South Africa Visa & Entry Requirements

Guests travelling to South Africa as part of their Explorations by Norwegian voyage should carefully review the passport, visa and health requirements below before departure.

Passport Requirements

All guests entering South Africa must ensure that:

• Their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the passport expiry date requirement specified by South African Immigration.
• Their passport contains at least two completely blank visa pages.
• The passport is in good condition and suitable for international travel.

Guests who do not meet these passport requirements may be denied boarding or entry into South Africa.

Visa Exempt Nationalities

Passport holders from the countries listed below do not require a visa issued by a South African embassy or consulate before their cruise.

Do I Need a Visa?

If your passport country appears in the table above, you do not require a South African visa prior to your cruise.

If your passport country is not listed above, you will need to obtain a valid South African visa before travel.

⚠️ Guests who require a South African visa and do not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day.

South African eVisa

Some nationalities may be eligible to apply online through the South African eVisa programme.

Eligible guests can check their eligibility and submit an application through the official South African Department of Home Affairs website:

👉 Apply for a South African eVisa

Please note:

• The eVisa must be obtained and approved before your cruise departure.
• Visas cannot be obtained upon arrival in South Africa.
• Visa fees vary by nationality and additional service fees may apply.
• Guests who are not eligible for the eVisa programme will need to apply through a South African embassy or consulate.

Mandatory Traveller Declaration

South Africa requires all travellers entering or departing the country to complete a traveller declaration.

This online process collects your travel information and provides an electronic response confirming your declaration. Guests arriving in South Africa will also receive customs guidance and instructions as part of the process.

👉 Complete Your South African Traveller Declaration

This requirement applies to all travellers regardless of nationality.

Yellow Fever Requirements

Guests may be required to carry proof of Yellow Fever vaccination depending on:

• Their country of residence or recent travel history, and/or
• The countries visited as part of their cruise itinerary.

If you are travelling from, transiting through, or visiting a country designated as a high-risk Yellow Fever area, you must hold either:

• A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, or
• A valid medical waiver where vaccination is no longer possible.

👉 View Current Yellow Fever Risk Countries

Important Yellow Fever Notice

Guests who are required to provide proof of Yellow Fever vaccination (or an acceptable medical waiver) and are unable to do so may be denied boarding.

Where a guest is unable to receive the Yellow Fever vaccine due to age or medical reasons, a medical waiver is required.

Please note that acceptance of any medical waiver remains at the discretion of the South African Port Health Authorities.

Before You Travel

To ensure a smooth start to your voyage, please make sure that:

✅ Your passport is valid and contains at least two blank pages.
✅ You have confirmed whether your nationality requires a visa.
✅ Any required South African visa has been approved before travel. (if required)
✅ Your traveller declaration has been completed.
✅ You have the appropriate Yellow Fever documentation, if required.

As immigration and health requirements can change without notice, guests are responsible for ensuring they hold all required documentation before travelling. Explorations by Norwegian recommends reviewing these requirements well in advance of departure to avoid any disruption to your holiday.