Visiting <a href="https://absafricatv.com/mcgill-partners-launches-south-africa-renewables-insurance-solution-with-gib/” title=”McGill & Partners launches South Africa renewables insurance solution with GIB”>South Africa? Learn about new visa changes and mandatory SARS travel declarations before you arrive or depart. Image: Pixabay
Visiting South Africa? New visa and travel rules explained
Visiting South Africa? Learn about new visa changes and mandatory SARS travel declarations before you arrive or depart.
21-07-26 16:03
in
Travel
Visiting South Africa? Learn about new visa changes and mandatory SARS travel declarations before you arrive or depart. Image: Pixabay
Visiting South Africa has become easier in some ways, but travellers now need to prepare for new digital requirements before packing their bags.
Recent changes from the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) aim to cut paperwork, improve border management and speed up immigration processes.
The result is a travel system that asks for more planning but less bureaucracy.
South Africa welcomed about 10.5 million arrivals in 2025, with 2 910 029 from January to March 2026, according to Statistics South Africa and South African Tourism.
Tourism supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, so the country has focused on making travel smoother while improving security and border controls.
WHAT HAS CHANGED REGARDING VISITORS’ VISAS?
The biggest relief comes from the Department of Home Affairs. From 8 July 2026, applicants for temporary residence visas submitted in South Africa and permanent residence permits submitted locally or abroad no longer need to provide a medical report.
The department says the change removes an administrative step that often delayed applications. It is reported that immigration specialists at Xpatweb welcomed the move because applicants previously struggled to secure doctor’s appointments and paid extra fees for reports that added little value to the assessment.
The reform builds on earlier changes.
Since April 2023, applicants no longer needed radiological reports for qualifying visa applications. Police clearance rules have also become simpler, as applicants now only need certificates from countries where they lived for 12 months or more in the previous five years. Those changes reduce costs and paperwork, especially for people who have lived in several countries.
WHY VISITING SOUTH AFRICA NOW REQUIRES A SARS DECLARATION
Another change affects everyone crossing South Africa’s borders.
Since 1 July 2026, travellers entering or leaving the country by air, land, sea or rail must complete an online travel declaration through the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS).
Travellers should submit the declaration within 24 hours before leaving the country from which they are travelling. SARS introduced the system to improve data integration and strengthen the monitoring and reporting of cross-border travel.
Some visitors worried they might miss their flights or be refused entry at the border if they forgot to complete the declaration.
SARS has now confirmed that this will not happen. Instead, customs officials will direct travellers to self-service declaration terminals.
Officials will also assist people who could not complete the form because of internet problems or other reasonable circumstances.
Paper declarations remain available in limited cases for those visiting South Africa.
IS IT EASIER OR HARDER TO ENTER SOUTH AFRICA?
The answer depends on where travellers focus.
Completing the online declaration adds one digital step before travelling. However, the visa process now requires fewer documents and less time.
Together, these reforms show a shift towards digital border management and simpler immigration procedures.
Travellers who complete the declaration before departure and keep their documents ready should find the process of visiting South Africa straightforward.
South Africa still welcomes visitors, but it now expects them to arrive better prepared.
