Traveling to the UK

If you only have a South African passport, you need a visa to visit the UK, regardless of whether you have Permanent residence in Germany. Your German Residence allows you to travel within the Schengen area. There are no special rules if you are married to a German or other EU citizen. You still travel on your own passport.

The UK is not part of the EU and is also not part of the Schengen area.
If you have a German passport, you can stay in the UK as a tourist for up to 6 months without a visa, but you must meet the standard visitor eligibility requirements.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Since 2 April 2025, citizens of visa-exempt European countries (including Germany and other EU member states) must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK.
An ETA is linked electronically to your passport and is generally valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

The new rule applies to travellers from visa-exempt countries, including EU states and Switzerland.
If you apply for a VISA, you don’t need to apply for an ETA
According to the British Home Office, visitors from visa-exempt countries must have a passport and an ETA to enter the UK.
The authorisation must be applied for in advance, including for business trips. The ETA is linked to the passport and is valid for two years with unlimited entries. If the passport expires or is lost, a new ETA must be applied for with the new passport.

Who needs an ETA?

Visitors to the UK who do not need a visa for short stays (up to six months) and do not already have UK immigration status will need an ETA.

Who does not need an ETA?

Visa holders: If you have a valid UK visa, you do not need an ETA.
UK residents: If you have permission to live, work, or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status, you do not need an ETA.
British or Irish citizens: British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA.
Transit passengers: Transit requirements can vary depending on your nationality, route, airport and whether you pass through UK border control. Always check the official UK government website before travelling.

eVisas

The UK is moving to a fully digital immigration system, meaning physical visa stickers, stamps, and documents are being replaced by a secure online record called an eVisa. This change is being rolled out gradually by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as part of a wider system modernisation.

From 25 February 2026, South Africans applying for UK visas will receive their permission to enter or stay in the UK digitally, rather than as an ink stamp or visa sticker in their passport.

An eVisa is your immigration status stored safely online. It confirms:

who you are
the type of visa you hold
what you are allowed to do in the UK (such as visiting, studying, or working)

This change does not affect your immigration status or visa conditions. A visa is still a visa – only the format has changed.
All eVisas are accessed through a UKVI online account, making it easier to manage your immigration status in one place.

Important note about ETAs

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is only for visa-exempt travellers.
South African passport holders are not visa-exempt, so they must still apply for a UK visa. The ETA does not replace a visa and does not apply to South Africans.

Check if you need a visa

A Schengen visa or residence permit does not entitle you to travel to the UK without a visa.
You can check whether you need a visa and apply for one.

Dual citizens

If you hold both South African and German citizenship and travel using your German passport, you fall under the rules applicable to German citizens and normally do not require a visa for short visits. You will, however, require an ETA before travelling to the UK.

Family Members of EU, EEA and Swiss Citizens

In some cases, you may be able to apply for a free EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit instead of paying a visa fee.
This may apply if your partner or family member is a citizen of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and was living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Eligibility requirements apply, and not all family members will qualify. Please check the official UK government guidance for your specific circumstances.

Transit Visa

You might need a visa to pass through the UK in transit (on your way to another country).

You can use this tool to check if you need a transit visa. You can find additional information about Transit visas here.

You will need the following information to do the check:

The nationality on your passport
Reason for travelling to the UK (Transit, on your way to somewhere else)
Where you are travelling to, there are different rules for the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Will you pass through UK border control? You always pass through border control if you leave the main airport building for any reason or if you need to collect your bags and check them in for your onward flight. You must also pass through border control if both your onward flight leaves on a different calendar day than when you arrive, and there’s nowhere for you to stay overnight in the airport, for example, in a transit hotel.
Check with your airline if you’re not sure if you’ll pass through border control. There is more than one airport in London (Heathrow – LHR, Gatwick – LGW and London City – LCY)
Your Exemption status. If you are in the EU on a category D visa or have Permanent Residence in the EU, you might be exempt from needing a Direct Airside Transit Visa or a Visitor in Transit Visa

Exemptions that may apply if you have one of the following

a common format residence permit issued by a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland
a uniform format category D visa for entry into a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

Information is from the www.gov.uk website and was last reviewed on 11 June 2026. Immigration rules can change at any time. Always verify requirements on the official UK government website before travelling.

Where to apply

You can apply for most types of UK visas online. You will need to submit your biometrics at a VAC centre
Visa application centres (VAC) in Germany- TLS Contact, they have offices in Berlin, Munich, and Düsseldorf

Information on the application process can be found here.

Application Tips

When asked about your Identity Card, click on Yes and add your South African ID details if you are only travelling on a South African passport

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