COVID-19 Travel Regulations

COVID-19 Travel Regulations

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Passengers entering or transiting through South Africa must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result issued at best 72 hours preceding departure from their first embarkation point. A Traveller’s Health questionnaire must be completed upon arrival. Passengers and airline crew are also subject to medical screening.

There are visa exceptions for nationals from France, Germany, Italy, Korea (Rep), Portugal, Singapore, Spain and USA.

Angola

News published by the Angolan Government regarding travel regulations, is that no passenger is allowed in the country. This does not apply to the following:

  • Angolan nationals and residents;
  • Passengers with a work permit issue by Angola; and
  • Passengers returning via Angola to their country of residence.

All passengers must undertake the Covid-19 RT-PCR test, at most 72 hours before departure from first embarkation point. Each passenger must have a copy of the test results document at hand, which must be either in English or Portuguese.

Passengers must complete a Travel Registration form (FVR) at most 72 hours before departure and obtain an approval to enter. Upon arrival, they will be subject to the Covid-19 rapid test and be obligated to undergo quarantine for 10 days. Airline crew members will be remitted to self-isolation until their next flight.

Angolan-issued residence permits, as well as refugee- and temporary stay visas, which expired after February 2020, will be extended until 31 July 2021.

Ethiopia

Recent information published about travelling to Ethiopia is that passengers must present a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (Covid-19) RT-PCR test result. The test must have been undertaken 120 hours (5 days) before arrival in the country.

This does not apply to:

  • Travellers who are younger than 10 years of age;
  • Holders of a diplomatic passport and their immediate family members;
  • Travellers with a service passport and their immediate family members;
  • Travellers with a Laissez-Passer issued by the United Nations and their immediate family members;
  • E-visas that were issued before 18 June 2021 are accepted if the passenger resides in a country without an Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate;
  • Ethiopian residents are allowed to enter with an expired residence permit;
  • Travellers with a valid ID card or foreign nationals of Ethiopian decent can obtain a visa on arrival at Addis Ababa;
  • Included are children with foreign parents of Ethiopian decent can obtain a visa on arrival at Addis Ababa; and
  • Travellers with a foreign passport stating Ethiopia as a place of birth can obtain a visa on arrival at Addis Ababa.

Botswana

Information published recently advised that airports in Botswana are closed, however this does not apply to Gaborone, Francistown, Kasane and Maun. To enter through same, the following must be considered:

  • Travellers must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result that was issued, at most 72 hours before arrival and this certificate must be in English.
  • This does not apply to travellers younger than 5 years.
  • Travellers could be subjected to a COVID-19 test upon arrival, but at their own expense.
  • Travellers could be subjected to quarantine at their own expense.
  • Travellers are subject to a medical screening upon arrival.

Tanzania

In addition to the travel restrictions published on 01 July 2021, it was advised that all flights from India would be suspended. This does not apply to humanitarian, medevac or repatriation flights. Travellers are subject to a 14-day quarantine at their own expense if they are arriving from India due to humanitarian, medevac and repatriation flights.

The following is required from passengers:

  • Travellers, including airline crew, must have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test done, at most 72 hours before arrival;
  • This does not apply to a traveller younger than 5 years of age;
  • Travellers arriving from Brazil, Congo (Dem. Rep), India, Indonesia, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, USA, Uganda or United Kingdom are subject to a COVID-19 Antigen test upon arrival at their own expense;
  • Travellers are to complete a Traveller’s Surveillance Form, which must be presented to the Port Health Authorities upon arrival; and

Both travellers and airline crew are subject to a medical screening.

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USA Entry Restrictions And Appraised Visas currently

USA Entry Restrictions And Appraised Visas Currently

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However, the Consulates do provide limited immigrant visa services, restricted to namely, IR-1, IR-2, CR-1, CR-2, IR5, and K visas. They also offer limited non-immigrant visa services for crewmembers, certain student and exchange visitors’ categories, journalists, and petition-based workers who qualify for an exception to current travel restrictions. This is only applicable if you have an urgent life-or-death matter, or work/study in a critical medical field, and need to travel immediately.

According to most missions in South Africa, travelers must avoid unnecessary movement between Provinces due to the high number of Covid infections in the country. The 3rd Covid wave is more perilous than the 1st and 2nd waves and individuals must be aware of the dangers around the new delta variant.

Please note that the following USA visas can currently be considered:

IR-1– This is a type of immigrant visa issued to foreign spouses of US citizens. (Spouses, New arrivals)

IR-2– This is a family based green card for minors under 21 years of age. (Children, new arrivals)

CR-1– This is a United States immigrant visa that allows a spouse of a US citizen to enter the USA as a conditional permanent resident. (Spouses, new arrivals, conditional, certain family members of U.S. citizens)

CR-2– This type of visa is issued to the unmarried child of a foreign spouse.  For a child to qualify as a stepchild, the marriage would need to have taken place before the child’s 18th birthday. The child must also be under the age of 21 at the time of the visa application. (Children, new arrivals, conditional)

IR5– This type of visa is a Family Based Green Card which is designed for parents of U.S citizens who are least 21 years old. The IR5 parent visa allows U.S. citizens to bring foreign-born parents to the United States as permanent residents. (Parents of adult U.S. citizens, new arrivals, certain family members of U.S. citizens)

