South Africa’s Green List: Where to Travel and What You Need

[Last updated 10 November 2020]

After a six-month dry spell in the travel industry, South Africa’s borders have swung open and people are more excited than ever to take to the skies. As we eagerly prepare for the next travel chapter, there’s been much speculation about which countries made it onto our green list. 

In line with World Organisation guidelines, factors including Covid-19 transmission patterns, public health and social safety measures, as well as health capacity in the public sector have been taken into account. 

For those who can’t wait to dust off their suitcase and hit the international runway, here is the green list of flights to and from South Africa.

International flights from South Africa

International flights from Johannesburg:

Arrival City	Airline
Abu Dhabi	Etihad
Abuja	RwandAir
Accra	RwandAir
Addis Ababa	Ethiopian Airlines
Amsterdam	KLM
Atlanta	Delta Air Lines
Beira	Airlink
Brazzaville	RwandAir
Bulawayo	Airlink, Fastjet
Cairo	EgyptAir
Cotonou	RwandAir
Dar es Salaam	RwandAir, CemAir
Doha	Qatar
Douala	RwandAir
Dubai	Emirates
Entebbe	RwandAir
Frankfurt	Lufthansa
Gaborone	Airlink
Harare	RwandAir, Fastjet
Istanbul	Turkish Airlines
Kasane	Airlink
Kigali	RwandAir
Kilimanjaro	RwandAir
Kinshasa	RwandAir
Lagos	CemAir
Libreville	RwandAir
Lisbon	TAAG
Livingstone	Kenya Airways
London	British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
Luanda	CemAir, TAAG
Lubombo (Eswatini)	Airlink
Lubumbashi	CemAir
Lusaka	RwandAir, Proflight Zambia
Maputo	LAM, Airlink
Maseru	Airlink
Maun	Airlink
Nairobi	Kenya Airways, RwandAir
Ndola	Airlink, Proflight Zambia
New York (Newark)	United Airlines (from March 2021)
Nosy Be (Madagascar)	Airlink
Paris	Air France
Pemba	Airlink
Seychelles	Air Seychelles
Singapore	Singapore Airlines
Victoria Falls	Fastjet
Vilanculos	Airlink
Walvis Bay	Airlink, Air Namibia
Windhoek	Air Namibia, Airlink
Zanzibar	Mango
Zurich	Swiss Air

International flights from Cape Town: 

Arrival City	Airline
Addis Ababa	Ethiopian Airlines
Amsterdam	KLM
Atlanta	Delta Air Lines
Doha	Qatar
Dubai	Emirates
Frankfurt	Lufthansa
Harare	RwandAir
Istanbul	Turkish Airlines
Kigali	RwandAir
Lisbon	TAAG
Livingstone	Kenya Airways
London	British Airways
Luanda	TAAG
Nairobi	Kenya Airways
New York	United Airlines
Paris	Air France
Walvis Bay	Air Namibia
Windhoek	Air Namibia, Airlink

International flights from Durban:

Arrival City	Airline
Doha	Qatar
Dubai	Emirates

International flights to South Africa

All travellers from African countries and those from selected low-risk countries outside of Africa may now safely visit our beautiful country. Low-risk countries have a lower number of Covid-19 infections and deaths than South Africa; whereas high-risk countries have a greater number of infections and deaths compared to South Africa. 

Travel from high-risk countries will only be permitted for business workers, investors, skilled professionals and diplomats. 

High-risk countries will be reviewed every two weeks.

Departure City	Airline
Abuja	RwandAir
Accra	RwandAir
Addis Ababa	Ethiopian Airlines
Amsterdam	KLM
Atlanta	Delta Air Lines
Brazzaville	RwandAir
Bulawayo	Airlink, Fastjet
Cairo	EgyptAir
Cotonou	RwandAir
Dar es Salaam	RwandAir
Doha	Qatar
Douala	RwandAir
Dubai	Emirates
Entebbe	RwandAir
Frankfurt	Lufthansa
Harare	Airlink
Istanbul	Turkish Airlines
Kigali	RwandAir
Kilimanjaro	RwandAir
Kinshasa	RwandAir
Lagos	CemAir
Libreville	RwandAir
Livingstone	Kenya Airways
London	British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
Luanda	CemAir
Lubumbashi	CemAir
Lusaka	RwandAir
Nairobi	Kenya Airways, RwandAir
Ndola	Airlink, Proflight Zambia
New York (Newark)	United Airlines (from March 2021)
Nosy Be (Madagascar)	Airlink
Paris	Air France
Singapore	Singapore Airlines
Walvis Bay	Airlink
Zurich	Swiss Air

Entry requirements for international flights to South Africa:

1. 1. Valid passport and E-Ticket
   2. Visa to enter South Africa (if applicable) 
   3. Upon arrival into South Africa, all travellers must present a negative PCR or Covid-19 test certificate not older than 72 hours from departure time from the country of origin. Tests must be conducted and signed by a certified medical practitioner. South African authorities reserve the right to verify the authenticity of test certificates. 
   4. Any traveller who exhibits Covid-19 symptoms when screened upon arrival will be required to take a Covid-19 test at their own expense. Should the test display positive results, travellers will be subject to mandatory quarantine for 10 days at their own expense.
   5. All travellers must complete an Entry Health Screen Form either prior to or on arrival.
   6. All travellers will be screened by Port Health Officials upon arrival and departure. Those presenting symptoms must remain in quarantine until a repeat COVID-19 test is carried out.
   7. All travellers must wear masks at all times within the airport or port of entry. 
   8. Foreign nationals must have travel insurance that covers the costs of testing, quarantine and hospitalisation (if needed) before boarding their flight to South Africa. This does not apply to South African citizens. 
   9. Travellers must show proof of accommodation or address in South Africa in the event self-quarantine is required.
   10. International flights will only operate in and out of these three airports: OR Tambo in Joburg, King Shaka in Durban and Cape Town International Airport.
   11. Long-term visas will be reinstated and South African visa application centres abroad will be opened. Travellers are encouraged to install the COVID Alert SA mobile app.

Overland travel:

• 18 land borders will be fully operational.
• Scholars and educators needing to commute daily from neighbouring countries are free to do so, subject to entry requirements.
• Travellers must wear face masks.
• Travellers will be screened for Covid-19 upon arrival.
• Upon arrival into South Africa, travellers must present a negative PCR test result not older than 72 hours from departure time.
• Travellers must provide proof of address in the event they need to self-isolate if tested positive.
• Travellers must present a completed Traveller Health Questionnaire. 

Exit requirements for flights from South Africa:

1. Valid passport and E-Ticket
2. Valid visa for arrival destination (if applicable)
3. Quarantine arrangements upon arrival (if applicable)
4. Any additional documents required for entry
5. Face mask
6. Completed Exit Health Form
7. Travel insurance to cover Covid-19 related risks (highly recommended)
8. Always check entry requirements at your arrival destination (visas, PCR tests, any additional requirements). South Africa does not require a negative PCR test for departure, unless it is required by the country you’re travelling to. For return flights into South Africa on all airlines, all passengers must produce a PCR test not older than 72 hours from departure time.

 

For the full red list of countries that are not allowed into South Africa for leisure travel, visit our dedicated Travel Info page.

The green list and red list for international travel are under continuous revision by our cabinet. For the latest Lockdown Level 1 updates on travel requirements and restrictions, keep an eye on our Travel Info page.