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Are there special conditions of entry and assistance for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine who leave the country because of the war?
The government of South Africa has not introduced a regime of temporary protection for citizens of Ukraine who leave the country due to the war, as well as special entry conditions for citizens of Ukraine.
The entry of citizens of Ukraine is permitted by the government under general conditions – on the condition that a visa is issued in advance at the South African Embassy in Poland and the presence of a valid international passport for both children and adults (passports with notes on the extension of the term valid passports and passports of parents with information about children entered in them are not accepted when crossing the border).
When staying in the territory of South Africa, it is possible to submit an application for visa extension twice, for a period of 30 days.
Information about assistance centers for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine
The South African government has not created special centers to provide assistance to citizens of Ukraine.
Social security of temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine
The government of South Africa has not introduced social security for citizens of Ukraine who are seeking asylum in the conditions of war.
Medical care
Medical care is provided on general terms in local medical institutions.
The quality of medical care in private medical institutions is much higher, but it is not free – it is desirable to have a health insurance policy.
The possibility of extending short-term stay and visas for citizens of Ukraine
To extend a visa, it is necessary to fill out a visa application form on the website of the visa center VFS Global, which is also accepted by the visa center with accompanying documents.
When submitting documents for a visa, the Migration authorities require proof of the impossibility of returning to Ukraine due to military operations. Decrees of the President of Ukraine on the introduction and continuation of martial law in Ukraine can serve as such a document.
When staying in the territory of South Africa, it is possible to submit an application for visa extension twice, for a period of 30 days.
Should I apply for official refugee status?
Currently, the Government of South Africa has not established a separate status of “temporary protection” for citizens arriving from Ukraine, requests for refugee status are accepted within the framework of New York Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951.
Decision of the Government of South Africa dated June 22, 2022 all restrictions on crossing the border in the connection with the corona virus pandemic has been canceled.
Crossing the border without a biometric international passport – yes or no?
Yes (if you have a visa previously issued at the South African embassy).
What to do if the validity period of the foreign passport expires?
If you entered South Africa with a foreign passport that has already expired or is due to expire within the next three months, you can apply to the consular unit of the Embassy of Ukraine in South Africa to issue a new foreign passport.
What to do if you have a child without a foreign passport?
If the child crossed the border with a birth certificate, and the mother / father has a foreign passport (biometric or old model), as a temporary measure it is possible to enter information about the child in his passport. For this, you need to contact the consular unit of the Embassy of Ukraine in South Africa. You must have with you the original passport and a copy of the passport, the original and a copy of the birth certificate and two 3.5×4.5 photo cards (if the birth certificate was issued by a country other than Ukraine, it must be legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairsaffairs of the country that issued it). Information about children under the age of 18 is included in parents’ passports.
Please note that the government of South Africa recognizes only machine-readable passports available to every citizen traveling and staying in the country – passports extended by hand by consular officials, or children’s data entered in parents’ passports, are not recognized as a valid document.
Border crossing with pets
When traveling with animals, the conditions of transportation must be clarified with the carrier airline, but as a general rule, South African customs require a passport issued for the pet by the State Veterinary Service.
