New Visa Regulations in South Africa

There has been a lot of discussion recently regarding new visa regulations in South Africa, and to make sure that all of our visitors are fully informed, we wanted to outline some of these changes that may affect those coming to Cape Town and the rest of the country.

In a joint decision with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Home Affairs, the South African government plans to implement some changes to their current entry requirements. These changes are set to be put into place on 1 October 2014, and focus largely on traveling with children under the age of 18. There are also some changes that will affect those with work visas, and those who are traveling from visa dependent destinations.

What Are the New Visa Regulations in South Africa?

In an address by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, the following entry regulations will be in effect from 1 October 2014:

• Every child must possess his or her own passport as well as an unabridged birth certificate or equivalent document issued in his or her home country.
• Birth certificates that are not in English must be accompanied with a sworn translation.
• Children traveling with only one parent or guardian must have an affidavit that grants consent from the other parent, or a court order that provides sole custody or guardianship.

Minister Gigaba and Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom also stated the following changes in their address to media:

• Biometric scanners will be installed and used to take electronic photographs and fingerprints at points of entry.
• Travelers from non visa-free destinations will need to submit their documents and biometric details in their country of origin.
• Additional visa facilitation centres are being opened in all provinces, with two centres in each of the major city areas such as Cape Town and Johannesburg.
• Work permits will also undergo changes, becoming work visas instead.
• The regulations also note a major distinction between short-stay visas and long-stay permanent residence permits.

 To read the full list of changes, visit the official South African Home Affairs website by clicking here.

What Does This Mean For Cape Town Travel?

A major concern about the new South African visa regulations is of course how it will affect travel to Cape Town and other popular travel regions across the country.
ComeToCapeTown is offering assist all guests in obtaining the relevant letters needed for the visa application as needed, and we are also standing by to answer any questions that you may have too.
While we are in favour of measures that reduce risk – particularly in the case of child protection, there are many other solutions that can and should be considered beyond excessive entry regulations. The tourism industry plays a vital part in South Africa’s growth, and is a major source of job creation, sustainable development and community upliftment. Changes that affect our visitors affect the entire industry as well as the thousands of people that the industry supports. By adding our voice to the many who are opposing these drastic changes, we hope that our concerns will be heard.

Remember, these new laws will be in place from 1 October 2014. Make sure that you are prepared, and please contact us should you have any questions on the South Africa visa regulations.

For more information, please contact us @:

info@southern-africa-travel.com