Entry Requirements

General

Anyone traveling to the southern Africa requires a valid passport (valid for 6 months beyond the date of departure). Also, you must have at least two blank pages in the Visa section of your passport for each entry into an African country (NB - please note that the Endorsements pages don't count); three blank pages required for Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. Furthermore, you will need a return ticket to your country of domicile (or sufficient funds to purchase one).

Travelers to East Africa require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure. Also, you must have at least two blank pages in the Visa section of your passport for each entry into an African country (NB - please note that the Endorsements pages don't count). Furthermore, you will need a return ticket to your country of domicile (or sufficient funds to purchase one).

Visas

At present, holders of American passports do not require visas for South Africa, Zambia, or Botswana. Holders of American passports do require visas for Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, but these are purchased at the point of entry into the country and nothing needs to be done before your trip.

Please consult the "General Information" section of your itinerary or the "Itinerary" section of your travel package for specific information regarding visas. Wherever visas are required it is best have the exact amount of cash in the currency specified, as change is not always given. If you are asked to pay a different amount from what has been outlined, do not argue - fees change at very short notice and it is not worth getting into an argument with a government official.

Please note that we will be providing you with detailed, page-by-page instructions as well as all supporting documentation for completing your online e-visas, roughly 30-60 days before you travel. This allows plenty of time for your visas to be processed ahead of travel (processing time is typically 5-10 business days), with minimal risk of changes needing to be made.

All visitors to Kenya require an Electronic Travel Authorization. ETA's can be easily purchased online for $34.95 - Kenya eTA for more information. Classic Africa will send instructions roughly two months before you travel, we do not suggest you apply before receiving the instructions. The processing time is typically two business days and the eTA is valid for 3 months; it permits re-entry into Kenya from other East African countries (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi). If there are any delays or complications with your eTA, a dedicated support staff is available at:  etakenya@immigration.go.ke or by phone at + 011 254 202 222 022.  For children under the age of 18, the legal guardian, parent or accompanying adult is responsible for filling the application. Because of the 90 day validity, be careful not to complete the eTA too far in advance of your trip or it will expire before your arrival. 

If you are a family, a couple, or friends travelling together in a group of up to six (6) travelers, you can save time by applying together. There is a “Group Application” option on the eTA website or mobile app, and upon approval, each member of the group will receive their own Electronic Travel Authorization.

All individuals in the group application must:

Share the same country of residence.

Share the same purpose of visit to the Republic of Kenya.

Share the same travel and accommodation itinerary for their entire trip to and stay in the Republic of Kenya.

Visitors to Tanzania require a visa which can be obtained electronically as an e-Visa, at a cost of $100. Click here for the link to the application site. Classic Africa will send instructions roughly two months before you travel, we do not suggest you apply before receiving the instructions. Tanzanian visas are valid for 12 months from the date of issue; the maximum duration of stay in the country is 90 days. Visa applications for minors under 18 years traveling alone or with only one parent/legal guardians should be accompanied by: A notarized letter, jointly signed by parents or legal guardians approving the minor to travel AND a copy of their ID.

Visitors to Namibia require a visa which can be obtained on arrival at the port of entry, or electronically as an e-Visa (which we recommend), at a cost of roughly $100 - please click here for the application page. Classic Africa will provide detailed instructions for how to complete this roughly two months before you travel. We do not suggest you apply before receiving the instructions. Other printed documents required for entry include: travel insurance details, proof of hotel reservations (provided by Classic Africa), and an immigration entry form (obtained on arrival). 

Visitors to Rwanda require a visa - US passport holders can purchase the visa (currently $50 per person) on arrival in Kigali. If you are not traveling on US passport, please consult the Rwanda Embassy for information on visa requirements.

Visitors to the Seychelles need to complete a digital Travel Authorization form at least 72 hours prior to arrival in the country. Please Click Here to access the form. We will provide you with the hotel confirmation document that needs to be uploaded as part of the process. 

Visitors to Zimbabwe need to complete an online Entry Declaration form before arrival to the country. Classic Africa will provide detailed instructions for completing this process before you travel.

Visitors to Mozambique are required to complete an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to entering the country. Classic Africa will provide detailed instructions for how to complete this roughly two months before you travel. We do not suggest you apply before receiving the instructions.

Inoculations

Please consult the page on Inoculations under Traveler's Health to determine if you require proof of vaccination for entry into any countries. Please ask if in doubt.

Special Requirement for Children - N.B.

As a result of laws to prevent child trafficking, all children under the age of 18 visiting countries in southern Africa need to travel with their birth certificate (either an original or notarized copy). The birth certificate must list the full names of both parents. When not accompanied by both parents, additional documentation is required. Travelers not meeting the requirements face immediate deportation.

South Africa recently relaxed their requirement somewhat - if both parents are traveling with their child(ren), and everyone has the same surname, then birth certificates for the children are not required. However, if there are any differences in surnames, birth certificates will be required. Botswana and Namibia require birth certificates, irrespective.

Below are some relevant sections from the  legislation – Click Here for a helpful infogram of the main requirements; Click Here for a more detailed summary from South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (Botswana's regulation is almost identical). If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Regulation 6 (12)(a):	Where parents are traveling with a child, such parents must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents of the child.
Regulation 6 (12)(b):	In the case of one parent traveling with a child, he or she must produce an unabridged birth certificate and: (i) Consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child authorizing him or her to enter into or depart from the Republic of South Africa with the child he or she is traveling with; (ii) A court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or (iii) Where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate, provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is traveling with a relative or another person related to him or her his or her parents, approve such a person to enter or depart the Republic with such a child.
Regulation 6 (12)(c):	Where a person is traveling with a child who is not his or her biological child, he or she must produce: (i) A copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child; (ii) An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the child; (iii) Copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child; and (iv) The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child, provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is traveling with a relative or another person related to him or her his or her parents, approve such a person to enter or depart the Republic with such a child.
Regulation 6 (12)(d):	Any unaccompanied minor shall produce to the immigration officer: (i) Proof of consent from one or both his or her parents or legal guardian, as the case may be, in the form of a letter or affidavit for the child to travel into or depart from the Republic: Provided that in the case where one parent provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of a court order issued to him or her in terms of which he or she has been granted full parental responsibilities and rights in respect of the child; (ii) A letter from the person which is to receive the child in the Republic, containing his or her residential address and contact details where the child will be residing; (iii) A copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in the Republic; and (iv) The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.