Are you planning a trip to South Africa? We have some helpful tips to ensure it is a smooth and enjoyable one.
However, we know that you may have unique travel experiences and tips that may benefit others. So, don’t hesitate to submit your tips and we can include them on this page.
South African travellers returning to the country should be aware of the new SARS Traveller Declaration Form, which is currently in its pilot phase. This digital Customs declaration form allows travellers to declare goods they are bringing into South Africa, including dutiable or restricted items. While the system remains voluntary for now, it is expected to become a standard requirement in the future. The online declaration process aims to streamline Customs clearance, improve compliance, and reduce delays at entry points. Travelers can find all relevant information, including step-by-step instructions and updates on the rollout, on the SARS website.
When you convert your South African driver’s licence to a German licence, you have to hand in your SA card. If you want to drive in South Africa, or any other country outside the EU you need to apply for an International licence from the road traffic authorities (Führerscheinstelle) where you live.
Regulation 110 of the Road Traffic Act states that a foreign licence may only be accepted for driving in SA if it is issued in one of the SA’s official languages. Since the German driver’s licence is issued in German (and not English), by law, you need to have an international driver’s licence with you.
The International Driver’s License provides a standardized translation of your native language into English, which is one of the official languages in South Africa. This translation helps authorities and rental car agencies understand the details of your driving qualifications without language barriers.
Regulation 110 of the Regulations to the National Road Traffic Act states that you need an International licence together with your German driving licence, based on the fact that German driving licences are issued only in German. This approach is also summarised by the Department of Transport on this working instruction to traffic centres that deal with foreign licences: https://www.arrivealive.co.za/documents/foreign%20dl%20and%20idp.pdf (see point 1.2 regarding the handling of foreign driving licences).
Here is an extract of Regulation 110: Conditions for acknowledgement and exchange of driving licence not issued in terms of Act, and international driving permit.—(1) Subject to sub-regulation (1A) and (3), a driving licence referred to in section 23 (1) (a) of the Act, issued while the holder of it was not permanently or ordinarily resident in the Republic, shall, for the period for, and subject to the conditions under which it was issued, be deemed to be a valid licence for the purposes of Chapter IV of the Act, if
(a) (i) the licence has been issued in one of the official languages of the Republic;
or (ii) a certificate of authenticity or validity relating to the licence issued in an official language of the Republic by a competent authority, or a translation of that licence in such an official language, is attached to it.
(b) such licence contains or has attached to it, a photograph and the signature of the licence holder.
🚗 Applying for an International Driver’s License in Germany
To apply for an international driver’s license, you will need:
✔ Your valid German driving license
✔ A recent biometric photo
💰 Cost: Approximately €16 (as of 2025).
📍 For more details, check your local Straßenverkehrsamt (Road Traffic Office) website or search “Führerschein (international) beantragen” on your web browser.
If you still have bank accounts in South Africa, you can transfer money to these accounts before your trip for easy access.
If you do not have a South African bank account, consider these options:
💵 Take Cash with You – Always a risk, but having some cash on hand is useful.
💳 Use Your German Credit Card – Ensure it is enabled for foreign transactions. Some banks offer a limited number of free transactions, and you can also withdraw cash from ATMs.
🏦 Use Your German Debit Card – If your bank allows international transactions, this can be a convenient option.
📝 Traveler’s Cheques – Can be cashed at local banks, though they are less commonly used today.
🛒 Cash Withdrawals at Grocery Stores – Some supermarkets allow you to withdraw cash when making a purchase at the cashier.
🔄 Keep Exchange Rates & Fees in Mind – Be aware of fluctuating exchange rates and possible transaction fees from your bank.
💡 Tip: Always carry some cash, as not all vendors accept cards, especially street vendors and taxis.
