update (01 October 2020): The Government of South Africa encourages the international travellers who intend to visit South Africa to download the COVID Alert SA app on their smartphones so that they are able to monitor and minimise their risk of exposure to the Covid-19 virus.
update (01 October 2020): South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has released an official list of countries currently rated as "high risk". The list will be reviewed every fortnight. Travellers from the following countries are not permitted to enter South Africa:
Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxemburg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Suriname, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Emirates, United Kingdom, USA and Venezuela.
update (30 September 2020): According to media reports from South Africa, the following countries are currently regarded as "high risk": Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, St Martin, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom, The United States of America, Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
According to other sources, the following countries are on South Africa's "banned leisure travel list": Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Faroe Islands, France, French Polynesia, Georgia, Gibraltar, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nepal, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Palau, Paraguay, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, St Marteen, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
We'll update the list as soon as an offical "high-risk country list" is available.The "banned leisure travel list" itself will be reviewed regularly.
South Africa's borders will gradually open for international travel for business, leisure and other travel on 01 October 2020. The reopening is guided by the communique published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Public Health on considerations for international travel on 30 July 2020. South Africa will open its three major airports (OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban) for international travellers, as well as 18 land borders to allow ease of travel from African countries.
International travellers:
The Government of South Africa has developed a risk categorisation model for different international travellers. This model classifies international travellers according to a scale of high risk, medium risk and low risk. Travellers from high-risk countries (countries with higher numbers of Covid-19 infections and reported deaths compared to South Africa) will not be permitted to enter South Africa. The exception will be business travellers with scarce and critical skills including diplomats, repatriated persons, investors and people participating in professional sporting and cultural events will undergo the same health protocol screenings.
Travellers from medium-risk countries (countries with relatively equal number of infections of Covid-19 and death toll to South Africa) and travellers from low-risk countries (countries with lesser number of infections of Covid-19 and death toll than South Africa) are allowed to enter South Africa.
If the passport of the traveller from a high-risk country indicates that he/she has spent 10 days or more in a low risk country before departure, he/she will be considered to be arriving from a low risk country.
Travellers from medium-risk countries and low-risk countries will only be allowed into the country subject to the prevailing visa requirements.
Airlines from hig- 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.
Long term visa holders who visit South Africa for business purposes will be allowed to travel to South Africa These travellers will also be subject to health screenings for Covid-19 symptoms at the port of entry.
South Africa reserves the right to deny entry of any traveller who is travelling from a high-risk country for tourism purposes.
International travellers permitted to visit South Africa will be expected to produce a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that is not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa. This test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and should have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted such test.
Upon arrival in the port of entry, travellers will be screened for any Covid-19 symptoms or for contact with people who have been infected with Covid-19.
Travellers will also need to provide proof of accommodation address should they need to self-quarantine at the time of arrival in South Africa.
Should travellers display any Covid-19–related symptoms or been in contact with an infected person(s), 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, travellers 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.
Travellers are also required to possess a travel insurance which is supposed to cover the Covid-19 test and quarantine cost.
African travellers:
Travellers from all African countries are allowed to enter South Africa, but must possess relevant travel documents. African travellers will also be screened for Covid-19 symptoms.
Sea Ports:
To facilitate ease of transportation of goods and medicines to and from South Africa at sea ports, ships will be allowed to dock, load and off-load cargo. Crew members from the cargo ships will be allowed to crew changes. These crew members will also be medically screened for Covid-19 symptoms. Passenger liners for luxury travel are still not allowed to dock and off-load passengers. [src.]
