Must I provide proof of onward travel when entering South Africa?
I will be flying one-way from Europe to Cape Town, South Africa in early December.
Some time later (early January), I will fly from South Africa to the USA. My employer will be purchasing this ticket; so I don't have it yet (and may not have it at the time I enter South Africa).
As a U.S. citizen, are there any requirements for proof of onward travel when entering South Africa?
travel.state.gov doesn't mention any such requirements, but it also doesn't mention that there are NOT such requirements, so I want to be sure.
Best Answer
There have been reports of requiring onward travel to South Africa. It depends on the agent and airline. Once you get past checkin, you are not likely to get asked again.
Now I'm not saying this is what you should do nor what I have done but I've seen people printing out fake onward travel tickets with a different airline and get by just fine with that.
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Does South Africa require proof of onward travel?
Yes you do need to have an onward ticket to show at Immigration. However, most airline do not issue actual tickets now, and I have found that showing a computer print-out of an e-booking is sufficient.Do you need a return ticket to enter South Africa?
You must present the same documentation at the boarding gates. For international travel, government regulations require all travellers to be in possession of a valid (return) air ticket, a passport, visa and health documentation (if required) and any other documents that could be required by government regulations.What countries require proof of onward travel?
A few countries that absolutely require documented proof of onward travel are Peru, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, Philippines, Indonesia, and Brazil. It's possible to avoid some hassles by dressing presentably (think business casual, neat and tidy) when flying and being polite to passport control.What travel documents do I need for South Africa?
If you are thinking about traveling to South Africa, the most important document you will need is a passport, which should be valid for at least six months from the date of your entry to the country. Regardless of whether you require a visa or not, you also need two completely blank facing pages on your passport.How To Prove Onward Travel Using Best Onward Ticket - Travel Tip Thursday
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Answer 2
I backpacked from Cape Town to Cairo in 2013, and found this a challenge for myself as well.
It ended up not being a big deal. Even though they technically require a return ticket, it was only the flight attendant who asked me about it.
Since I was coming in on a one way ticket with plans to backpack, I bought a Greyhound bus ticket online from South Africa to Mozambique. It cost me $28 I think, but it counted as my route out of the country. Even if you're not planning on taking a bus out of the country, it's still probably your cheapest way of showing proof of return.
To be honest, I think the airlines/immigration will be stricter on some nationalities than others. Probably most US, Canadians, and Europeans won't have a problem with this issue. However, if you're nationality is from a country where they suspect you would try to stay as a refugee they would be harsher on you. I don't think they should do that, but in my experience I've noticed that to be true.
Answer 3
I took a flight from DAKAR to JOHANNESBURG with a one way air ticket my onward ticket was a Bus ticket to MAPUTO i didn't have to present it to no flight attendant nor immigration officer
Answer 4
I was refused entry from my transfer in Frankfurt to Capetown on Condor airlines as my return ticket was with a different airline and was packed in my bag. I had a copy of my return ticket on my phone but that did not do.
My sister had to then spend 3000 euros (our tickets had only originally cost £400 each) on economy tickets. We had never been told that we needed to show onward tickets and I have never in my life been asked this before. I am a UK citizen and was really shocked and upset. It ended up taking over 30 hours to get from London Heathrow to Capetown and costing a massive extra 300 euros. So be aware.
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