Travellers entering or leaving South Africa must comply with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Exchange Control Regulations regarding excess currency. According to these regulations, “excess currency” refers to any amount exceeding R25,000 in South African Rand or the equivalent of R25,000 in foreign currency that can be converted into Rand. (Status 2025)
If a traveller intends to carry an amount beyond these limits, they must obtain written permission from SARB before their journey. Additionally, travellers can voluntarily declare any currency they have in their possession either through the online SARS Traveller Declaration Form or by completing the manual Traveller Card (TC-01) upon arrival or departure.
The declaration applies not only to cash in the form of South African banknotes but also to foreign currency, securities (such as stocks and bonds), and gold. Failure to declare excess currency may result in penalties, confiscation, or other legal consequences.
For more detailed guidelines on excess currency regulations and declaration procedures, refer to the official SARS policy document: SC-PA-01-06 – Excess Currency – External Policy.
We are not financial advisors and therefore cannot give financial advice. The information here should not be seen as financial advice in any way.Always make informed decisions and speak to a professional when you are unsure. What is exchange control? Foreign exchange controls are various forms of controls imposed by a government on the purchase/sale of foreign currencies by residents or on the purchase/sale of local currency by nonresidents.
You need a valid South African passport or Emergency Travel document to enter South Africa.
Traveling from South Africa to Germany you will need:
A valid South African passport
One of the following valid German residence documents:
🏠 Aufenthaltstitel (Temporary residence permit)
📜 Niederlassungserlaubnis (Permanent residence card)
🛂 Valid visa for Germany
📄 Fiktionsbescheinigung (Temporary proof of German residence)
🚨 Check restrictions on your residence permit. Some permits, like single-entry Aufenthaltstitel (common for short student visas), do not allow re-entry into Germany once you leave.
📅 Verify your passport validity. If it’s expiring soon, consider renewing it while in South Africa
Applying for official documents from the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa has become a whole lot easier. Apply online You can apply for your Smart ID or Passport online via the eHomeAffairs website. You will still need to
Temporary proof of German Residence To stay in Germany longer than 90 days in a 180 period, you will need a residence permit. Qualifying for a residence permit will depend, among other things, on the type of visa you applied
Passport Application Applying for a new Adult Tourist passport in South Africa can be done online via the Department of Home Affairs E-Services. This service allows you to fill in the application form online and make an appointment for your
It is considered an offence for a South African over the age of 18 with dual citizenship to enter or leave the country using their foreign passport.
Once you’ve obtained dual citizenship, you must use your South African passport when entering and leaving South Africa. It is important to note that the requirements of s 26B(a) do not apply to minors. However, many people have reported experiencing difficulties at passport control when minors were travelling with an expired South African passport.
For more information see the “Notice to South Africans who have dual Citizenship” document from the Embassy in Berlin, or Section 26B in Act 88 of the SA Citizens Amendment Act, 2004
When you arrive at passport control in South Africa, you must present your South African passport.
Since you have a German passport, you do not need a Schengen visa or Schengen residence permit.
For your flight check-in, you can use your German passport.
When you drop off your luggage or go the the check-in counters at the airport in South Africa, you will be asked to show your passport and they will check for a visa/residence permit that is valid for your final destination. When flying to a Schengen country, you can show your German passport.
Passport control – Here you will have to use your South African passport again, to leave South Africa
German Passport, staying longer than 90 days
A German citizen can travel to South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days, If they stay longer than 90 days, they need a visa.
If you renounced your South African Citizenship and are travelling on a German passport, you still have the right to permanent residence in South Africa. Make sure you take along all your supporting documentation for example your original renunciation certificate and if you already have one, your new non-Citizen Identity document.
You can apply for your new Non-citizen identity document as soon as you receive confirmation of your renunciation of South African citizenship.
If you hold a valid South African passport along with a valid visa, residence permit, or Fiktionsbescheinigung permitting multiple entries into the Schengen Area, you can travel between Germany and South Africa without any additional visa related paperwork.
