South African passports - visa problems?
 

Hi All

One of our travel companions has a South African passport. He has been told by various travel agents in SA that he will have trouble getting visas for Northern Africa in particular Algeria. Has anyone else had any problems getting visas with an SA passport? Also, he has been told that he will need to get visas for all countries he is travelling to (ie Morocco, Mauri, Mali, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia) before he leaves Cape Town. Has anyone else been told this or is it just someone exaggerating?

Thanks
Mel

I met a couple of South Africans that had to fly out of Mauritania because they couldn't get a Moroccan visum. Sucks when you travelled almost a complete continent but just can't complete that last bit.

Rob

I had two South African friends who really struggled to get Moroccan visa's in Senegal. In the end they were only given 21 days which they had to beg for.

Here's the best way to approach it imho:

At home, get every visa you could possibly want, for the longest duration possible within financial limits. Some, most or many of them will expire before you get to the country involved.

Then approach the various embassies as you would normally have done alongthe way if the visa expires before you get there.

But, present yourself as having a visa already, but your journey has taken longer than expected and would like to extend the entry for the visa if possible?

Most of the time they will make you apply and pay for another visa, but as you have already been 'checked out' through the application process in your home country, often they will give it to you with no problems or without going through the normal procedures.



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Cheers, Darrin
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Hi Mel, I totally agree with Darrin. I am a South African and have travelled reasonobly extensively in Africa. We do pick up problems with visas, the best is defnitly to get as many of the visas at home as possible. sometimes you will find it vertually imposible to get a visa for a specific country, then just use a alternative route. But hey, this is Africa, one day it is imposible to get a visa for a placce the next day it is a walk in the park. Good luck and these issues are sometimes exagerated, it may be a bit of a hassel, but they should get visas for these countries.

Best ogf luck

Gus