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-   -   South Africa: Temporary Residents Permit (for UK nationals) (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa-temporary-residents-permit-35166)

ollie5882 12 May 2008 14:19

South Africa: Temporary Residents Permit (for UK nationals)
 
Hi,

I've read that it's possible to extend a TRP once you are in the country if you want to stay beyond the 90 day limit. Has anyone tried this or should I apply for a full visa (the SA High Commision seems to only employ answer phones :mad: )? Also, as I plan to fly to SA and leave overland does anyone have any experience of entering the country with no proof of onward travel - is it possible?

No idea if anyone can help but don't think asking can do any harm! :)

Cheers,

Ollie

Vaufi 12 May 2008 17:07

Presumably the visa rules are the same for Germany as for the UK. I was only granted a visa after I had purchased a return (or onward) flight. So what I did was to buy a cheap charter flight down to Cape Town and a rather expensive IATA ticket for the return flight, which is refunded completely if unused (max 1 year if I remember correctly). So after leaving S.A. you could walk straight into an office of that airline and cash the ticket.

Yep, the 90-day visa can be extended at any office for home affairs in S.A. for one more term. I had mine extended in Pietermaritzburg/KwazuluNatal. This is a matter of max. 1/2 hour. If they want to bullshit you, saying that the passport has to be sent to Pretoria - this is NOT true. Probably the office attendant is just thinking of his lunch break or has no idea what he/she is doing :eek3: That's what happened to me. So I returned the next day and told another person that my tour group from overseas was going to leave without me - and lo, within 10 minutes my passport was stamped ;-)

That's Africa :biggrin3:

ollie5882 12 May 2008 17:44

Cheers Vaufi! That puts my mind at rest no end! :) The tip about the IATA ticket is brilliant - hadn't thought of that and yet it's such a simple solution :thumbup1: I can't wait to discover Africa (minus the bureaucracy :helpsmilie: )!

Cheers once again for the rapid and helpful repsonse :clap:

Ollie

ChrisC 20 May 2008 10:30

It is poss......
 
I did what you asked on a number of occassions - after the first extension we crossed over the border to Botswana or Zimbabwe and then return allowing another 90 days.
We also flew back to the UK and return to SA, where we had left our vehicle -took a photo, the address where it was parked up, the reg docs and a letter - make it up if you have to - fromthe owner of property confirming it is parked where you say it is.

Vaufi 20 May 2008 10:42

@Chris,

I suppose this should work most of the time, but the rules & regulations of S.A. say that a "short" trip outside S.A. (whatever is meant by this) does not entitle the traveller to have his TRP extended. He has to apply for a new entry visa.

My experience is that esp. at small border posts the officials don't really know all the regulations and the chances are very good that, as you had mentioned, your TRP is renewed.


@Ollie,

don't let yourself be put off by the latest news about violence in S.A. This happens mostly in & around the main economic hubs, esp. Johburg & vicinity.
The rural areas are absolutely laid back. The country is brilliant, the people are very friendly. Look for the backroads. That's where you'll find the real South Africa.
:D


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