Passports, Visas & Health
- Please ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months AFTER you return from your trip. Temporary passports are no longer issued by Home Affairs. Please ask your Call-Centre consultant for more details.
- Please ensure you have 2 - 3 consecutive blank pages in your passport when you travel.
- Dual Citizenship passport holders must carry both valid passports when travelling abroad. It is a Home Affairs regulation that SA Passport holders must use their valid SA passport when leaving SA and when re-entering South Africa. Your foreign passport may only be used to enter and depart your country of destination.
Visas are required by South African passport holders to many destinations including the USA, UK, Australia and Europe. Transit visas may also be required when transiting through one country en-route to another one. If transiting 2 Schengen countries, you will require a Schengen transit visa.
Please ensure all the necessary visa requirements have been met for all countries visited or transited during your travel. GoTrips has entered into agreements with MDS Visapak and SVS International and we will refer you to one of their consultants to advise and fulfil your visa requirements. You will be required to sign a visa disclaimer exempting GoTrips from any responsibility in this regard.
- Please ensure all the necessary visa requirements have been met for all countries you are travelling to OR through.
- Please ensure you allow enough time for all visa applications as the processing time varies according to each embassy. It could range from 6 to 12 weeks depending on the country in question. Delays in processing of visas may occur for motivated circumstances, delays in supporting documentation being submitted of during peak season period.
- The issuance of a visa does not guarantee entry into that country.
- Your GoTrips consultant will advise you of Visa Suppliers who may be used to assist with your visa application/s at an additional fee.
- All visa applications processed through a Visa Supplier must be prepaid, prior to submission, based on a quoted price. This price may change depending on the full and final cost charged by the embassy at the time of submission. Any additional amounts will need to be settled prior to passports being handed over.
- Some countries require you to apply in person for their visa and therefore you may not be able to utilise a Visa supplier for those applications.
It is your responsibility to check health requirements and recommended precautions relevant to your travel, including but not limited to ensuring that all necessary vaccination documentation is presented. We recommend that you consult your local doctor, travel medical service or specialist vaccination clinic before commencing travel. Most vaccinations need to be administered prior to travel to be considered effective.
- Travel Insurance is essential to protect you when you travel. Have you been offered, or asked us for Travel Insurance? Cover yourself against cancellation, medical, baggage and personal expenses plus more.
- Insurance is recommended for both International and Domestic trips.
- Always read the insurance policy documents and policy wording that will be emailed to you as it contains vitally important information regarding the cover you have purchased and the claims process.
- Free Credit Card insurance may not be adequate cover for your trip. Ask your travel consultant for advice in this regard.