The South African government announced on 16 September 2020 that the country’s borders will reopen for tourism on 1 October 2020. Travel to and from certain high-risk countries will be limited. Only one land border post and three international airports – OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town – will reopen to international travellers.

Open for International Travel – Yes

Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

• Provide a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, obtained not more than 72 hours (3 days) from the time of departure for 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.
• Undergo screening for any COVID-19 symptoms and/or for contact with people who have been infected with the virus.
• Download the COVID Alert South Africa mobile app – more information here.
• All foreign national visitors must have travel insurance that covers the cost of any testing or quarantine.

Mandatory quarantine – Not required unless:

• Arriving passengers fail to present a valid and negative COVID-19 PCR test. This will require quarantine at own cost.
• Travellers display any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with an infected person. A mandatory COVID-19 test will be required at their own cost. If this test result is positive, travellers will be subjected to a 10-day quarantine at a designated site, at their own cost.

Countries allowed to travel to the destination

• All

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 a 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.

The list of high risk countries will be reviewed by the South African government every two weeks.

Airlines flying into the destination

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Air France
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Emirates
• Lufthansa