twotravel

Can anyone clarify the current position on visa reqs ? I read a post today that 6 pages are needed in the passport, is that 3 pages = 6 sides or 6 pages? We leave for Cape Town on Sunday!
tried the web page but that says 2 pages.
thanks, Pauline.

ArthurSA

Two pages including one for the visa, or one page if no visa. (If you're from a country that's not visa-exempt, a visa will be issued BEFORE travel. If you don't need one it will be entry and exit stamps on that single page, and that's not a visa.)

www.info.gov.za/notices/2003/24952/index.html

That Government site lists the relevant Immigration document. On page six, Regulation 6 (Passports) says that the passport must have "at least one unused page when presenting the passport for endorsements".

ArthurSA

On second thoughts, I suppose technically those words from the Immigration Act should mean that when you exit you need a blank page. Therefore two pages, even for without a visa. But I think that's just sloppy language, it's not what is meant. The stamps are very small ones.

twotravel

Arthur SA, thanks for the reply did you see the thread/posting just below this one which stated the 6 pages requirement?
It seems that it may be the latest information, I'm just a bit concerned because my passport has only 4 clear pages = 8 sides, and 2 sides on other pages!

twotravel

oops, forgot to say that we are exempt from Visa requirement as from UK so it is just exit and entry stamps I presume as we have had in the past?

ArthurSA

twotravel: Yes, that's correct. And I did see that other thread, I added a similar post there.

twotravel

ArthurSA, many thanks for the confirmation, it's a relief! Looking forward to Cape Town on Monday !!

ArthurSA

My only reservation is that posters who are in the travel industry (I'm not) reported real-life problems in that other thread, even though the official documentation remains unchanged. I can't explain that. All I might suggest is that you print out the relevant page from the Immigration doc from that Government website, and carry it with you. But as I commented early on in the other thread, the alleged changes are to me unbelievable, they don't have any reasoning behind them.

twotravel

Decided to phone the consulate in London just to check - phew, it is definitely just 1 page (2 sides)that is needed,(do not need visa from UK) the adviser said it's just a rumour and there is no change to the requirements.
So I'm going with just my 4 clear pages! Good idea to print off the relevant regulation, thank you for that link.

twotravel

Just returned from Cape Town 13 night trip, and to confirm, we had not problems at all with just 4 pages left in passport, 1 was all that was needed, no hassle, and immigration was efficient and quite quick!