For guidance on interpreting your visa, residence permit, or Fiktionsbescheinigung, please refer to the page below:
Travel within the Schengen Area “The Schengen Area is a zone comprised of 29 European states which have officially abolished passports and other types of border control at their mutual borders. For visitors, it effectively means that the Schengen Area acts as a singular country, i.e. once you enter one Schengen country you have entered them all.” See ETIAS Visa for more information.Not all EU countries are in Schengen, and some non-EU countries (like Norway and Switzerland) are part of Schengen.You can find a list of the Schengen area countries here. Schengen visa A Schengen visa is a short-term visa
The rules for travelling with children to South Africa accompanied and unaccompanied can be found under the New Immigration Rules on the Department of Home Affairs website.
– Here is a link to the Suggested Parental consent letter from the Department of Home Affairs. It does not need to be notarized.
When you want to travel during a German school term, you can apply for special leave (Beurlaubung).
Travel during a School Term The school rules in Germany are very strict and every student is obliged to attend classes and other school events. You therefore cannot take your child out of school before the term ends. They must attend school for the whole term, with only certain exemptions like ill-health, participation in sports competitions, or an important personal reason like the marriage of siblings, death in the family or serious illness in the family, see
Make sure you have travel insurance to cover your trip. Some credit cards offer this for free, but make sure you know what you are covered for.
Some companies that offer travel insurance:
Make sure your medical costs will be covered. You can take out additional medical cover, or have it included in your travel insurance.
The major airports in Germany are Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.
The major airports in Germany are Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.
Direct flights from South Africa are available only to Frankfurt and seasonally to Munich.
Lufthansa operates flights between Frankfurt, O.R. Tambo International, and Cape Town. The airline offers the chance to bid for upgrades, and, depending on flight availability, you can book a sleeper row at a significantly lower cost than Premium Economy or Business Class.
Seasonal flights are offered between Munich Airport and O.R. Tambo International, and Cape Town
Condor has reinstated flights between Frankfurt and Cape Town. They also offer two weekly flights between Frankfurt and O.R. Tambo International, but both routes are available only during their winter schedule. Stay updated on their winter and summer flight schedules.
Indirect flights, also known as connecting flights, involve stopping at one or more intermediate airports before reaching your final destination.
They can be more affordable and flexible than direct flights but may increase travel time. When booking, check layover durations, luggage transfer policies, and visa requirements for layover countries to avoid complications.
Emirates offer flights from O.R Tambo, Durban, and Cape Town to Dubai, and then from Dubai they offer flights to Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf
Turkish Airlines offers flights from O.R Tambo, Cape Town and Durban to Istanbul and from there they offer flights to Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Friedrichshafen, Hamburg, Hannover, Karlsruhe, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart from Istanbul.
Swiss Airlines operates flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Zurich, offering connections to nearly every German airport. Important: At Zurich Airport, you will need to go through security and passport control before reaching your connecting flight gate. A transit time of less than 90 minutes is not recommended.
“I didn’t know it at the time of booking, but Condor is a cut-price airline. My priority was direct flights there and back, so it suited me fine.
The planes were quite old A330’s in which a few of the screens do not work as well as the remote control was stuck so as to be unusable.
The food was vegetarian, i.e. pasta, with a varying sauces for the return trip. Breakfast was not eggs, bacon (or sausage), and fried tomato, but rather a type of (tasteless) cheese in pastry (made in NL). On the return trip, it was a cheese croissant. The seats, however, seemed somehow much narrow than normal.”
Seat Info – You can search your flight details either on the airline’s website or read reviews on Seatguru
If you have an onward flight for instance to Hoedspruit, you will have to clear passport control and customs at the arrival airport of your international leg.
Luggage:
International – domestic connections
After clearing customs and collecting your bags at the international carousel, you must check in your luggage for your domestic flight. There should be a fast bag drop re-check desk available but not guaranteed. Once you have dropped your bag, head to the Domestic Terminal and pass through security before heading to your gate.
The recommended minimum connecting time is 90 minutes. Please allow extra time if you require special assistance or you are travelling with children.
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Contact them to get expert advice and assistance with bookings.
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