K- This type of visa, include K-1’s, which allow a fiancé(e) of a United States citizen to travel to the USA and marry the United States citizen within 90 days of admission. Both the United States citizen and the foreign fiancé(e) must be free to marry, meaning they must both be unmarried, and any previous marriages must have ended through divorce, annulment, or death. Additionally, the United States citizen must have met with the fiancé(e) in person within the last two years before filing the K-1 visa. K-2 visas allow the children of the fiancé(e) to enter the United States if their parent qualifies for the K-1 visa. (Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. citizen & live in U.S)

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Retention of SA Citizenship

Retention of South African Citizenship

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Marisa Jacobs
Marisa Jacobs
Director

It is however imperative for South Africans to be mindful when applying for another country’s Citizenship that they do not unknowingly renounce their South African Citizenship.  Consequently, the most prominent hurdles in obtaining dual citizenship have become the 1) retention of SA Citizenship 2) application for foreign Citizenship and 3) physical and / or financial emigration. Here is a quick look at the differences:

What is Dual Citizenship

Dual Citizenship is the right to become a citizen of more than one country. It sounds fairly straight-forward, but South Africans need to apply to keep their South African Citizenship. Many first world countries no longer allow individuals to keep Dual Citizenship with other countries.

Countries like Singapore, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have become firm favourites with South Africans looking to earn a foreign income. However, none of these countries make provision for Dual Citizenship.

While the act of having dual nationality can hold many rewards, it can also create a tax maze and have other, more complex, implications to consider.

Can I Lose My Citizenship?

While South Africa allows its citizens to hold Dual Citizenship, it’s important to understand the requirements and the correct way of applying for it. For instance, you must first apply to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to request retention of your SA Citizenship before applying for foreign citizenship. Where this step is not completed, you will automatically lose your SA Citizenship.

This section of the Citizenship Act is currently being put to task because it is believed to be unconstitutional. Whether this is true or not, thousands of South Africans lose their Citizenship every year without knowing.

If you have already lost your Citizenship, it is a complex and onerous process to get it back again. One of the ways to reclaim or resume your Citizenship, is that you will be required to move back to South Africa on a permanent basis and then make application to the DHA in accordance. This can be a massive setback for professionals who were under the impression that they indeed have Dual Citizenship and already made the big move.

Physical- and Financial Emigration

Emigration is the act of moving away from a country. It’s important to note the difference between Physical Emigration and Financial Emigration, as these are two entirely separate matters, and you can do one without necessarily having to do the other.

What is Physical Emigration?

Although Physical Emigration indicates the act of packing your bags, jumping on the first flight and leaving South Africa, it requires a decision on whether you would like to take up Residency or Citizenship of the country you are relocating to. Where you do decide to apply for Citizenship, there is the all-important further decisions of whether you would like Dual Citizenship (where allowed) or give up your SA Citizenship. As noted earlier, where you intend to retain SA Citizenship you must initiate the process with the DHA before applying for other Citizenship. This can be a daunting and uncertain process and many are unfamiliar with the steps, resulting in them not properly concluding this process.

What is Financial Emigration?

Financial Emigration is the process of cutting financial ties with South Africa. This means that, for exchange control purposes, the South African Revenue Services (SARS) changes your residency status from resident to non-resident. Because SARS requires a tax clearance certificate before considering financial emigration, it is wise to consult a specialist who can help you with this procedure.

Always remember that, through financially emigrating, you do not alter your status as a South African Citizen.

How can we help? 

Our service offering includes extensive expat tax assistance, work visa services and international travel permit applications. More often than not, complications hinder the financial emigration process. We are there to help expats with all their emigration woes. 

Regardless of what your needs might be, or which of the above scenarios would best suit your situation, be sure to partner with someone who knows the legal and technical ins-and-outs of working abroad. 

3rd Covid-19 wave and resultant restrictions for South Africans

3rd Covid-19 Wave And Resultant Restrictions For South Africans

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Based on the limited sequencing that’s been done, the Delta variant has emerged as the dominant variant in this resurgence. According to the latest research, it is much more transmissible and possibly more virulent compared to previous variants. This simply means that further restrictions will apply on travellers exiting South Africa and that further lockdown measures will be implemented.

The European Commission is doing its utmost best to ensure free movement of citizens, goods, and services – with full respect to health and safety measures. However, we are expecting that South African travellers might not be able to travel abroad due to the current Covid-19 situation.

Non-essential travel has been banned to most countries from South Africa, or have been imposed with strict regulations, until the epidemiological situation is better controlled. Restrictions on travel will be in line with the Council’s recommendation, including testing of travellers.

The good news is that employees who are required to enter France and Italy can submit their visa applications and depart to their destination with no issues.

France and Italy both accept work permit and seafarer visa applications, provided that the travellers deliver the following:

  • Negative PCR test in the last 48 hours of travelling
  • If vaccinated, a 7-day quarantine in France
  • If not vaccinated, Covid tests to be conducted and travellers quarantined for 10 days
  • Give a compelling reason to be admitted entry
  • A sworn statement certifying the absence of Covid-19 symptoms or contact with any confirmed case of Covid-19
  • Complete letter with name, travel details, why the need to travel and accommodation details.
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