One way flights

[Karment]

I live in Perth but was born in South Africa. Unfortunately I need to travel back to South Africa as my dad is dying but we are unsure as to how long he has. I don’t want to book a return flight as I need to stay with him until he has passed- does anyone know if this will be an issue when I leave Perth or arrive in South Africa? Although I was born in South Africa I no longer have a valid SA passport, only an Australian!

 

[avstand]

You won’t have a problem. Check smarttraveller etc but the last time I arrived in SA with no onward plan (I wanted to cross overland into Zim but hadn’t workes out the logistics) it was no issue - they will just give you the max visa term.

I’m sorry about your dad. Godspeed. And at least this is one less thing to worry about.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I live in Perth but was born in South Africa. Unfortunately I need to travel back to South Africa as my dad is dying but we are unsure as to how long he has. I don’t want to book a return flight as I need to stay with him until he has passed- does anyone know if this will be an issue when I leave Perth or arrive in South Africa? Although I was born in South Africa I no longer have a valid SA passport, only an Australian!

Here is the extract from TIMATIC, the international data base which is used by check-in staff to determine if they will allow you to board:

Visa Requirements​

Passengers must have a valid visa issued by South Africa.

Exemptions for Nationals​

Nationals of Australia do not need a visa for a maximum of 90 days. They can apply to extend their stay for an additional 90 days upon arrival. They must apply at least 60 days before their visa exempt period.

Visa Information​

Passengers with a visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs Head Office in South Africa must have proof that they were in South Africa at the time of issuance. Visa labels starting with control numbers B0028 and B0029 are fraudulent and will not be accepted.

Visas in an expired passport are accepted if the passenger has a new passport.

Return/Onward Ticket Information​

Visitors without a return/onward ticket could be refused entry. They must prove that they have sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket or to depart using another mode of transport.
- This does not apply to passengers with a visa valid for longer than 12 months and without an endorsement on the visa to have a return ticket.

Dual Nationals Information​

Nationals of South Africa with dual nationality must enter and depart South Africa using their South African passport.

Malaria Information​

Risk areas: in the low altitude areas of Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga Province, including the Kruger National Park, and north-eastern Kwazulu Natal.
Risk months: whole year. Risk is highest from October to May.
Due to: P. falciparum.
Recommended prevention: atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine chemoprophylaxis.

You ‘may’ be refused entry into South Africa is the key…

Once you get to South Africa you could show that you have sufficient funds etc to purchase an onward ticket, and may be allowed in. But check-in staff elsewhere in the world may not want to take that risk. If you get refused entry they will be liable for fines and have to bring you back.

I would say it’s safer to have some sort of onward ticket… maybe even somewhere close by? or a one year ticket, or an award ticket back to australia that you can easily cancel?

Then once in SA you can apply for an extension of the 90 days.

It ‘may’ be ok, as per avstand’s post, but then again, if the check-in agent is following TIMATIC, you could also easily be refused boarding.

 

[Haplo]

All of the US airline have no award cancellation fee, so you could book any flight out of SA and then cancel later for free.

 

[offshore171]

You could book a flex fare, with the return date set to say +3 months as a placeholder. Then if you need to come back earlier or later, just ring up and adjust the return date as required.