South Africa is open to international travel, subject to health and safety protocols. South African citizens and permanent residents are allowed entry into South Africa regardless of where you are travelling from, provided you adhere to the entry requirements (see below). Any South Africans wanting to travel overseas must check the destination entry requirements and latest international travel information, as many borders are still closed to South Africans.
South Africa is currently under Level 1 lockdown where a curfew of 00:00 - 04:00 has been instated. This curfew may affect your flight schedule, so please check with the airline you are flying.
Please note that all information on this page is accurate and reliable at the time of publication, however, it may not reflect the very latest updates on travel bans and restrictions. It is the sole responsibility of the traveller to stay updated on the latest travel regulations.
We’re OFF THE RED LIST as of 11 October 2021!
A few mandatory UK entry requirements you need to know BEFORE boarding the plane:
Fully vaccinated South Africans can travel to the United Kingdom with:
Quarantine on arrival is no longer required if arriving from South Africa!
A list of approved vaccines can be found HERE.
Eligible travellers vaccinated in over 37 new countries and territories including South Africa, will also be treated the same as returning fully vaccinated UK residents, so long as they have not visited a red list country or territory in the 10 days before arriving in England - If you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must follow the red list rules.
Before arriving in the UK fully vaccinated passengers must:
Please Note:
Please note when travelling on Emirates, Transit Passengers travelling from South Africa Transiting Through Dubai and Not Leaving Dubai International Airport are required to present a hard copy of a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate valid 72-hours before departure and satisfy all other requirements of their final destination
To check if you qualify as being fully vaccinated, please check HERE.
Travelling with children please check HERE.
If you are not fully vaccinated, please check requirements HERE.
For more details:
* Disclaimer
All information contained herein is accurate and up to date at the time of posting. Please take note that the dynamic nature of local responses to COVID-19 increases the risk of information being outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to independently satisfy yourself of any restrictions or travel requirements that may apply at your point of departure, destination or transit locations at your intended time of travel.
We are pleased that the United States of America will reopen to fully vaccinated citizens from South Africa, Schengen countries and Great Britain, among others, as of 8th November 2021.
The new guidelines will allow travellers who are fully vaccinated with WHO-certified vaccines and present a negative Covid-19 test no older than 72 hours to enter the country without restrictions.
A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or other vaccines listed under the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use list WHO EUL Vaccines, such as Sinovac and AstraZeneca.
The South African Department of Health has launched its digital vaccine card. The system, which features a scan-able QR code, produces a digital copy of the physical vaccine card. Digital vaccine cards are required when travelling internationally.
Here’s the link to download yours: https://bit.ly/2YmBdi1
Starting from 1 October, 2021, fully vaccinated visitors under the “Sandbox” programme to Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao), Phang-Nga (Khao Lak and Ko Yao), and Krabi (Ko Phi Phi, Ko Ngai and Railay) are now required to stay within the destination for seven days, and afterwards will be able to continue their journey to other parts of Thailand.
Click here to find out who can travel to Phuket from abroad.
Important Things to Remember:
For more information and travel to other Sandbox Destinations see:
Tourist holding a valid UAE visa can now enter Dubai from South Africa subject to providing the following:
Domestic flights between provinces are allowed and all accommodation, hospitality venues and tours are open, subject to safety protocols.
Face mask
Photo ID - ID Book, South African Driver's Licence or Passport. Children must have a Birth Certificate or a certified copy of a Birth Certificate no older than 3 months. (This does not need to be an Unabridged Birth Certificate)
Copy of E-Ticket AND boarding pass
Margate Airport
Eastgate/Hoedspruit Airport
Skukuza Airport
Plettenberg Bay
Phalaborwa/ Kruger Park Gateway Airport (no flights currently available)
Polokwane
Sishen (no flights currently available)
| Route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Joburg-Cape Town-Joburg | Airlink, FlySafair, Mango, CemAir |
| Joburg-Durban-Joburg | FlySafair, Mango, CemAir |
| Joburg-Port Elizabeth-Joburg | FlySafair, Airlink, Mango |
| Joburg-Bloemfontein-Joburg | Airlink, CemAir |
| Joburg-Kruger MQP-Joburg | Airlink |
| Joburg-East London-Joburg | FlySafair, Airlink |
| Joburg-George-Joburg | CemAir, FlySafair, Mango |
| Joburg-Kimberley-Joburg | CemAir, Airlink |
| Joburg-Upington-Joburg | Airlink |
| Joburg-Margate-Joburg | CemAir |
| Joburg-Hoedspruit-Joburg | Airlink, CemAir |
| Joburg-Pietermaritzburg-Joburg | Airlink |
| Joburg-Mthatha-Joburg | Airlink |
| Joburg-Skukuza-Joburg | Airlink |
| Joburg-Richards Bay-Joburg | Airlink |
| Joburg-Plettenberg Bay-Joburg | CemAir |
| Joburg-Polokwane-Joburg | Airlink |
| Lanseria-Cape Town-Lanseria | FlySafair |
| Lanseria-Durban-Lanseria | FlySafair |
| Cape Town-Durban-Cape Town | FlySafair, Mango |
| Cape Town-Port Elizabeth-Cape Town | Airlink, FlySafair |
| Cape Town-Bloemfontein-Cape Town | Airlink |
| Cape Town-East London-Cape Town | FlySafair |
| Cape Town-George-Cape Town | Airlink |
| Cape Town-Kimberley-Cape Town | Airlink |
| Cape Town-Upington-Cape Town | Airlink |
| Cape Town-Kruger MQP-Cape Town | Airlink |
| Cape Town-Hoedspruit-Cape Town | Airlink |
| Cape Town-Plettenberg Bay-Cape Town | CemAir |
| Durban-East London-Durban | FlySafair |
| Port Elizabeth-Durban-Port Elizabeth | FlySafair |
If you would prefer to make a booking directly with one of our Travelstart Live agents, please email live@travelstart.com.
