Home Affairs lifts visa requirements for several nationalities

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Several airlines denied boarding to some international passengers on flights bound for South African airports last week, even though South Africa’s borders had reopened.

Confusion over South Africa’s entry requirements forced airlines operating flights to South Africa to refuse passage to passengers of certain nationalities, during the first few days of South Africa’s borders reopening.

SUSPENSION OF VISA FREE-ENTRY SINCE MARCH 

Visa-free entry to the Republic of South Africa, for citizens of foreign countries, was temporarily suspended at the start of the national lockdown in March.

In a document received by the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA), on 4 October, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that visa-exemption status has been reinstated for citizens of several countries.

NATIONALITIES THAT ARE VISA EXEMPT

The letter states that the Minister of Home Affairs has reinstated visa-exemption status for citizens of the following countries, when entering South Africa:

• South Korea
• Spain
• Italy
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• USA
• UK
• France
• Portugal
• Iran

NATIONALS OF VISA-EXEMPT COUNTRIES ARE ABLE TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA

The document from the Department of Home Affairs states that nationals from the 11 countries listed are free to visit South Africa provided they comply with the applicable health and hygiene protocols in place.

This comes as a result of airlines refusing carriage to passengers from certain countries when boarding flights to South Africa last week.

PASSENGERS USING SOUTH AFRICA AS A TRANSIT POINT

The document grants permission to travellers who intend using South African airports as a transit point for connecting flights to other destinations, provided health and hygiene protocols are complied with.