity sections for more information.

Check your passport and travel documents before you travel

Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Passport validity

If you are visiting South Africa, your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive.

Your passport should be valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended date of exit from South Africa, in line with South African immigration regulations. However, some immigration officials still request that a passport should have at least 6 months validity on the date of entry to South Africa. To avoid problems at the airport on arrival, you’re advised to ensure your passport is valid for six months.

Your passport should have at least two blank pages when you arrive in South Africa.

Visas

If you’re visiting South Africa for tourism or business purposes for a period of up to 90 days, you don’t need a visa. You should check the expiry date of your visa or entry stamp and make sure you do not overstay.

For more information on visas, contact the South African High Commission.

Dual citizenship

If you hold South African citizenship, you must enter and exit South Africa on your South African passport. It is an offence for a South African citizen aged 18 or over to enter or leave the country on a foreign passport.

Travelling with children

There are special requirements for travelling to South Africa with children under the age of 18. There are different requirements for unaccompanied children entering South Africa.

Check the advisory from the South African Department of Home Affairs for more details, and consult your nearest South African high commission or embassy if you have any questions about these requirements.

Biometric capturing

South Africa has implemented biometric capturing at all ports of entry. This may result in some delays at land borders. You should allow additional time for border crossings.

Yellow fever certificate requirements

Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

South African authorities advise that UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are accepted for entry, transit and exit from South Africa. ETDs should have a minimum of 6 months validity for entry, transit or exit.

UK Emergency Passports

UK Emergency Passports are accepted for entry for life-threatening emergencies only. If you need assistance for a medical evacuation from a neighbouring country, call +27 12 421 7500 and follow the options for consular assistance.

Tourism Health Information – South Africa

Weather & When to Visit South Africa

South Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere, so its seasons are opposite to those in the UK. However, weather varies considerably between the interior, the northern safari regions and the Western Cape.

• May to September: Often a favourable period for wildlife viewing in the northern safari regions, when drier conditions and thinner vegetation can make animals easier to spot.
• October to April: Warmer weather and greener landscapes in many areas. This period can be appealing for Cape Town and coastal travel, although regional rainfall and summer storms vary.
• June to November: A popular broad window for whale-watching opportunities along parts of the Western Cape coastline, with timing depending on the species and local conditions.
• August to September: Wildflower season in parts of the Western and Northern Cape, depending on rainfall and seasonal conditions.

There is no single best month for every South African holiday. We can help you choose dates based on your preferred destinations and experiences.

Seasonal highlights

The sardine run (May to July)

Aptly described as “The Greatest Shoal on Earth”, the sardine run takes place every South African winter when millions of small silvery sardines surge from the cold Cape waters up to the warmer sanctuary of the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The reason for this hasn’t been determined however there are many prominent theories that attempt to make sense of this phenomenon. Whatever the reason, it is quite the spectacle as the shoal is approximately 15km long, 4km wide and 40m deep. It’s a feeding frenzy for dolphins, sharks, seabirds and other marine life – making it a watching frenzy for people interesting in marine life.

Whale watching (May to November):

Every year, from late winter through to early summer, different breeds of whales migrate to mate and calve in sheltered bays off the Cape coast. One of the best places to see these majestic marine animals is from the coastal town of Hermanus. It’s well known for a reputation of offering the best shore-based whale watching in the world. When you do decide to go, make sure you have a fully charged camera as you might consider being a full-time photographer afterwards with a portfolio of stunning whale shots.

Namaqualand spring flowers (late July to October)

This dazzling display of spring flowers in an arid semi-desert area of the Northern Cape is regarded as one of the world’s most dramatic and vivid natural spectacles. Stretching 500km north up the Cape coast and 100km inland, carpets of the brilliant colour burst into vibrant life. You’ll find that over 4000 species of plants have been identified here, so you will be spoilt for choice.

The National Arts Festival (July)

One festival you should look forward to is the National Arts Festival. This festival takes place at the Eastern Cape’s cathedral and university city of Grahamstown. It has become one of the biggest annual celebrations of the arts in Africa. So if you make it, you’ll be surrounded by world-class dance, music, drama, film, jazz and visual arts.

The Comrades Marathon (June)

What started off as a tribute to South African soldiers who lost their lives during World War I has now become an event not to be missed in South Africa. The Comrades Marathon is a long-distance running race that has gained traction around the world. If you’re still not impressed, at around 90km long, it is one of the world’s oldest and longest ultramarathons.

The Cape Argus Pick ’n Pay Cycle Tour (March)

Billed as the world’s largest timed cycle race, this event attracts a field of around 35 000 cyclists. The vast majority are ordinary people who want to take on the challenge of cycling around one of the most beautiful peninsulas in the world. However, over the years the race has also attracted its fair share of celebrities, including former Springbok rugby captain Francois Pienaar, who in turn persuaded American actor Matt Damon (who played him in the film Invictus) to ride.