What documents do I need to enter South Africa?
To enter South Africa you need a passport valid 30 days past departure with two completely blank pages, a visa if your nationality needs one, and an online traveller declaration.
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Entering South Africa - what you need
South Africa is easy to enter for most tourists, but it enforces its passport rules harder than almost anywhere else. Get these in order before you book flights and your trip1 hotel stay.
- A passport valid for at least 30 days after your planned departure date, with at least two completely blank pages.
- A visa, unless your nationality is exempt for short tourist stays.
- A return or onward ticket showing when you plan to leave.
- Proof of where you are staying - your trip1 booking confirmation covers this.
- An online traveller declaration submitted before you arrive and again before you leave.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from a country with a transmission risk.
The blank pages rule catches people out
South Africa requires two entirely blank pages in your passport, and airlines check this at the departure gate. Pages that already carry a stamp or a visa do not count, and neither do the endorsement or observation pages at the back.
If your passport is close to full, renew it before you travel. There is no way to fix this at the airport.
Important: airlines refuse boarding to passengers who do not meet the blank-page rule, and you will not get the fare back. Count your blank pages weeks before departure, not on the day.
Visa or visa-free? Check your own passport
Citizens of the UK, US, most EU countries, Canada, Australia and around 70 other countries can enter for tourism without a visa, usually for up to 90 days. Your permitted stay is written on the entry stamp, so read it rather than assuming you have the full 90.
If your nationality is not exempt, you apply for a visitor's visa at a South African mission before you travel. Requirements differ by country, so check the Department of Home Affairs site for yours.
Dual nationals who are also South African citizens and aged 18 or over must enter and leave on a South African passport.
Travelling to South Africa with children
Foreign children travelling with both parents normally need only their own valid passport. The stricter documentation rules apply when a child travels with one parent, with another adult, or alone.
- With one parent: carry the child's unabridged (full) birth certificate showing both parents, plus a signed consent affidavit from the parent who is not travelling.
- Unaccompanied: carry written consent from both parents, copies of their ID or passports, and a letter from the adult receiving the child in South Africa.
- With a relative or guardian: carry the unabridged birth certificate plus written parental consent.
Rules for South African minors are stricter again. Check the Department of Home Affairs advisory before you book, because an unabridged birth certificate can take weeks to obtain.
The new online traveller declaration
Since 1 July 2026 everyone arriving in or leaving South Africa must submit a customs traveller declaration online. You complete it on the South African Revenue Service website and keep the confirmation on your phone.
You also have to declare cash if you are carrying more than the equivalent of about 25,000 rand or 10,000 US dollars.
Hotel check-in in South Africa
Hotels in South Africa ask every adult guest for a passport at check-in and record the details in a guest register. Bring the physical passport, not a photo of it.
Your trip1 booking confirmation is what the front desk needs to find your reservation, and it doubles as proof of accommodation at the border. A digital copy on your phone is fine.
Many hotels also ask for a card at check-in to hold a deposit against extras like the minibar. That is the hotel's own policy and separate from how you paid for the room on trip1.
Entering South Africa - FAQ
No. British citizens can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. US, Canadian, Australian and most EU passport holders are also visa-exempt for short tourist stays. Your permitted stay is written on the entry stamp, so read it rather than assuming you have the full 90 days.
A passport valid for at least 30 days after the date you leave South Africa, with at least two completely blank pages, plus a return or onward ticket and proof of where you are staying. Pages already stamped and the endorsement pages at the back do not count as blank, and airlines can refuse boarding if you do not meet the rule.
Yes. Since 1 July 2026 every traveller entering or leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail must submit an online traveller declaration before travelling. You complete it on the South African Revenue Service website and keep the confirmation on your phone. You must also declare cash above 25,000 rand, or other currencies worth more than 10,000 US dollars.
Yes, in practice. South African citizens aged 18 or over must enter and leave South Africa on a South African passport, so you need that one at the South African border. British dual nationals also need a valid British passport, or a certificate of entitlement, to return to the UK.
Foreign children travelling with both parents normally need only their own passport. If a child travels with one parent, carry the child's full birth certificate showing both parents and a signed consent affidavit from the other parent. Children travelling with another adult or alone need written consent from both parents. Rules for South African children are stricter, so check the Department of Home Affairs guidance.