# of blank passport pages required for South Africa?
 

Hello,
I was hearing conflicting information about the new entry requirements for US citizens in South Africa. Some people were saying 2 full consecutive blank pages, others were saying just 2 pages (non-consecutive), and others were saying just 1 blank page was required.

So, I called up the South African Embassy in Washington D.C., and they advised me that US citizens only need 1 blank page in their passport. Just wanted to pass this info along.

When I called SA embassy to confirm they said 2 consecutive pages, do your self a favor and get pages added if you need to, its no problem.

jonniew-you'll be fine with just 1 blank page in your passport. This is what I've heard.. Also the SA embassy website has the 1 blank page requirement on their site:

http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/h...visaexempt.htm

If you only have 1 blank page you will need more for your next trip, why on earth would anyone take the risk.Its silly.

If you only have 1 page, and have time before departing to SA, I would suggest you get additional pages inserted, unless, of course, the passport will soon expire*. The passport office adds pages (13/26) for free, but it takes about 3-weeks to send the passport off with the appropriate application, and have it returned to you.

*If passport will soon expire, renew it and request the larger passport (more pages 48) instead of the standard size; there's no additional cost.

If SA is the only place you're visiting, I guess ou can cut it close, but if more than one country I wouldn't chance it with only 1-page available for entry/departure stamps.

I'm looking at my passport right now and only 1-page was used and has the Temp Resident Permit and all subsequent entry/exit stamps for our visit in southern Africa (also Zim & Bots). However, it's interesting to note that the facing page was left blank by the other countries, rather using other pages for their individual visas or entry/departure stamps.

As far as I am aware, the requirements haven't changed. And this question has been discussed many times in another travel forum. If you need a visa (and U.S. citizens, and those from many countries, don't for visits of up to 90 days), then you need two pages. One for the visa, and one for entry/exit stamps. Without a visa it is one page, for the stamps.

As stated above, when entering SA, the Immigrations officer opened my passport and was the first person to use my recently added passport pages. She opened two-facing pages, placed the Temp Resident Permit on one and placed dated entry stamp. All susbsequent departure and entry stamps (we left for VFA and Bots, and returned to SA) were made on that initial page. The facing page was never used.

Since the Temp Resident Permit is good for three (3) months, should I have returned to SA within that time, those entry/departure stamps would be placed on that facing page.

In Cape Town they only used 1 blank page in our passports.