If you only have a South African passport, you need a visa to visit the UK, it does not matter if you have Permanent residence in Germany. Your German Residence allows you to travel inside 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)
Travel to the UK is about to become a bit more complicated. Starting April 2, 2025, some tourists will need to apply for a paid electronic travel authorisation (ETA) online before entering the country.
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 authorization 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.
- 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: If you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control, you do not need an ETA.
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.
Visa Fees
According to the Gov.uk website, “You may be able to apply to come to the UK for free instead of paying for a visa if your partner or family member is a British citizen or from another European country. They (Your partner) must have been living in the UK before 1 January 2021.”
This means you still need a UK visa, but the Visa Fees may be waived if you are married to an EU spouse and you travelling with your spouse.
Please note, that you are responsible for your own legal clarifications. No liability accepted.
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 ae 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 are 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 exempted 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
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
Resources on the web
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Travel ideas within Germany
Germany is a beautiful country with diverse landscapes and many regional specialties.To add your suggestions please submit it via this formBelow are some travel inspiration for each German state, and some regions and town Businesses listed on our site Travel Agents Accommodation National parks in Germany There are 16 national parks in Germany. See this list for more details.Article from lonely planet about 10 National parks in Germany. Travel inspiration Deutschlands schönste ReisezieleDiscovery GermanyEntdecke Deutchland (also in English) Related content
Where can I travel with my SA passport
The general rule is that the entry requirements for a country are determined by your passport. Attention South African passport holders with a Schengen visa, temporary or permanent residence in Germany, do not have the same travel privileges as an EU citizen. When you have a multi-entry Schengen Visa, a German Aufenthaltstitel (Temporary Residence permit) without any restrictions, or Schengen permanent residence, you may travel freely within the Schengen area. You can find a list of Schengen Area countries here Note that some EU countries are not part of the Schengen agreement. Here special entry requirements apply, for example, a visa. Travel between South Africa and Germany To travel between Germany and South Africa, with re-entry to Germany, you will need a valid passport, as well as one of the following: a valid multiple-entry Schengen Visa a valid German Aufenthaltstitel (Temporary Residence permit). Make sure there are no restrictions, for example, single entry. If any of these restrictions apply to you, you might not be able to re-enter Germany. If you are unsure, contact the Ausländerbehörde. a valid German permanent residence a valid EU residence permit – make sure there are no restrictions, for example only valid for a specific Schengen country. United Kingdom You need a visa to travel to the UKNorthern Ireland is part of the UK and not part of the EU or the Schengen Area. The Republic of Ireland The Republic of Ireland is part of the EU but not part of the Schengen Area.South African passport holders need a visa to travel to Ireland. The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has announced that, with effect from Wednesday 10 July 2024, nationals of Botswana and South Africa will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland.More information can be found here.The Irish Government also created a pdf with FAQ for South Africans Egypt German citizens need a visa for Egypt, although some resorts are exempt though and one can apply for E-Visas. South African citizens can also apply for an E-Visa or get a visa on arrival, free of charge. You need a passport that is valid for your intended stay and a return ticket. Tunisia Finding information from official sources is difficult, it seems they are working on an E-Consulate website. According to travellers, South Africans do not need a visa for Tunisia for visits shorter than 90 days. You need a passport that is valid for your intended stay and a return ticket. Turkey According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey’s website “Ordinary passport holders are required to have a visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three-month period multiple entry visas from Turkish representations abroad or one-month period single entry visas via the website www.evisa.gov.tr. Official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 30 days.” – a comment from one of our FB members “You apply online and get the visa within a few hours. There is no fee. Just print it out and bring it with you.” United States of America No special rules for Schengen residence permit holders. You need a visa to travel to the United States of America. There is an embassy in Berlin, a consulate in Frankfurt and in Munich. Travel with a Schengen Visa/Residence permit Outside the Schengen area, your South African passport determines the entry requirements for the country you want to visit.There are some exceptions where you can use your Schengen residence and in some cases a Schengen visa to travel to specific countries. We try to cover them in the list below, but please refer to the Schengen Visa Info website, they have a list of countries you can travel to with a Schengen visa, but as always confirm that it is still valid with the relevant authorities. Albania You don’t need a visa in the following case: Foreign citizens who have a valid, multiple-entry Schengen visa, which has been previously used in one of the Schengen states, or foreign citizens who have a valid permit of stay in one of the Schengen statesThe maximum allowed period of stay of this category of foreigners is 90 DAYS in any 180 DAY period– Find updated information here Antigua and Barbuda Visa on arrival is granted to persons who hold a valid Schengen Visa or Resident Card Cyprus Holders of valid double or multiple-entry Schengen visas or Bulgarian, Croatian and Romanian national visas, as well as residence permits issued by the Schengen Member States or by Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania, are not required to hold a short-stay visa to enter the Republic of Cyprus for a time period that does not exceed 90 days in any 180 day period. This provision doesn’t apply to citizens of Turkey and Azerbaijan who have to follow the regular visa issuance procedure.