The further rules around the reopening of the country’s borders were announced this afternoon.
From 1 October 2020, international travel from the African Continent and from countries outside the African Continent with a low rate of COVID-19 infection and transmission, will resume, subject to:
(a) the traveller providing a valid certificate of a negative test which was obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel; and
(b) in the event of the traveller’s failure to submit a certificate as proof of a negative test, the traveller will be required to quarantine at his or her own costs.
Rules for International Travel
International travel from countries deemed to be at a high risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission will remain prohibited, except for business travel for those who have clearance from the Minister of Home Affairs.
If the passport of the traveller from a high-risk country indicates that they spent ten days or more in a low-risk country before departure, they will be considered to be arriving from a low-risk country.
Visitors from high-risk countries may therefore consider travelling to a low-risk country and remain there for ten days before proceeding onward to South Africa.
Visitors must produce a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin.
The test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and must have the name and signature of the person who conducted the test.
Upon arrival, travellers will be screened for Covid-19.
Travellers will need to provide proof of accommodation and travel insurance is mandatory for all travellers.
List of high-risk countries
The following countries are considered high-risk, and visitors arriving from these countries not be allowed into the country:
- 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
- Luxembourg
- 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
- Venezuela
South Africans are free to travel to any country that currently allows travellers from South Africa to visit.
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