New South African Immigration Rules:
South Africa introduced new immigration rules as from 26 May 2014: www.dha.gov.za or contact the South African Embassy in Brussels - or www.southafrica.be.
Your passport has to be valid at least 30 days after departure from South Africa and needs to have at least 2 unused pages for entry/exit stamps or visa.
Belgian citizens on holiday are still allowed to enter South Africa with only their Belgian passport, and can stay for a maximum of 90 days per calendar year in the Republic as a visitor. Should they wish to extend their stay, they have to apply at least 30 days in advance (this is 30 days before your stay has come to an end) through a VFS office (for addresses: see website Home Affairs – www.dha.gov.za).
Be informed that as from 26 May 2014, for all first time visa applications (not for holiday reasons), you have to contact the South African Embassy in Brussels
For all other extensions or change of status you are to contact the VFS office at least 30 days before expiry date. A change of the visitor’s status into another status is not possible anymore.
· Non-South African Residents residing in South Africa:
If you live/reside in South Africa, you must be in possession of a valid residence permit at all times when entering or leaving South Africa. Be advised to have the A4-form (the document that states your resident status, a copy will do) with you at all times when crossing South Africa’s borders
South African Home Affairs will not be putting the resident permit sticker in your passport anymore, nor will the current resident permit sticker be transferred into a new passport.
· Permits Expired / Permit Renewal:
For those who have South African permits who are expired, please be aware that you may be blacklisted and prevented from applying for a visa to re-enter South Africa for a period from 12 months to 5 years. Should you have applied for a resident status/permit/visa before 26 May 2014, you did not get a reply from Home Affairs yet, you left South Africa already and got the “undesirable” status, please address an email to together with a copy of your Belgian passport, a copy of your current visa/permit and a copy of the application for the renewal of your visa/status. You will receive a reply from Home Affairs containing the document DHA-57 (“Waiving of undesirability”) and you are allowed to enter South Africa again.
If you have applied for a renewal before 26 May 2014, the old law (law in force before 26 May 2014) concerning your visa/permit renewal will still be applicable.
For all other applications submitted after 26 May 2014, the new law will be applicable (see www.dha.gov.za).