U.S. Embassy & Consulates
in South Africa

Health Alert: Updates on Repatriation Flights to the United States – U.S. Embassy Pretoria, South Africa (May 4, 2020)

Location: South Africa

Event:  The South African Ministry of Health confirmed 6,783 cases of COVID-19 within its borders.

Please read the following information carefully.  Due to the high volume of enquiries we are currently receiving, we will not be able to respond to individual emails if your question is answered in this alert.

Qatar Airways Flights

We have received an update from Qatar Airways that in addition to U.S. citizens, they will also accept U.S. Legal Permanent Residents.  Please book your flight via this link: https://www.qatarairways.com/getyouhome, complete the information request form, and then email saevacuation@state.gov so we can confirm with Qatar Airways that you do have a valid entry document.  If you have trouble filling out the Microsoft form, please ask a family member or friend for assistance.  Passengers must already have a valid visa; visas are not currently being processed or issued.  If you have questions about your non-immigrant visa, please email consularjohannesburg@state.gov.  If you have questions about your immigrant visa, please email JohannesburgIV@state.gov.

Flight information:

• These flights will depart from Johannesburg and will land in Doha.  You must make your own onward arrangements from Doha; you will not be able to enter Qatar – only transit is allowed at this time.
• You will be responsible for finding your own transportation to the required staging area.  Please confirm the location of the required assembly point with Qatar Airways.
• We are not aware of any domestic flights at this time.  If you are in Cape Town and would like a list of transportation company options, please email americanscapetown@state.gov.
• It is our understanding that travel between provinces for the purpose of catching a repatriation flight will be permitted next week and thus no travel permission letter is needed.   For travel after May 7, we will follow up with additional guidance on travel letters (if needed.)
• Please check the Qatar Airways website for information on baggage allowances, flight cost, or if business class seats will be available.

From Doha, Qatar Airways is operating non-stop flights to Chicago and Dallas in the United States.  Flights to both Chicago and Dallas are scheduled to operate on May 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, and 17.

South African Airways Flight

We have been notified of a likely commercial flight to the United States to be operated by South African Airways, tentatively scheduled for May 7th.  The flight will operate from Johannesburg and is eligible for both U.S. citizens and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents.  We have no additional details at this time but will forward details as soon as they become available.

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
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter