The Department of Home Affairs published new regulations on the 30th of June 2021, in Government Gazette No. 44786. Visa Concessions Extended The March 2021 visa concessions extended all tourist and s11(2) business visas which expired during the state of disaster, to 30 June 2021. This date has been amended to the 30th of September 2021, granted that: a) Holders of visas or permits have not departed the Republic since the announcement of the national state of disaster in March 2020 and had arrived with a valid visitor’s visa between December 2019 and March 14 2021. b) This does not apply to an ..read more

The Department of Home Affairs published new regulations today, 26 March 2021, in Government Gazette 44335. A year ago, special visa concessions were announced which automatically extended visas which expired during the state of disaster. The ongoing state of disaster was announced on 15 March 2020. The visa concessions allowed foreign nationals to remain in the country for as long as they chose to do so, subject to the concession criteria. New concessions announced The March 2021 visa concessions extend all tourist and s11(2) business visas which expired during the state of disaster, to 30 Ju ..read more

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 ..read more

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last night that South Africa will move to Alert level 1 on Monday, 21 September. The move will see South Africa re-opening its borders to foreign tourists from 1 October, with travel restrictions to and from certain countries with high infection rates. Foreign nationals will also be permitted to apply for and renew their visas for the first time since March. The Department of Home Affairs and VFS Centres will re-open for submissions on the 20th September. Due to social distancing restrictions, Home Affairs will not be operating at full capacity and visa proc ..read more

According to an Immigration Directive, issued by the Department of Home Affairs in 2015, the holders of certain temporary residence visas may register and undertake in part-time studies in South Africa during the validity period of their visas. As of 01 May 2015, those holding a business visa, or general, critical skills, or intra-company transfer work visa will be able to engage in part-time studies at an Institution of Higher Education in South Africa, without first having to request an endorsement to do so, from the Department of Home Affairs. This replaces a 2008 Directive, which allowed f ..read more

Note: Foreign nationals presently in South Africa will be allowed to extend their visas On 18 March 2020, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation issued a travel advisory with more information on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Coronavirus travel restrictions. All entry into South Africa, regardless of compliance with visa requirements, of foreign travellers with ordinary passports, travelling from or transiting through high-risk countries will be prohibited until further notice. As at the time of writing, the countries declared as high-risk were: China France Germany Iran Italy ..read more

South Africa is an explosive mixture of primitive exotics and advantageous modernity. Explore the adorable Cape Town promenades to graceful elephants in Kruger National Park, the best sunny beaches on the African coast and the fantastic tropics of Limpopo, chic hotels, to finally enjoying some of the famous wine brands grown in SA – there are many fascinating things to discover with your loved one in South Africa.  Are you real adventure travellers who love active rest? Then today, we are going to tell you about seven excellent sports for a date in South Africa.  1. Football Without a doubt ..read more

The picturesque city of Cape Town has become a popular destination to shoot commercials as well as playing home to several Hollywood movies and popular TV series. The town offers filmmakers a unique location with the Winelands, the beaches, the city, the informal settlements all providing backdrops to tell incredible stories. The favourable exchange rate of the South African Rand also makes Cape Town a convenient destination for international film crews looking for locations to shoot in. Also, the bustling city offers world-class film production facilities with several local studios collaborat ..read more

When arranging a family holiday, you want to include as much of your family as possible so that nobody feels left out. For a lot of people, the family includes the pets that brighten up their lives and their home. However, not all places accommodate these furry friends that people have. On that note, here are some pet-friendly accommodations in South Africa that you can look into for you and your pet. 1. Beach Forest Lodge The Beach Forest Lodge are beachfront apartments that welcome pets so that you and your pets can enjoy the resort life. The perks of staying at the Beach Forest Lodge is tha ..read more

When looking into a volunteer or working visa, one might either want to spend their time contributing to the greater good of animals, or to South Africa’s community. At first, foreigners who come to South Africa might find themselves quickly drawn here, seeking to uplift poverty-stricken areas. However, for others looking into a volunteer visa, working with animals in South Africa may also prove to be a rewarding option. Wouldn’t you love to work with animals in South Africa? Hit Pause to Help out Some Paws at Pit Pals Pit Pals is just one of the many great animal rehabilitation centres in Ca ..read more