South Africa 90 days visa x2 ?
 

Hi all,

We intend to fly to South Africa were we'll get 90 days at the airport and stay in S.A. for approximately 45 days.
Then take our S.A. registered car and travel for about 60 days in Lesotho - Swaziland - Mozambique - Zimbabwe - Mozambique - Malawi - Zambia - Zimbabwe - Botswana - Namibia and back to S.A. where we want to stay 30-60 days more before we head home to Sweden by air.

The question is, will we get another 90 days when we enter SA again?
We have read that they in recent years are more strict on a border-hopping-rule that only grants us maximum 7 days on our second visit if we haven't returned to our country of origin since last visit.

Anybody that have some experience of this?

(We did a similar trip four years ago without any trouble at all. My guess is that this only applies to persons who just visit a neighboring country a couple of days and back, not people who are tourist in many other countries for two months.)

Cheers Ronnie

Go to an immigration office BEFORE your visa runs out, explain and they will extend it. Do it while in a city when you arrive and be prepared to queue all day.

I don't mind to queue a day to get an extra 90 days stamp. But as I understand from visa agents in SA it usually takes a wooping 8, even up to 12 weeks of processing time to extend a visa in SA...

I will only stay in Cape Town for about two weeks and if they accept my application later I won't be able to get my extra stamp. Or am I missing something?

I've also tried to get a hold of immigration / Homa affairs in SA from home without any success.

Did it all same day for me once I had explained problem. Did cost but can not remember how much. Could ask at entry point as well.

In the same day? :) That sound's promising and nothing like the I've heard. Great!
When was this? Did you have a plane ticket home?

Department of Home Affairs - Types of Visas

Had a ticket home to UK but entered from Botswana on motorbike, wanted to leave again to visit other countries and return to sight see and fly out. Did not ask at border but went to home affairs just ouysi9de Jo'burg and got a temporary resident permit I think it was. Did take all day but very helpful, was 2 years ago 21 months.

You get 90 days in any 12 month period. If you leave on, say, day 45 to enter a neighbouring country and stay there for, say 30 days, you should get given the balance of your entitlement ie 45 days on your return. That was certainly our experience over several years of traveling between SA/Bots/Nam. And also of friends of ours last year.

If you do want to go beyond the 90 days in any 12 month period you will need to formally apply for a visa extension but you'll need a good reason ie some kind of emergency not just a desire to stay longer.

Thanks, both of you.

That was a new one to me, ItchyFeet. That rule would suit us fine.

Anybody else who has some recent experiences?