I don't need a visa for a stay under 90 days in South Africa but can I enter SA twice in that time?
I am traveling to South Africa this year on a U.S. passport, and will be taking a safari that leaves South Africa and goes through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe and then I must return to South Africa within two months to fly out of Johannesburg.
I don't need a visa for a stay under 90 days, but does that allow me to exit and re-enter the country as long as it is within 90 days?
Best Answer
To correct Ankur Banerjee's response - I recently discovered from personal experience at Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg that when you leave South Africa, having entered as a national of a visa exempt country, and travel to other countries, the 90 day counter does not "automatically" start again once you leave and re-enter South Africa. Apparently, it only starts when you return to the country which issued your passport, so for example if you come back into South Africa from a visit to other countries, a day before the expiration of the 90 days and you intend to leave a day or two after the date stamped in your passport, you will be slammed with a penalty for overstaying illegally in South Africa. THE CLOCK APPARENTLY DOES NOT RESTART ONCE YOU LEAVE AND RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA!!
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Can I visit South Africa twice in a year?
A foreign national is only allowed in to South Africa as a tourist for a total of 180 days in any one year period.How often can you enter South Africa on a tourist visa?
Tourist paper visas are often issued to eligible tourists and foreigners visiting friends and family for up to 90 days.How long can you visit South Africa without a visa?
You can travel to South Africa for any purpose for up to 90 days without a visa. You should check the expiry date of your visa or entry stamp and make sure you do not overstay. You may need to complete a health form to enter South Africa. See Visas and Passport validity sections for more information.How long can you stay in South Africa as a visitor?
As a typical example many visitors to South Africa are issued with a 90 day tourist visa upon arrival. This entitles them to stay for the stated 90 days. In the event that the tourist wishes to stay for a longer period of time they would need to make an application for a tourist visa extension.Johnny Orlando, DVBBS - I Don't (Official Video)
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Answer 2
This is correct, if you hop just over the border you will get maximum 7 days to leave the country.
Overstays of less than 30 days end in ban for 1 year and with more than 30 days day will make you an unwanted person for 5 years. Even if you applied for visa extension at home affairs. Since 26th May 2014 you cannot apply for an extension for visitor visas in South Africa.
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