South Africa Travel Advice

Entry requirements differ by country. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues country specific travel advice including Health, Visa and Vaccination requirements.

You can access the FCDO advice for Kenya at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa

Entry requirements

For British citizens

If you're utilising a full ‘British citizen’ passport, you must be aware of the rules enforced by the South African authorities. If you need further clarity on these rules, you can contact South Africa's high commission in the UK.

COVID-19 rules

Updates or changes to COVID-19 rules may happen quickly. If you test positive, you might need to stay until you test negative and seek treatment where you are. For more general COVID-19 advice for travellers, visit TravelHealthPro.

Passport validity

Your passport should:

• Be valid for at least 30 days beyond your planned exit date from South Africa.
• Have 2 blank pages for your visa (if needed).

To avoid issues, it is advisable to have a passport that is valid for six months upon entering South Africa.

Dual nationals

South African citizens must use their South African passport for entry and exit of the country. It is illegal for South African citizens (above 18 years old) to use a foreign passport for these purposes. Please see South Africa Department of Home Affairs for further information on South African passports.

Visa requirements

• General

Travellers don't need a visa for tourism or business visits up to 90 days. For more details, please contact the South African High Commission.

Entry requirements for children

Children under 18 and unaccompanied children have special requirements for entry into South Africa. Please see South Africa Department of Home Affairs for further information.

Vaccination requirements

Check your vaccinations and vaccination certificates at least 8 weeks before your trip. You can find more information on TravelHealthPro.

Customs rules

Before buying items to take back to the UK, you need to check the UK customs requirements.

Taking money into South Africa

There are limits on how much money you can take into South Africa:

• Up to 25,000 South African rand in cash per person.
• Up to 10,000 US dollars (or equivalent) in combinations of cash in other currencies.

Remember to declare if you're carrying more than this upon entering South Africa.

Irish Passport Holders

Please note that this information is for British Passport holders only. If you hold an Irish passport then please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs for travel advice