To ensure a seamless experience for all New Zealand passport holders wishing to travel to South Africa, SA Tourism has highlighted the following:

The revised visa requirements for New Zealand passport holders will come into effect only from January 16.  Travellers from New Zealand who arrive in South Africa before January 16 and return after that, do not need a visa. Departing South Africa after January 16 will not pose a problem as there will be no requirement of a visa when departing.

New Zealand passport holders with already booked flight arrangements and who are travelling before January 16 are still exempt from visa application and may travel to South Africa. Those travelling on and after January 16, regardless of whether or not they have already booked their flights, must apply for visas.

All New Zealand passport holders wishing to apply for a South African visa must do so in person at the South African High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand, as per the South African Immigration law and regulations.

Turnaround time for visa issuance is between five and seven working days and this entails

• applicants submitting their applications in person;
• meeting the requirements as detailed on the Department of Home Affairs website i.e. visa application, valid passport, ticket or itinerary for travel, bank statements and any other document  required at the time of application.  Please visit www.dha.gov.za for more details on documents required to apply for a South African visa.

Any further queries regarding turnaround times of visa applications can be directed to David Jordaan, one of the managers in the mission in Wellington, who can be contacted at JordaanD@dirco.gov.za.

New Zealanders living anywhere else in the world (including Australia) who do not have permanent residency in that country, have to go back and apply from the country of origin (in this case Wellington and not in Canberra, Australia).

If transiting through OR Tambo International Airport, Lanseria, Cape Town or King Shaka airports, New Zealand nationals do not need transit visas, but if transiting through other ports, transit visas are required.

For more information, the South African High Commission in Wellington can be contacted telephonically on consular matters on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 09h00 and 12h00 (midday).  Please note, however, that no telephone calls with regard to consular matters will be taken on any other day or outside these hours. The telephone number to use is + 64 4 815 8484.

The South African High Commission in New Zealand, on Level 7, State Insurance Tower, 1 Willis Street, Wellington, can also be contacted via email using the email addresses: wellington@foreign.gov.za or consular@sahcwellington.co.nz.

SA Tourism highlighted that South Africa remains a welcoming destination, open to all tourists from across the world.

“Between January and September 2016, South Africa welcomed 16 001 tourists from New Zealand, which is a 19% increase when compared to the same period in 2015. This is growth that we would like to continue to see from this market and therefore are working together with the Department of Home Affairs and the South African High Commission to ensure that the visa application requirements are clearly communicated and that the process is as seamless as possible for all New Zealand nationals wishing to come and experience our beautiful country,” said Sisa Ntshona, Chief Executive Officer of SA Tourism.