Visitors Guide to South Africa

Residency, Visas and Passports

All visitors travelling to South Africa are required to hold a passport. The validity of the passport must be a minimum of 30 days after the intended date of departure. It is advisable to contact a consulate or embassy prior to travelling to ensure correct and up to date information.

Visitors arriving from the UK, US, Australia and several countries of the EU are exempt from requiring a visa when planning to travel for up to 90 days.

Obtaining residency in South Africa is possible through a variety of residency options, depending upon the intended reason for residing in the country. The permits are valid for 4 or 5 years and are renewable. Each category for residency will have its own specific criteria attached to the application process, and an initial temporary permit may be provided. Permanent residency will enable the applicant to receive the same rights as the country’s citizens, except for the right to vote.

Getting There

South Africa is increasingly easier to reach with the additional routes opening to connect the country directly and indirectly with both Europe and North America. The national airlines are South African Airways, Airlink and the South African Express, with a flight time to London being approximately 12 hours.

The main international airports in South Africa are Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth. There are four main road routes from the surrounding countries, being Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland.

The location of South Africa with an extensive coastline enables cruise ship access, arriving mainly from near-by destinations in the Indian Ocean. Ports for cruise ships are located in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.

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Local Transport

The large and diverse landscape of South Africa offers an appealing destination for extensive travel when visiting. The country features three main domestic airlines, along with three low cost airlines. The excellent options for air travel within the country enables passengers the added benefit of competitive prices for fast travel options.

Rail transport across the country features several options, with around eight daily cross-country connections. For luxury options there is a connection between Cape Town and Johannesburg that has been likened to a 5-star hotel on wheels. The downside of rail travel in South Africa is the time taken to travel between destinations, as it is considered to be a cheap, but slow option.

Road travel across South Africa provides a great opportunity to see the country without restrictions of timetables. The country features an excellent network of highways and roads in good condition. Roads travelling through rural areas and national parks are often simple tracks, where advice should be sought for the type of vehicle to be used at different times of the year.

Car hire is readily available from airports and city centres, with various international and domestic companies providing services. International permits will be required if the holder’s national license is not in English.

All of the main towns offer bus and taxi services. Taxi’s are considered to be rather expensive and need to be ordered by telephone. Another option for local travel is with minibuses, also available in all towns, providing a cost effective travel option.

Health and Safety

The touristic areas of South Africa are considered to be very safe places to visit and enjoy. Issues relating to crime, violence and demonstrations tend to be restricted to smaller townships. Keeping aware of your surroundings and avoiding situations that appear to be troublesome, will assist in enjoying the maximum from visiting the country.

While many typically African health issues are less common in South Africa, visitors arriving from certain high risk areas may be required to be vaccinated prior to arrival. Health insurance is recommended when travelling to the country as cash payment is often required to receive treatment in hospitals. In the cities and built-up areas the medical facilities are of a good condition, although limited facilities are available in more rural areas.

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