Adventurous travellers may wish to visit Eswatini, since the country offers a rich tapestry of experiences. The country is one of the few remaining African monarchies. Its history and heritage is deeply engrained in all aspects of life.
Everyone who visits the country, leaves with an unforgettable experience of experiencing the real Africa. The people of Eswatini formally known as Swaziland, make all visitors feel welcome and extremely safe.
The country has an amazing picturesque scenery of majestic mountains, valleys, forests and savanna plains. The country has wildlife reserves which are home to The Big Five.
The country also offers a unique cultural experience by mixing modern and traditional festivals, ceremonies and events.
Those wanting to experience an African safari can track down rhinos in the wild or seek out rare birds. If you are a history buff, you can visit the world’s oldest known mine or follow the colonial trail of the early settlers.
Happenings ranging from horse riding and river rafting to golf and thermal spas offer excitement and relaxation in equal measure, Eswatini is friendly, safe and so accessible, that getting lost is virtually impossible as nearly all roads lead to the capital.
This information piece tells you more about what you need to know about entry requirements, and more specific visa requirements for visiting Eswatini.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your planned visit, in particular if you are travelling with minors or from a country where Yellow Fever may prevail.
Visa requirements are governed by Eswatini and are subject to change without prior notice. Rather check the country’s official website or enquire from a reputable travelling agency or tour operator like MoAfrika Tours what the latest updates or changes to the requirements for such a visa application may be.
WHAT IS A VISA?
Travelling outside of your home country can be an exciting, even life-changing, experience filled with new sights, insights, adventures and tastes. Before you jet off anywhere, you will need to obtain the necessary travel documents, namely a passport and a visa, in some cases.
As both are necessary for travelling to many countries, it is easy to get the two confused. They are very different though, two completely distinct documents, one certifying your citizenship of a certain country and the other granting you permission to enter a foreign country like Eswatini.
A visa can be issued to international travellers visiting Eswatini for a short stay on a temporary basis for the purpose of tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.
A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period as specified in your visa. Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING ESWATINI
A full passport valid for at least three months is required for entry into Eswatini. For tourist visits, visas are not required by citizens of most Commonwealth countries, the USA, Japan, most European Union countries and certain other countries.
A visa is authorised and issued upon application by a representative of a country’s embassy, mission or consulate after it has been determined that the applicant is eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
Visitors who hold passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Eswatini. Instead, they will be issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of time relevant to the status of the visitor’s country.
COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS
The governments of African countries allow citizens of specific countries and territories to travel to that country for tourism, visiting friends and relatives as well as official purposes for a certain period with an ordinary, diplomatic or service passport without having to obtain a visa.
All those visitors should however hold a passport valid for six months. In the case of Eswatini nationals holding passports from the following countries are exempted from obtaining a visa:
European Union All European Union citizens (except Bulgaria and Romania), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Dominica, East Timor, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS
Visas can be issued as Transit Visas, normal tourist visas or work and/or business visas. The following is a short description, clarifying the difference between these kinds of visas:
A transit visa is a document showing that a traveller has permission to pass through Eswatini but not to stay there. Transit visas often come up when a traveller’s itinerary includes a layover in a certain country on the way to their final destination.
The traveller often won’t leave the airport, but still needs permission to be there during the layover.
Visa rules are complex and may vary due to factors including the country you’re visiting, which country you’re a citizen of and how long you will spend in transit in a country.
For example, if a layover is less than 24 hours, and the traveller never leaves the airport, a transit visa may not be needed in some countries while others still require it.
A basic rule of thumb is that if the country you’re traveling through does not require citizens of your country to have a visa to visit for a longer period, it won’t require you to have a visa to transit through.
However, if the country you’re traveling through does require citizens of your country to have a visa to visit for a longer period, it may or may not require you to obtain a visa to transit through. While some countries allow you to obtain a visa upon arrival, others require that you apply for and receive the visa before you arrive in the country.
Tourist or travel visas allow the bearer to enter Eswatini for touristic and leisure purposes only and stay for a predetermined amount of time. These visas do not entitle the holder to work or engage in any business activities in Eswatini.
A business visa generally permits a traveller to engage in normal business-related activities in Eswatini.
Business visas are usually harder to get since you will need an official business letter of invitation from your foreign business partner or from a professional organisation.
On a business visa you can attend business conferences, conventions, meetings, and other business-related events. You will also be allowed to negotiate contracts, do trade, and carry out business purchases.
You may even be allowed to interview and hire staff during your stay while on a business visa. Business visas are in general also more expensive.
The Kingdom of Eswatini visa is only used for tourists, volunteers, interns and business visitors.
HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING ESWATINI
The Kingdom of Eswatini entry visa applications are dealt with directly at the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters or alternatively at the country’s missions and representative offices.
Following the current piloting of the e-visa issuance in the Kingdom of Eswatini the issuance of visa upon arrival should be suspended as it clearly does not conform with the provisions of the visa issuance system provided by the Government Terminal System.
It is proposed that all people intending to enter the country visas would be issued and affixed to a passport before departing on a journey to the Kingdom of Eswatini.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR A VISA TO VISIT ESWATINI
To obtain a visa, your passports must contain at least two unused pages for entry/departure endorsements (sometimes referred to as visa page). Further to that, you will also need the following:
The department of immigration/ foreign mission representative or representative requires the original passport but will accept applications by third parties such as travel agents, immigration practitioners or courier services.
COST OF AN ESWATINI VISA
A single-entry visa cost around E80, and a multiple-entry visa will cost E300 (for three months), E700 (for six months), E1,000 (for nine months) or E1,300 (for 12 months).
VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING ESWATINI
The World Health Organisation recommends the following vaccinations for Swaziland: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is often required for a foreign visitor who is travelling from or transiting through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Eswatini. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Eswatini within the 10-day waiting period
Ways to avoid getting mosquito bites during your visit:
There is a risk of malaria throughout the year in the whole country. Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no vaccine against malaria.
Malaria is the leading cause of death in Eswatini. It is a life-threatening disease. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.
Symptoms can be flu-like or cause shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe. Also, a high fever, profuse sweating, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle pain and bloody stools.
Ensure that you take anti-malaria medication before and for the duration of your trip. Make sure you have enough medication for your whole journey.
Travelers going to Eswatini should take steps to avoid mosquito bites.
OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING ESWATINI
Avoid any actions or words that are considered offensive or insulting to the king or the royal family. This is illegal and may result in criminal prosecution and lengthy prison sentences.
VISITING ESWATINI WITH MINORS
Minors travelling to Eswatini should adhere to the following:
If the child is only travelling with one parent, a letter of consent or affidavit from the other parent consenting to such travel is required.
If the child is traveling alone then a letter of consent or affidavit from both parents consenting to such travel is required.
WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN ESWATINI
Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from Eswatini for a period, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering Eswatini for a prescribed period of time.
Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.
ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN ESWATINI WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR
MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Eswatini. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Eswatini who make safety a priority.