By proceeding to book I agree and accept the Terms and Conditions of the Travelstart Website and its travel Partners.
You further acknowledge that Travelstart operates as a reseller of flights and all content that appears on our website is sourced from a GDS (Global Distribution Service) or from the Airline Directly via an Application Programming Interface (API). Whilst every effort is made to ensure that systems are updated to take into account any travel restrictions that may exist at the time of booking, it may be possible that there is a delay in the GDS or Airline system updating to accommodate all travel restrictions that may be imposed. By booking the selected flight with us, you confirm that you have checked that there are no travel restrictions, in both your country of departure and arrival, that may affect your booking and that you have satisfied yourself on behalf of all travellers in the booking that you can proceed with the booking. Please also check the entry requirements of your destination country, as a quarantine period or testing might be a requirement when flying in from South Africa.
Travelstart cannot be held liable for any operational changes, cancellations or consequential damages incurred by you, or any passenger in the booking, in the event that flights are not able to operate as planned, including any disruptions, cancellations or changes to planned schedules. Please note that in the event that a flight is disrupted or cancelled due to travel restrictions being imposed that each airline will have their own policy in this regard, which will apply to your booking.
Valid passport and E-Ticket
Valid visa for arrival destination (if applicable)
Quarantine arrangements upon arrival (if applicable)
Any additional documents required for entry into your destination or transit country
Face mask
Completed Exit Health Form
Travel insurance to cover Covid-19 related risks (highly recommended)
Always check entry requirements at your arrival destination (visas, PCR tests, any additional requirements).
All minor children (under the age of 18 years old) travelling through any South African port of entry must have an unabridged birth certificate or an equivalent document. If a child is accompanied by only one parent then a parental consent letter is needed, including a copy of the passport and contact details of the absent parent.
The Traveller Health Questionnaire must be completed for all international travel from South Africa before your arrival at the airport. Failure to produce this form may result in denied boarding, resulting in your ticket being non-refundable.
Valid passport and E-Ticket
*Visa to enter South Africa (if applicable)
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.
Children below the age of 5 years do not need to provide a PCR test. Children over 5 years must produce a negative PCR test to enter South Africa. Should your child display positive symptoms or a parent tests positive while in South Africa, children below 6 years old may self-isolate with the parent without needing a test. Children under 2 years old do not have to wear masks on airplanes.
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.
All travellers must complete an Entry Health Screen Form either prior to or on arrival.
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.
All travellers must wear masks at all times within the airport or port of entry. Children below six years old do not need to wear face masks in public spaces.
Travellers must show proof of accommodation or address in South Africa in the event self-quarantine is required.
The following airports are open for international travel: OR Tambo in Joburg, Lanseri Airport in Joburg, King Shaka in Durban, Cape Town International Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in Nelspruit.
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.
PLEASE PRINT OUT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS to present at check-in before boarding your flight to South Africa.
*Please note that certain visas on arrival have been revoked and must be applied for prior to arrival in South Africa. Please check with your nearest SA Embassy.
South Africa’s 20 designated land borders and ports of entry are open to all travellers.
Scholars and educators needing to commute daily from neighbouring countries are free to do so, subject to entry requirements.
Travellers must wear face masks.
Learners and scholars commuting daily across the border do not need to produce a negative PCR test.
Children below the age of 5 years do not need to provide a PCR test. Children over 5 years must produce a negative PCR test to enter South Africa.
Travellers must present a completed Entry Health Screen Form (this does not apply to domestic travellers).
We suggest arriving at least 2 hours early for domestic flights and 3-4 hours early for international flights.
We recommend that you check in online prior to departure (to minimise contact, queues and waiting time).
Visitors are allowed to enter the airport.
Expect maximum safety protocols to be applied throughout your journey.
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