Author: webmaster@safricaun.ch

The Minister of Transport announced various regulations around transport during the lockdown. Included in these regulations is aviation. During the lockdown, all domestic and international air travel will be prohibited. Click here to see Government Gazette related to these regulations.

Tourism is not an essential service and therefore needs to adhere to the lockdown regulations that comes into effect on midnight on 26 March 2020.

With immediate effect no new bookings for international tourists may be accepted.

We appeal to tour operators and tour guides to act responsibly, and halt all operations as per the president’s declaration of a national lockdown, scheduled to commence at midnight on 26 March 2020.   This will ensure the safety of everyone within the country.

South African citizens coming anywhere internationally will automatically be placed under quarantine for 14 days.

Read more.

Kindly be informed that the South African Permanent Mission in Geneva, will as from Friday, 27 March-15 April 2020 only operate on a remote work and telecommuting basis in order to effect the prescribed precautionary measures by the Swiss Authorities to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Geneva due to the gravity of the situation.

Urgent consular matters will be arranged per appointment and enquiries will be assisted by phone: +41 79 813 3404/+4178 768 4498 or e-mail: consulargeneva@dirco.gov.za or mission@safricaun.ch.

SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS

South African Citizens (passport-holders) returning to South Africa from travel in the U.S. will undergo thermal checks, screening and may be required to produce a “COVID-19 clearance certificate” at the international ports of arrival. Travelers will also have to undergo a period of self-isolation/quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days.

NON-SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS / FOREIGN TRAVELLERS WISHING TO TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA

The South African Government has identified the following countries as high risk: China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Spain,
Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom and Ireland. As such, any foreign national travelling from one of
these countries or those who have visited any one of these countries, in the last 20 days will be denied entry into South
Africa from 18 March 2020.

All entry, regardless of compliance with visa requirements, of foreign travellers with ordinary passports, travelling from or transiting through the above mentioned high-risk countries is prohibited until further notice.

No applications for visas by foreign travellers from high-risk countries will be approved. Visas already issued are revoked with immediate effect for travellers that have not yet entered South Africa.

Visa waiver agreements with countries identified by the Department of Health as high- and medium-risk will be suspended from dates that will be advised through Travel Alerts.

The above restrictions exclude holders of diplomatic passports and travel documents issued by international organisations as well as their family members accredited to the Republic of South Africa, and holders of official/service passports. The travel restrictions will also not apply to the crew members of aircraft and cargo ships, as well as cross border rail and road transportation workers.

However, such travellers will be subjected to medical screening and if required, can be isolated or quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

ALL INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS

All international travellers, including South African citizens, entering South Africa will be required to complete and submit the prescribed Health Form and hand it to Health officials and Immigration officers upon arrival.

All travellers will be subjected to medical screening for COVID-19 upon entering South Africa and if required, can be isolated or quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. Over and above the normal immigration requirements, entry into South Africa is subject to a passenger’s cooperation with officials conducting tests.

Travellers from medium-risk countries as identified by the South African Department of Health will be required to undergo high intensity screening.

All travellers who have entered South Africa from high-risk countries since 15 February 2020 will be required to present themselves for testing.

It is a great pleasure and honour to welcome you to the official website of the South African Consulate General in Geneva, which is conveniently located in the central business district of Geneva at 65 Rue du Rhône.

The South African Consulate-General in Geneva serves South African citizens residing in Cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Lausanne, Wallis and Freibourg; other Cantons are served by the South African Embassy in Bern.

As a first priority, we wish to encourage all South Africans to register with our Mission by forwarding an e mail to: consulargeneva@dirco.gov.za and copy motauv@dirco.gov.za and masiab@dirco.gov.za.

This service is provided in the event there is a need to contact you to offer urgent advice on a natural disaster, health issue or a family emergency, etc. Emergency on consular matters:

+41 79 813 3404/+4178 768 4498

The Consulate General in Geneva provides immigration, civic and consular services.

The South African President, HE Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, has declared a National State of Disaster in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following an extensive analysis of the progression of the disease worldwide and in South Africa, Cabinet has decided on the following measures to combat it:

• Firstly, to limit contact between persons who may be infected and South African citizens.
• Imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China as from 18 March 2020.
• Cancelling visas to visitors from those countries from today and previously granted visas are hereby revoked.
• South African citizens are advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, United States, United Kingdom and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran and South Korea.
• This is effective immediately.

For the full address click here.

We will endeavour to provide regular updates on this page.

You can also follow us on Facebook page South African Consulate in Geneva.

Yours sincerely

HE Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko
Permanent Representative/Consul General