Do I need a passport to travel between Ireland and South Africa

Irish passport holders wishing to travel to South Africa must have a valid Irish passport with at least two blank pages and must not be damaged in any way. If your passport fails on either count, it will be returned immediately by the South African authorities and you will be refused entry.

The passport must be valid for not less than thirty days after your intended date of departure from South Africa. Children travelling to South Africa must travel on their own passport.

Travelling with Children: As a result of new legislation, parents travelling to or from South Africa with children on or after 1 October 2014 must have the child’s full birth certificate available for inspection on arrival in or departure from the country. Where only one parent is accompanying a child, written authority/consent from the non-travelling parent, permitting the other parent to travel with the child alone, must be shown. If you have any concerns in this regard, we recommend that you contact your nearest South African Embassy or Consulate prior to travelling.

South African Passport Holders Travelling to Ireland

South African passport holders do not require a visa to visit Ireland for tourism or similar reasons. However, other immigration procedures apply see www.inis.gov.ie 

All travellers must be able to satisfy the Immigration Officer at the Port of Entry that they have a valid reason for entering Ireland. You may also be requested by airline staff at check-in to provide additional documentation to support your case, including but not limited to:

• Return airline ticket
• Proof of accommodation. This can be a letter of invitation if the traveller is staying with friends or family. The letter need to state the contact details of both the traveller and the host. If the traveller is staying at a hotel, a paid and confirmed hotel booking for the entire stay in Ireland needs to be presented.
• Bank statements showing you have sufficient funds for the duration of the stay.
• Full valid passport must be valid for 6 months after the planned date of return. Must have 2 blank pages.  Temporary passports or other types of travel documents are not acceptable.
• Medical/Travel insurance

If you hold a passport of another country you may require a visa. Further information is available on our Visa information pages.