The Embassy of South Africa in Israel

Welcome to the Information Portal of the South African Embassy in Israel.

We are confident that the information you require, or wish to receive on South Africa will be available at the click of a button when browsing through the website.

By exploring the portal, there is no doubt that the website will provide you with a good introduction to South Africa as a multi-ethnic society being alive with possibility.

The future of South Africa is cemented in the concept of Ubuntu - "the spirit of togetherness" and underscores President Nelson Mandela's statement at the dawn of democracy in 1994 that "We shall build a society where all South Africans, both Black and White, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their right to human dignity, a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world." Our future is also inextricably linked to the development of the African Agenda.

The doors of the Embassy are open to engage you on issues of mutual interest and we are ready to assist you in any way possible in changing the lives of ordinary people for the better!

Once again, welcome to South Africa!

 

 

 

 

 

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Update on Corona virus

22 May 2020

The Embassy is closed until further notice.

On Wednesdays between 9 -12 on APPOINTMENT only,  citizens may collect documentation  e.g passports, birth certificates etc. Please forward an e-mail to ghandourc@dirco.gov.za to make an appointment.  No applications for passports, birth certificates, id's or police clearance will be accepted until further notice. Apply all heath precautions as prescribe by Department of Health when visiting the mission for your appointment.

The Embassy is working tirelessly to secure repatriation flights back to SA. If you haven't register at the Embassy do so asap. Send an e-mail to joyinia@dirco.gov.za,  copy to harmsea@dirco.gov.za to be added on the repatriation list.

The Embassy can be contacted on the duty phone 0527807290 or per above mentioned e-mails.

6 May 2020

In a public statement by the Transport Minister, Mr Fikile Mbalula, on 1 May 2020, he stated very clearly that the ban on domestic and international passenger flights remains in place on level 4. The only flights allowed to land is repatriation flights from abroad. Buying a return ticket to South Africa via the internet or through a travel agents until further notice, may result in disappointments.

There are repatriation flights from Doha between 7 - 16 May 2020 on Qatar Airways. Unfortunately there are no direct flights between Israel and Doha. Flights may be available from Israel to fly to other countries and from there to Doha. Please engage with a travel agent for travel arrangements. All costs will be for the passenger/s.

The following websites can be visited to get more information on the  regulations in South Africa concerning the Covid virus lock down.

Department of Transport South Africa  (for air travel regulations)

www.thesouthafrican.com/travel

Department of Home Affairs South Africa (passport, birth certificates visas's to SA,  information)

sacoronavirus.co.za  (All information concerning Covid virus, public statements by President etc)

5 May 2020

The Embassy is still closed until further notice.

The Israeli and South African borders are closed due to the Corona virus. No international flights are allowed into the 2 countries.

The Government in  Israel indicated today 5 May, that international flights may resume mid June 2020 but this may have no effects on the opening of the borders in South Africa.

South African citizens that are stuck in Israel can register with the Embassy to enable the Embassy to put them on a list for future repatriation. At this stage NO repatriation flights are scheduled. Note these flights are only for citizens who arrived in Israel as from February 2020 on a visitor visa. Citizens who lived and worked in Israel for the past years  and for some or other reason want to return to SA now, will NOT be considered to be repatriated. Normal procedures must be followed in these cases.

If repatriation flights were scheduled, payment by the traveler  will be required. At this point the Embassy cannot give more information about this matter.

Citizens who arrived on the 90 day rule or  have visa's expiring in the near future, must please ensure that they get in contact with the Ministry of Interior in Tel Aviv to extend their visa's. Foreigners who are here with expired documentation will be arrested by the police if stopped in public and detained at deportation centers until such time that flights are available to be deported.

If you have return flight bookings for May/June, proceed with caution. Contact the airline to inquiry about the possibility that the flight will still be allowed into SA as no commercial flights may land at any SA airport until further notice. Negotiate with the airline to extend the date of your ticket or to -reimburse you.

According to the SA regulations concerning the Covid virus, SA is returning to normal by following  5 phases.  At this point SA is in phase 4. International flights are not scheduled to operate in any of these phases.

Citizens not registered at the Embassy yet, can forward an e-mail to the mission for assistance. E-mail addresses to be used to register are: harmsea@dirco.gov.za and joyinia@dirco.gov.za. Whatsapp number, 0527807290,  can be used for inquiries Monday to Fridays from 9 am-4;30 pm only.

The Embassy will update the site as information is received.

Take care.

Regards

Update 24 March 2020

The President of South Africa announced a total lock down in SA as from Thursday 26 March at midnight.

Please check with your airline if you will still be able to travel for the next three weeks to South Africa. If you arrive in SA and you are admitted, you have to be able to go into quarantine for 14 days.

Please be safe and take care

Regards

The Embassy is not operational until further notice.

Israeli citizens can still travel to South Africa if they are not transiting through high risk countries like Italy, Spain, Germany, USA, UK, China, French Republic, Republic of Korea. More countries may be added to the list  in the near future. Travelling abroad is hugely discouraged at this point.

Consult the official website of the South African Health Department concerning the virus.

http://www.health.gov.za/index.php/outbreaks/145-corona-virus-outbreak/465-corona-virus-outbreak

24 Hour Operation line is available at Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria

0027 12 351 100 Telephone number

Information is also available on the website www.dirco.gov.za

Extremely urgent Consular cases may be attended too if deemed necessary. Contact the duty officer on 052 780 7290.

Updates will be published as information is coming available.

Forfeiture of repatriation deposits	The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs invites any person who, prior to the coming into operation of the Immigration Amendment Act, 2011 on 26 May 2014, paid deposit as a guarantee of the return to his or her country origin, to approach, within a period up to 28 February 2015, any South African Mission in his or her country of origin for a refund of his or her deposit. The Department of Home Affairs' Offices within the Republic may issue refunds only in exceptional circumstances where a person has acquired permanent residence permit or has changed his or her status in the Republic prior to 26 May 2014. Failure to claim a refund by 28 February 2015 will result in the deposit forfeited to the State as unclaimed. Please also note that anyone who had overstayed his or her permit shall not qualify for a refund, as he or she would have violated the terms and conditions of his or her temporary residence permit. Read more
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