– Find updated information from the official website Gibraltar (British territory) Gibraltar is not part of the UK, but unlike all other British Overseas Territories, it was a part of the European Union. It participated in the Brexit referendum and it ceased, by default, to be a part of the EU upon the UK’s withdrawal. On 31 December 2020, Spain and the United Kingdom reached an agreement in principle under which Gibraltar would join the European Union’s Schengen Area. This cleared the way for the European Union and the UK to start formal negotiations on the matter. Elements of the proposed agreement are: Gibraltar (air)ports become entry points of the Schengen area, under the responsibility of Spain Visa for visiting Gibraltar will be Schengen visas and the visa waiver ETIAS. According to the Schengen Info Website, if you have a Schengen Residence permit or multiple entry Schengen visa, you do not need a visa for Gibraltar. According to the Gibraltar Borders Agency: You will need a visa to come to Gibraltar unless you are in any of these exempt groups: Persons holding EU-issued family permits, UK Residence Permits issued for a period of 12 months or more, UK Biometric Residence permits or a UK multiple entry visa issued for 6 months or more. Wikipedia and Schengen Info Visa info – Gibraltar Borders Agency Mexico According to the Mexican consulate’s website
Travel in the Schengen Area
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 that allows non-EU citizens to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, typically for tourism or business. Aufenthaltstitel An Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) is a general term for a legal residence status in Germany, granted for work, study, or family reunification. Aufenthaltserlaubnis A Residence Permit for Germany (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is a temporary residence permit tied to specific conditions, such as employment or studies Niederlassungserlaubnis A Niederlassungserlaubnis is a permanent settlement permit that grants unrestricted residence and work rights in Germany, with no expiry date. Travel on a Residence permit If you hold a South African passport along with a valid Schengen residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis or Niederlassungserlaubnis), you can travel freely within the Schengen Area for as long as your permit remains valid. However, be sure to check for any specific restrictions, such as whether your residence permit is limited to Germany. For official details, refer to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament, available on EUR-Lex. Travel with a Schengen Visa Single-entry visa A single-entry visa allows its holder to enter the Schengen Area only once, within the given period, as mentioned in the visa sticker affixed to their passport. Once the visa holder exits Schengen territory, he or she can no longer go back, even if they have not spent the number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued them the visa. Some people confuse the single-entry visa, thinking that it is about the number of countries the visa holder is permitted to visit and that it allows them to enter one single country. The territory you are permitted to visit is given close to the “Valid for” tag on your visa sticker, whereas the time you are allowed to stay is given close to the “Number of entries” tag. Multiple-entry visa A multiple-entry visa allows its holder to go in and out of the Schengen Area as many times as he or she wants, as long as they do not violate the 90/180 rule. Based on how frequently you travel to the Schengen zone, you may apply and obtain one of the following multiple-entry visa types: 1-year multiple-entry visa 3-year multiple-entry visa 5-year multiple-entry visa Source: SchengenVisaInfo Types of Schengen visas. Type “A” is for airport transit, “B” is for land Transit, “C” is for a short stay (> 90 days) and “D” is for a long stay (<90 days) visa. A Visa with Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) is a special type of Schengen visa that only allows travel to specific Schengen countries, rather than the entire Schengen Area. Unlike a standard Schengen visa, which permits movement across all member states, an LTV visa restricts travel to only the country or countries explicitly mentioned on the visa sticker. How to check your visa: Gültig für/Valid for – Is it valid only for Germany (Limited Territory) or valid for the Schengen states Remarks – for example the reason for your visit and any restrictions. Number of entries – MULT (Multiple) double, or Single entry Good to know If your visa is only valid for Germany and single entry, you are not allowed to return to Germany once you leave on the same visa. If your visa is valid for the “Schengen-Staaten” and single entry, you are allowed to travel within the Schengen area, but once you leave the Schengen area you cannot return on the same visa If your visa is valid for the “Schengen-Staaten” and multiple entry you can leave and enter the Schengen area for as long as your visa is valid, keeping the 90/180 rule in mind. Things to keep in mind When travelling within the Schengen Area, it’s essential to always carry your passport and visa/residence permit with you. While internal border checks are rare, authorities can still conduct random checks, and failure to provide valid identification could lead to fines, delays, or even being denied entry into another Schengen country. Some airlines, hotels, and law enforcement agencies may also require proof of your legal right to stay in Europe. Having both documents on hand ensures a smooth journey and avoids unnecessary complications. European Union (EU): A political and economic union of some European countries that cooperate on trade, laws, and policies. Some EU countries (e.g., Ireland and Cyprus) are not in the Schengen area, meaning they still have border checks, while some non-EU countries are in Schengen. Schengen Area – This refers to the group of European countries that have abolished internal border controls, allowing free movement of people. It includes most EU countries plus a few non-EU members like Norway and Switzerland. Even if you have a permanent residence card for Germany, for countries outside the Schengen area, you will need to adhere to the rules applicable to your passport. See Where can I travel on my SA passport for some visa exemptions. Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, and the Vatican have opened their borders but are not members of the visa-free zone. The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands are special members of the EU and part of the Schengen Zone, even though they are located outside the European continent. In many European countries, highways, expressways, bridges or tunnels may be subjected to Maut (Tollfees) – see the ADAC site. You can buy a Vignette before your trip, or when arriving at the toll gates.For Austria, you can buy a Vignette directly on the ASFINAG site if you
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