Britain / United Kingdom
About
| Although it is relatively small size, the United Kingdom is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, peopled by four main ‘native’ nationalities, plus later arrivals from all over the world. The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK is also a geographically diverse country, with such landscapes as the rolling moors of Yorkshire, the lakes and mountains of the Lake District and Scotland, and the ancient forests of Nottinghamshire or the stunning beaches of Wales. All this, as well as genteel villages with chocolate-box cottages or vibrant cities at the forefront of modernity, means the UK has something to offer everyone. Visit London's huge range of museums, historic houses, churches and galleries, or spend time in its vast choice of shops and markets. Visit the crown jewels in the Tower of London, an essential part of London life for almost a thousand years and still standing. From Big Ben to Canterbury Cathedral, Eton College to the universities of Cambridge & Oxford, Wembley Stadium to Lord’s Cricket Ground, Stonehenge to Tower Bridge, the list goes on... |
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| Official Name: | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| Union of: | England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| Capital: | London (LON) |
| Currency: | British Pound (GBP), also known as Pound Sterling. Scottish Pounds are also widely accepted. |
| Language: | English, Welsh, Gaelic, Scots. |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 44 |
| Time Zones: | No UTC / GMT offset (2 hours behind South Africa) |
| Daylight Savings Time: | From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October: UTC / GMT +1 (1 hour behind South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Left |
| Best Time to Go: | Year-Round. Winters are chilly and can be rainy, but hotel rates are better during the off season (November – March, excluding Christmas and New Year). July and August are peak seasons. |
| Best for: | Architecture through the Ages, Royal Attractions, National Parks |
| Plugs: | 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are standard |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. Bottled water is widely available. |
| Health: | There are adequate and well-equipped medical facilities, however visitors are required to pay for these services. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. If you would like to bring medication on your travels, it is best to bring it in the original packaging, with a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing exactly what it is and why you need it. If you require medication on your travels, you should bring a doctors certificate. |
| Customs: | The local etiquette on escalators is: stand on the right, walk on the left. This is strictly followed. Politeness, humour and irony are part of British communication – it is therefore important to “read between the lines”. Avoid insulting the monarchy. Some clubs and restaurants may have a dress code. |
| Local Offences / Laws: | Smoking is banned in public areas. |
| Travel Tips / Warnings: | Avoid political protests, particularly in Northern Ireland. If visiting Northern Ireland, check the local political situation. |
| Duty Free: | Goods obtained duty and tax paid in the EU are unlimited, as long as tax was paid in the country and they are for your own use. If you bring in more than the following, customs officials are more likely to ask the reason for holding the goods: • 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco. • 90L of still wine. • 110L of beer. • 10L of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 20L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs. If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into the UK by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco. These can be combined provided travellers do not exceed their total tobacco allowance. • 4L of still wine. • 1L of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 2L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs. These can be combined provided travellers do not exceed their total alcohol allowance. • 16L of beer. • Other goods including souvenirs up to the value of £390 (or £270 if arriving by private plane or boat). The Channel Islands and Gibraltar are treated as being outside of the EU for duty-free purposes. |
| Prohibited Imports: | Prohibited items include unlicensed drugs, offensive weapons, indecent and obscene material, counterfeit and pirated goods, and meat, dairy and other animal products from outside the EEA. Restricted items include firearms, explosives and ammunition, live animals, endangered species, certain plants and their produce, certain fur skins, rough diamonds, and radio transmitters. |
Issuing Authorities
British Consulate General Cape Town
15th Floor, Norton Rose House, 8 Riebeek Street, Foreshore, 8000
Visits by appointment only.
British High Commission, Pretoria
255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0002
Visits by appointment only.
Tel: 021 405 2400 / 012 421 7500
Web: www.gov.uk/world/south-africa/news
Visa Information: www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1; Apr 18; May 5, 26; Dec 25-26
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1; Apr 3; May 4, 25; Dec 25-26, 28
Visa Requirements
South African passport holders require a visa in order to visit or transit the United Kingdom.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Apply online at www.gov.uk/standard-visitor
- Fill out an online application form, pay the visa fee and book your appointment at a Visa Application Centre
- If you’re applying with family members, each person must have their own application and pay the fee. They need to attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.
- Receive a unique GWF Number.
2. Book your appointment through VFS Global to submit biometrics and any additional documents (if applicable). You will need to bring your passport. NOTE: You must attend your appointment in person, however you can arrange for your passport / documents to be collected via a courier after the visa has been processed.
REQUIREMENTS
If you are intending to visit the UK you will need to show that you are a genuine visitor who is coming to the UK to undertake a permitted activity, that you will leave at the end of your visit and that you have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit.
Documents may be submitted online via your application portal, or at the visa application centre.
- Valid passport with 1 blank page
- Completed visa application form
- Proof of residency (if applicable)
- Proof of employment
- Proof of sufficient funds / sponsor
- Additional documents which provide evidence that you are a genuine visitor, and have intentions to return after your stay.
- If you are staying for longer than 6 months, you will need a TB X-ray and may have to pay a medical surcharge.
BIOMETRICS
You will need to submit your biometrics at your closest VFS Global branch. Appointments to be made online.
Web: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/zaf/en/gbr/
Hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00
Cape Town: No 2 Long Street ,9th Floor, Cape Town
Durban: 309 Umhlanga Rocks Drive Summerset Park
Joburg: 3rd, Cnr Rivonia Boulevard and Mutual Road, Rivonia Village. Sandton
Port Elizabeth: Greyville House, Greyville Road, Newtown Park, Port Elizabeth
Pretoria: The Podium at Menlyn 4th Floor, 43 Ingersol Road, Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria
Visa Processing Time
Usually 15 days. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Visa Validity
6 months.
Visa Cost
Standard Visitor visa £115
SA Representative
South African High Commission
South Africa House, 9 Duncannon Street, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP
Tel: +44 20 451 7299
E-mail: london.sahc@dirco.gov.za
Web: dirco.gov.za/uk/
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | None |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Polio |
