Admissions into South Africa - Tips to travellers

We often hear from travellers ' I only received 7 days at immigration when I entered South Africa and not my normal 90 days'.

Here is one reason why you most likely received only seven (7) days -

"A person, other than a resident from a country which shares a border with South Africa, and who is in possession of a visa will be readmitted on the same visa and where such a visa expired, will receive a new visa for a period not exceeding 7 days." This is a process we call 'border hopping.' However, if the person returns from their home country, the traveller will receive a new visa not exceeding the period stipulated as per treaty agreements (between 30 - 90 days).

Travellers may be refused entry into South Africa, based on the following reasons -

1. You are an illegal person;

2. You are a prohibited person;

3. You were previously declared undesirable and the undesirable status has not been lifted;

4. You are in contravention of the Immigration Act by producing a visa that's different to the activities to be undertaken in South Africa;

5. You are a fugitive from justice;

6. You are in possession of a fraudulent visa or permit;

7. You are in possession of a fraudulent passport; or

8. You provided the immigration officer with incorrect or false information knowing it's incorrect or false

Lastly, please ensure you are in possession of a passport -

• That is machine-readable (handwritten passports are no longer accepted);

• That has a validity of no less than thirty (30) days after your intended departure date from South Africa; and

• That have at least two (2) blank pages before flying to South Africa

For more tips on travelling to South Africa, please reach out to us via our Contact Form on www.movingsouthimmigration.com. Alternatively, we can be reached on +2773 5357 534 or sue@movingsouthimmigration.com