But be careful: The immigration officer can also specify a shorter validity period. It is important that your passport is valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date and has at least two blank pages. Provisional, machine-readable passports are also accepted in South Africa.

You will usually also be asked for a valid return ticket at the immigration desk. This ensures that you leave the country within the deadline. Especially if you are planning a longer stay in South Africa, they will likely take a closer look at your passport and ask you about the reason for your trip and your financial situation.

If you exceed the 90-day limit (overstay), you will in most cases be punished with an entry ban of 1 to 5 years. This overstay will result in a “declaration of undesirable person.” After you leave the country, you can appeal, but the process is lengthy and success is not guaranteed.

All information at a glance

• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the date of departure)
• Two blank pages in the passport
• Valid return ticket (rarely required, but still important)
• Provisional passport: is permitted
• Extension: can be applied for at the Department of Home Affairs (takes a very long time)

Entry to South Africa for Children

If you are traveling to South Africa with your child(ren), you should note the following: Children need their own passport (without extension/update) with a photo. Since 2019, no further documents are required. However, it is recommended to carry a certified international birth certificate for minor children. This will avoid any potential problems at the border. The same regulations apply to children’s passports as to adults.

Child accompanied by parents

• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the date of departure)
• Two blank pages in the passport
• Valid return ticket (rarely required, but still important)
• A certified international birth certificate is recommended for minors

If a minor child is entering South Africa with only one parent (accompanied by other people or alone), a valid passport and permission from the non-present parent is required. If you are traveling with a minor child who is not your own, you will also need the international birth certificate (or English translation), the parental consent letter in English, and passport copies of the parents/guardians.

Child unaccompanied by adults

• Valid passport (at least 2 blank pages)
• International birth certificate (or a birth certificate with an English translation)
• Parental consent letter in English
• Passport copies of the parents/guardians
• In case of sole custody, a court order for sole custody or the death certificate of the other parent, each with an English translation
• Contact details of the parents/guardians
• Confirmation letter in English and contact details, as well as a passport copy, of the person the minor is traveling to.

• Travel authorization template for a child traveling without parents
• Travel authorization template for a child traveling with only one parent

Vaccinations for your entry

No specific vaccinations are required for entry into South Africa. However, this only applies to direct flights. If you have a transfer in Nairobi, Addis Ababa, or another yellow fever endemic area and the flight lasts longer than 12 hours, you must show proof of yellow fever vaccination.

You can find a list of all affected areas at www.who.int. We only had a two-hour layover in Ethiopia, so proof of vaccination was not required. Generally, it is recommended to check your standard vaccinations and update them if necessary when traveling abroad. Be sure to check the current vaccination calendar from the Robert Koch Institute.

Malaria areas in South Africa

During your travel planning, you will at some point encounter the topic of malaria. Depending on the time of year, there is an increased risk of infection. The risk of infection is particularly high in the east, north, and northeast of the country. It is best to discuss this topic with a tropical medicine specialist in your city or surrounding area. There, you can discuss whether preventive medication might be advisable, which medications you should take with you to South Africa, and what side effects prophylaxis may entail.

In the Krüger National Park, there is an increased risk of infection, especially between October and April. Anopheles mosquitoes are not as active during the day as they are at night. It is best to wear light-colored clothing, sturdy shoes with socks, and a hat. Nets/fly screens are usually installed in accommodations, so be sure to also have mosquito lamps. You should also spray yourself with insect repellent several times a day. The risk of being bitten by such a mosquito is relatively low. Nevertheless, you should take the issue seriously and prepare yourself.

Entry and Visa for the Neighboring Countries

Some tourists travel not only to South Africa but also to one of the neighboring countries. You should be aware of the entry requirements in each country. In the following paragraph, we clarify these requirements for Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia, and Mauritius.

Entry requirements for Lesotho

If you want to make a detour to the Kingdom of Lesotho, you need a valid passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your trip. Your passport should also have two blank pages. If you only want to enter for tourism purposes of up to 14 days, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. Children require their own passport. If the child is traveling with only one parent, the consent of the other parent is required.

Entry requirements for Namibia

Namibia and South Africa? A great combination. You also don’t need to apply for a visa in advance to enter Namibia. If your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your departure date and has two blank pages, you can stay in the country for 90 days without a visa.

Children need their own identification. However, you may be asked to see a return (or onward) ticket at the airport. If you are entering by land with a vehicle, you will also have to pay a transit fee of N$277 at the border (usually only in cash).

Entry requirements for Eswatini

Eswatini is a popular travel destination in southern Africa. If you want to combine your trip to South Africa with a detour to Eswatini, you should be aware of the entry requirements. As a German citizen, you may stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days for tourist purposes. You will receive your residence permit upon entry.

Your passport should be valid for at least another 6 months and have two blank pages. Children need their own child’s passport. An entry in the parents’ passport or a child’s ID card is no longer permitted. Please note: Depending on traffic volume, there may be long waits at the border. Checkpoints are also not open 24 hours a day.

Entry requirements for Botswana