Welcome back to the Stellenbosch Winelands!

Courtesy of Visit Stellenbosch.

• The list of countries and categorisation will be reviewed every two weeks and updated based on the latest WHO figures.
• Leisure travellers from high-risk countries will not be permitted.
• Exceptions will be made for individuals from high-risk countries who are business travellers with scarce and critical skills, diplomats, repatriated persons, investors and people participating in professional sporting and cultural events.
• If the passport of the traveller from a high-risk country indicates that they have spent 10 days or more in a low-risk country before departure, they will be considered to be arriving from a low-risk country and subject to the low-risk entry requirements.
• Airlines from high-risk countries are not necessarily banned, but their crew will be required to isolate in facilities at designated accommodation at the cost of their employer.
• Travellers (leisure, business and other) from medium- and low-risk countries will only be allowed into the country subject to the prevailing visa requirements.
• Travellers from all African countries are allowed and must possess relevant travel documents and will also be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
• Johannesburg’s OR Tambo, Durban’s King Shaka and Cape Town International Airports are the only airports that will allow international air travel to arrive or depart. 
• The 35 land borders that were closed during the previous lockdown levels will remain closed. The 18 land borders which were partially operational during the previous lockdown levels will be fully operational (i.e. allow passage of South Africans and permitted foreign nationals).

Entry requirements for all arrivals

• A valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, obtained not more than 72 hours (3 days) from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa. The test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and the certificate must have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted the test.
• Failure to present proof of a valid and negative test will require the traveller to quarantine at their own cost.
• Upon arrival in the port of entry, the traveller will be screened for any COVID-19 symptoms and/or for contact with people who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus.
• Travellers must provide proof of accommodation address should they need to self-quarantine at the time of arrival in the country, subject to the accommodation allowing for self-quarantine.
• Should the traveller display any COVID-19–related symptoms or have been in contact with an infected person, they will be expected to take a mandatory COVID-19 test. This test will be at the traveller’s cost. If the COVID-19 test comes back positive, the traveller will be subjected to a 10-day quarantine at a designated site. The accommodation at a quarantine site will be at the traveller’s cost.
• All travellers will be asked to download the COVID Alert South Africa mobile app. Information on the app can be found here.
• Travel insurance is mandatory for all international travellers to cover any cost of testing or quarantine.
• It is the responsibility of the airlines to check that passengers boarding flights to South Africa meet the requirements of entry.
• Any person from a country listed as having a high COVID-19 infection and transmission rate, who wish to undertake business travel into South Africa, may with effect from 01 October 2020, in writing, apply to the Minister of Home Affairs and demonstrate reasons for their request to enter the Republic for business purposes during the period of the national state of disaster.
   
  Such applications must be directed to  Covid19BusinessTravel@dha.gov.za and supported by the following documents:
• (a)       a copy of passport and/or temporary residence visa;
• (b)       proof of business activities to be undertaken in the Republic; 
• (c)       proof of travel itinerary; and
• (d)       proof of address or accommodation in the Republic.

Visas, IDs and Passports

• The Department of Home Affairs is extending the validity period of legally issued visas which expired during the lockdown period to 31 January 2021. Holders of such visas are permitted to remain in the country under the conditions of their visas until 31 January 2021. Those wishing to be repatriated to their countries within this period can depart without being declared undesirable persons.
• The Department is also resuming services for applications for identity cards or documents and for all types of passports.
• Visa services, including submission of applications through VFS Global, will also resume in the following categories: Visitor’s visas; study visa; treaty visa; business visa; crew visa; medical treatment visa; relative’s visa; general work visa; critical skills work visa; intra-company transfer work visa; retired person visa; corporate visa; exchange visa;  waiver of the prescribed requirement, as contemplated in section 31(2)(c); and appeals or reviews contemplated in section 8 of the Immigration Act.
• Some of these services will also be available through Missions abroad.

Support Documents

Courtesy Business Tech: 

Here is the full list of high risk countries that won’t be allowed to visit South Africa

Visit our Engel & Völkers Stellenbosch shop on the corner of Bird/Plein Street, for a cup of coffee, and a chat about our properties. 

View our website or call us on +27 21 861 7777.

Looking forward to welcome you back in town!