South Africa

Travel to South Africa during Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

At a glance

WELCOMING VISITORS

Available to book, open soon

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Test pre-travel:

YES

Form pre-travel:

YES

Test on arrival:

NO

Screening on arrival:

YES

Quarantine on arrival:

NO

Test during stay:

NO

RETURN REQUIREMENTS

UK return testing:

YES

Quarantine on return:

YES

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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Test pre-travel: PCR Test
PCR Test locations: https://covidtraveladvice.kuoni.co.uk/pcr-test-locations
Test time:
All tourists must present a negative PCR test for COVID-19 on arrival. The test and negative PCR certificate must be issued no more than 3 days (72 hours) prior to departure.
On arrival:

Upon arrival in South Africa, you will need to produce a paper copy of a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) COVID-19 test to border officials. The test must have taken place no more than 72 hours before your departure. It should be conducted by a certified medical practitioner, and should have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted the test. We advise that you carry several paper copies of your test, as you may need to present it more than once on your journey.

If you do not have a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, you may have to quarantine in a government-appointed quarantine facility, at your own cost.
Form pre-travel: Traveller Health Declaration must be completed 24 hours prior to arrival.
Traveller Health Declaration: https://www.airports.co.za/Documents/ENTRY%20SCREENING%20THQ.pdf
RETURN REQUIREMENTS
UK return testing:

On your return a negative test must be taken in the 3 days (72 hours) before you depart to the UK. You will be required to show your test results before you board the return flight home.

 

The test must meet the performance standards of above 97% specificity and above 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies\ml.   The test can be a PCR test, a LAMP test or an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device as long as they meet the performance standards
Quarantine on return:

There is a temporary travel ban in place for all arrivals from South Africa.

 

A suspension of all Travel Corridors for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is in place from 4am 18 January for a period of at least one month. 

 

The following statements have been issued by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales:

 

Department for Transport (DfT)

 

All UK travel corridors temporarily suspended to protect against new international variants.

 

Emergency border measures introduced to prevent the spread of new variants of coronavirus into the UK. 

  • emergency measures introduced at the border to be in place for at least one month in order to protect the UK against new variants.
  • all international arrivals to the UK from any country (including British and Irish Nationals) must now take a pre-departure test and self-isolate for 10 days.
  • passengers must continue to fill in a Passenger Locator Form and have a negative test before travelling to the UK or could face a £500 fine for each.

 

The statement in full can be accessed via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/all-uk-travel-corridors-temporarily-suspended-to-protect-against-new-international-variants

 

Northern Ireland

 

Travel Corridor Suspended

 

The UK Government has announced that it is to suspend the travel corridor system until at least 15 February.  This will come into effect from 4am on Monday 18 January.  Travel corridors operate on a four-nation basis and the decision will see Northern Ireland amend regulations to remove the approximately 64 countries, islands and territories remaining on the travel corridor list.

 

The statement in full can be accessed via this link: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/travel-corridor-suspended

 

Scotland

 

Travel corridors suspended.

Changes to travel restrictions following new COVID-19 variant. Following identification of a new variant of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Brazil, the Scottish Government will impose additional restrictions on arrivals. From 04:00 on Monday, all country exemptions from self-isolation after international travel will be suspended.

 

Passengers travelling to Scotland from outside the Common Travel Area will be required to isolate for ten days on return. They must also have a valid negative COVID-19 test result, taken no more than three days before the scheduled time of departure.

 

The statement in full can be accessed via this link: https://www.gov.scot/news/travel-corridors-suspended/

 

Wales

 

Travel corridors to be suspended as new virus strains emerge. 

 

The First Minister has tonight confirmed travel corridors will be suspended in Wales to help prevent new mutated strains of coronavirus entering the UK. Travel corridors will be suspended from Monday until at least 15 February – and possibly longer – as all four nations of the UK act together.

 

The statement in full can be accessed via this link: https://gov.wales/travel-corridors-be-suspended-new-virus-strains-emerge
FURTHER INFORMATION
Foreign Office Advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa
Local regulations:

A face mask must be worn in all public spaces and social distancing must be maintained at all times. 

 

A national nightly curfew is in place from 9pm to 6am. Other than for an emergency, it is not possible to be outside of or leave your place of residence during the curfew.

 

The sale of alcohol is currently prohibited.

 

Beaches, lakes and recreational facilities in ‘hotspot’ locations are closed.  Beaches in non-hotspot areas are open between 9am and 7pm.

Remember to check countries you’re due to transit through as well as your destination.

The Information contained on this page is accurate to the best of our knowledge. It is provided as guidance only and is subject to review and change. Please check with official sources before booking and again regularly prior to travel, as information and requirements can change frequently and with little notice. Please visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or visit gov.uk/travelaware for country-specific information.

Last updated: 28.01.2021 at 11:28

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