South Africa Frequently Asked Questions

Visa information supplied here is subject to change without notice at the discretion of the respective customs departments.

For South Africa, Swaziland and Botswana you do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days if you are from the following countries: Australia, United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, British Overseas Territories, African Union Laissez Passer, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway , Paraguay, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man and Virgin Islands, Uruguay or Venezuela.

For Mozambique, if you are from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you will need a tourist visa. This visa can be issued at the border for approximately USD $100 (this can also be paid for in the equivalent South African Rand).

For Zambia, if you are from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you will need a double entry tourist visa. This visa can be issued at the border for USD$80.

Visas can also be obtained prior to travel. All travelers are required to have:

• A valid acceptable passport or travel document.
• A return or onward ticket.
• At least two blank pages in your passport.

For all other countries you may require a visa.

Please contact the nearest embassy of the countries you require entry into. Some helpful websites are listed below:
http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/visa_countries.asp
www.embamoc-usa.org
www.mozambiquehighcommission.org.uk/
http://www.zambiaembassy.org/

If you need to arrange your own visa or you have further visa inquiries, please contact your closest embassy. Note: If you ARE required to organize your own visa, you should apply for your visa at least four weeks BEFORE your departure for South Africa. Visas are NOT issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials are obliged to insist on visas before allowing passengers to board. If you arrive without a visa, immigration officials are obliged by law to refuse you entry to South Africa and to place you on a return flight to your country.

Visa information supplied here is subject to change without notice at the discretion of the respective customs departments.

There are only certain areas within South Africa that are malaria zones. Most volunteer projects within South Africa are in malaria-free zones, however please check your Project Overview where you will find information on whether your volunteer project is in a Malaria Zone or not. The Adventure Tour however does enter into malaria zones in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique, and it is strongly recommended that you approach your doctor or nearest Travel Medical Clinic for information and advice on different malaria preventatives for the entire duration of the Adventure Tour. This also applies to participants traveling on the Wild Africa Excursion, as both Zambia and Botswana are in malaria zones.

Participants originating from outside the United States and Canada please email your local ISV office for more information on travel insurance.

Australia - au-info@isvolunteers.org 
New Zealand - nz-info@isvolunteers.org 
United Kingdom/Europe - gb-info@isvolunteers.org

U.S and Canadian participants see the information below.

Participants are required to have travele'rs insurance which includes insurance for two purposes – coverage for medical treatment and care while in your host country and travel/trip cancellation coverage. Many insurance carriers package these plans together with other travel related issues such as lost or stolen items, for example: plane tickets, passports, and personal items. Cancellation insurance is important in the event that a problem arises that prevents you from going on the Program. Policies do vary depending on the insurance provider, what country you travel to and what is covered, so make sure that you get a policy appropriate for your host country and your needs. Participants traveling on the ISV Adventure Tour in the following countries (Eastern Europe, Ecuador, and Thailand) will need to secure additional travel insurance coverage for “Adventure Sports”. This coverage provides insurance for many sports activities, including rock climbing, which would otherwise be excluded under the standard plan. Any travel agency should be able to assist you in procuring travel/trip cancellation insurance. Most travel insurance companies require you to purchase travel/trip cancellation insurance within 14 days after submitting your Agreement and paying your non-refundable deposit. The preferred travel insurance carrier for ISV is Travel Guard (U.S. and Canada Only).

In addition to travel/trip cancellation insurance (see above), ISV also requires that all participants have medical insurance. Each participant must send a photocopy of proof of both travel/trip cancellation and medical insurance into the ISV office.  Proof of travel/trip cancellation and medical insurance is due into the ISV office at least 90 days prior to departure.

After your contract and deposit have been received by ISV, you can submit your project preferences through our Project Preference form. We make every attempt to accommodate participants; however, many factors influence the project placement ISV will give you. For example, spaces on projects are limited and some projects only operate on certain dates. If you are doing academic credit or independent study, you will need to be assigned to a specific project with other academic credit or independent study participants; if you are traveling with a friend, this will also affect your placement! In effect, we cannot guarantee placement on your most preferred projects.

Details regarding academic credit for the ISV Program are available on the academic credit page of the ISV website. Some students receive credit through independent study.

All lodging is included in the ISV Program cost. All the meals for the first 2 weeks Volunteer Project and about half the meals for the second 2 weeks Adventure Tour are included in the ISV Program cost.

Vegetarians must advise ISV in advance (on their application or by emailing the ISV office on or before 65 days prior to departure) if they wish to have vegetarian meals available to them during their Program. Participants with very strict dietary requirements may need to supplement meals with additional food at their own expense.

Friends are welcome to attend the ISV Program and can get an application online. Although the ISV Program is directed toward university participants, a person does not have to be a university student to be welcomed on an ISV Program. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, unless traveling as part of the high school program.

An orientation will be held in your host country upon arrival at your 2 Week Volunteer Project and prior to beginning your 2 Week Adventure Tour.

There are 5 "included" Adventure Tour activities included in the Program cost. The final Adventure Tour itinerary with these included activities will be in your ISV Participant Travel Manual which will be sent to you 30 days prior to your departure date. ISV reserves the right to change these activities without notice.

In addition to the 5 "included" activities in the Adventure Tour, ISV offers participants an exciting Optional Activity Package (OAP). These activities are more of the best in outdoor adventure and cultural appreciation opportunities. Each year about 95% of ISV participants choose to purchase the ISV Optional Activity Package as it adds great value to the overall experience. All activities in the OAP are organized by ISV staff prior to arrival. All participants have to do is show up and be ready to have a great time. Offered exclusively to ISV participants at a discounted price, you may reserve the OAP package by checking the indicated box on your ISV Flight/Options Form. If you have already submitted your Flight/Options Form, please send an email to the ISV office indicating your desire to purchase the OAP package.

Entry to South Africa requires Yellow Fever vaccinnation certification for anyone who has travelled to a country where Yellow Fever is endemic. If you are travelling on the Wild Africa excursion, you will need a Yellow Fever vaccination certification to fly to Zambia (and later return to South Africa), or a Doctor's letter exempting you from this vaccination. For more information, please consult your family doctor or travel clinic.

Have any questions about South Africa? This sectin will answer some of the most asked questions.