Health Alert: Repatriation Flights Via Doha Available to Book – U.S. Embassy Pretoria, South Africa (May 3, 2020)
Location: South Africa
Event: The South African Ministry of Health confirmed 6,336 cases of COVID-19 within its borders.
Qatar Airways has confirmed commercial repatriation flights via Doha. The flights are available to book via this link: https://www.qatarairways.com/getyouhome The flights will sell on a first come-first-served basis and are open to all nationalities looking to depart South Africa.
In addition to purchasing a ticket through the above link, you will need to submit your information through the U.S. Mission via the form linked here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=dFDPZv5a0UimkaErISH0SzprA341wcFOosdN6jgI6btUMkNEOEJJVEtGTzdVRFpVQVZJUVZZWlJNRC4u
We will be required to send the information to the Embassy of Qatar. If you have filled in the form either on April 29, or May 2, you do not need to resend the form. Please inform us that you have purchased the tickets and we will include your information in our list.
Flight information:
- These flights will depart from Johannesburg only and will land in Doha. You must make your own onward arrangements from Doha; you will not be able to stay in Doha – only transit is allowed at this time.
- You will be responsible for finding your own transportation to either the Johannesburg airport or to a required staging area (if applicable); we are not aware of any domestic flights at this time.
- It is our understanding that travel between provinces will be permitted next week and thus no travel letter is needed.
- Currently, we do not have any further information on baggage allowances, flight cost, or specific flight times/final dates. We also do not know if business class seats will be available.
Completing this form does not guarantee you a seat nor does it oblige you to take any repatriation flight; your interest will only be confirmed by purchasing a ticket through Qatar Airways through the above link.
All U.S. government-coordinated repatriation flights have departed. We cannot confirm when or if other future options may arise. If you have other questions or issues, please email us at saevacuation@state.gov. Due to the high volume of emails we are receiving, if your question is answered in this message or in the auto-response, we will not be able to respond to your email.
Please see all past alerts at the U.S. Embassy website: https://za.usembassy.gov/category/alert/
If you are a U.S. citizen in South Africa and your visa is expiring, please visit the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) website for information on extending your visa. We are unable to extend your visa or contact DHA on your behalf.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Notice for South Africa.
Local Resources
- View U.S. Embassy Pretoria’s most recent alerts.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa: Extension of Coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown to the end of April
- Announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa of 21 day lock-down (Mar 23, 2020)
- Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on measures to combat COVID-19 epidemic
- COVID-19 information page on National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)
- Department of Home Affairs page for latest information on travel requirements for South Africa
- COVID-19 Corona Virus: South African Resource Portal
Other links
- COVID-19 information page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19
- Travel.state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Operating Status: Effective March 26, 2020, U.S. Consulates General Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban have suspended routine consular services. For emergency American Citizens Services, including emergency passports, please visit our websites for additional information.
Assistance:
United States Embassy to the Republic of South Africa
(Note: The Embassy does not provide consular services.)
877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
Tel: 012-431-4000 (outside South Africa: +27-12-431-4000)
https://za.usembassy.gov/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/USEmbassySA/
United States Consulate General, Johannesburg
(Covering Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, and Free State provinces)
1 Sandton Drive (corner of Rivonia and Sandton Drive)
Sandhurst, Johannesburg
ACSJohannesburg@state.gov
Tel: 011-290-3000 (outside South Africa: +27-11-290-3000)
After-hours emergencies: 079-111-1684 (outside South Africa: +27-79-111-1684)
https://za.usembassy.gov/johannesburg-u-s-consulate/
United States Consulate General, Durban
(Covering KwaZulu-Natal Province)
Delta Towers, 31st floor
303 Dr. Pixley KaSeme Street
ConsularDurban@state.gov
Tel: 031-305-7600 (outside South Africa +27-31-305-7600)
After-hours emergencies: 079-111-1445 (outside South Africa +27-79-111-1445)
https://za.usembassy.gov/durban-u-s-consulate/
United States Consulate General, Cape Town
(Covering Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape provinces)
2 Reddam Avenue, Tokai, Cape Town
AmericansCapeTown@state.gov
Tel: 021-702-7300 (outside South Africa: +27 21-702-7300)
After-hours emergencies: 079-111-0391 (outside South Africa: +27-79-111-0391)
https://za.usembassy.gov/cape-town-u-s-consulate/
State Department – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
South Africa Country Information
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