Travel tips
Travel Insurance – never travel without it. It is our company policy to ask valued clients to sign an indemnity should they choose not to take travel insurance when going on a business or leisure trip. Travelling is exciting and enjoyable but it can be hazardous. Being stranded in a foreign country because of an accident or illness can be a harrowing experience but it is an absolute catastrophe if you do not have insurance cover. It is also important to note that the free cover you receive from paying by credit card is generally quite limited and the excesses to be paid are high.
Talk to one of our consultants about our innovative and competitive travel insurance products – or visit the website of one of our preferred supplier’s link below for more information.
https://www.tic.co.za/buy/travel-insurance.aspx?ref=179
INTERNATIONAL VISA INFORMATION Obtaining visas can be time consuming and complicated.
These tips can simplify this sometimes problematic procedure:
- Always add on additional days to the time it takes for an embassy/consulate to issue a visa.
- To avoid delays always give an embassy/consulate exactly what it needs ensuring that all the correct documentation on its list of requirements are submitted.
- If an embassy/consulate identifies wrong information or that the passenger has not signed the form personally the passenger and travel agent may land themselves in hot water.
Always make a copy of the application and keep it with you on your trip, anything can happen… a visa may have been issued for the wrong dates and the passenger may have to prove the correct ones were requested… - You may have applied for multiple entries into a country and you may have been issued with a single entry visa!! Also make copies of relevant pages in your passport.
- Visa requirements for unaccompanied minors, youngsters on working holidays, single parents and older passengers should be checked thoroughly.
- Young people entering a country must be able to prove they have enough funds to support themselves during their stay.
- When initiating a travel booking it is a good idea to take your passport with you to the consultant.
Call Us to get exact Visa Requirements for the Country you wish to visit.
UK Visas
For those needing a UK visa we recommend RCV International.
Robyn Lamb can be contacted via her website at: www.rcvinternational.com
The implementation of the new immigration regulations for children travelling to and from South Africa happened on the 1st of June 2015. The Department of Home Affairs has published a brochure that summarises the new regulations.
Please call us for the latest information regarding Birth Certificates for Minors travelling abroad.
DEPARTURE / RE-ENTRY REGULATIONS
SA citizens travelling overseas must use their SA passport for departing from and returning to South Africa.
Foreign passport holders must prove their residency status on returning to South Africa.
Foreigners exempt from re-entry requirements irrespective of their nationality in terms of section 11 (5) of the Aliens Control are:
- Holders of a valid Immigration permit
- Holders of valid study, work seekers and work permits
- Aliens who are exempt from Section 23Aof the Aliens Control Act, 1991 (Act 96 of 1991)
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HAND LUGGAGE
Economy-class passengers are allowed one bag plus one slimline laptop bag. Business/ first-class passengers are allowed two bags plus one slimline laptop bag. Handbags are considered part of a female’s wardrobe and not as hand luggage. No bag should exceed 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (total dimensions of 115cm) or weigh more than 7kg per bag. Bag weight may vary according to airline specifications.
COMING THROUGH CUSTOMS
Green Channel:
Only if you have no more than the duty free customs allowance, no goods for commercial purposes, no
prohibited or restricted goods and no goods on behalf of others.
REGISTER VALUABLES
Ensure that certain identification items such as jewellery, cameras, watches, etc are registered at customs on your
departure for re-importation.
CURRENCY CONTROL:
SA Bank notes in excess of R25 000 or $10,000 must be declared, unless you are in possession of the necessary permit.
CUSTOM & EXCISE:
JOHANNESBURG (011) 255 9001
CAPETOWN (021) 413 5000
DURBAN (031) 367 6100
PRETORIA (012) 422 4000
Website http://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/Travellers/Pages/Arrival-in-SA.aspx
Information correct as at 1st August, 2019.
NO MEAT AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS TO BE CARRIED INTO BRITAIN:
The British government has introduced a media campaign informing visitors that it is no longer legal to bring meat and animal products into the UK. People caught with biltong, dry wors, dried fish, milk, honey or any such foodstuff will have their goods confiscated and be kept waiting while the origin of the produce is investigated. Passengers could also possibly be fined up to R14 000 or be liable for prosecution. All meat products are banned, including vacuum-sealed goods.Hand Luggage restrictions
Passengers may carry a limited quantity of liquids, ie. gels, lotions, pastes, liquid cosmetics, foams and foodstuffs in their hand baggage when going through airport security checkpoints. To avoid any unnecessary delays to your journey we would advise all passengers to continue to pack permitted liquid items in their checked in baggage. If you need to carry liquid items on board, please read the following requirements with care to ensure you arrive at the airport prepared.
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Please remember that no sharp items are allowed in your hand luggage.
Airlines will be required to pay compensation to passengers who have suffered from flight cancellations or long delays, the European Union Court of Justice has ruled. The ruling follows the complaint of a woman whose Amsterdam-bound KLM flight was delayed for 29 hours before it departed from Quito, Ecuador, in 2009.
The regulation applies to passengers departing from an airport in another country and due to arrive in an airport in the European Union, unless they received benefits or compensation and were given assistance in that country. The operating air carrier of the flight concerned must be a European carrier.
Under the law, the carriers will be excused from paying compensation where the event was caused by an “extraordinary circumstance which could not have been avoided if all reasonable measures had been taken”. These include bad weather, strikes and political instability.
Passengers will receive compensation amounting to EUR250 (R3 775) for all flights of 1 500km or less; EUR400 (R6 038) for all intra-European flights of more than 1 500km, and for all other flights between 1 500km and 3 500km; and EUR600 (R9 095) for all other flights. The distance will be determined by the last destination at which the denial of boarding or cancellation will delay the passenger’s arrival after the scheduled time.
The airline may reduce the compensation by 50% when passengers are offered re-routing to their final destination if the arrival time does not exceed the scheduled arrival time of the flight by two hours for all flights of 1 500km or less; three hours for all intra-European flights and for all other flights between 1 500km and 3 500km or by four hours for all other flights.
The court also said that the compensation may be paid in cash, by electronic bank transfer, bank cheques or in travel vouchers.
N.B. If this happens to you please ask the airline concerned for a claim form.