Arriving in South Africa

South Africa is ready to host the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup – Ke Nako! The country is aiming to attract close to a million visitors for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. For the 2009 FCC it is expected 95% of spectators is made up of South Africans.

Almost 5.5-million foreign tourists visited South Africa in 2008; a 7.8% increase over the 5.1-million foreigners who visited the country in 2007. South Africa is a growing top tourism destination.

All that is required for tourists to enter the country is a valid visa, a passport and your air-flight ticket. Don’t forget to purchase your entry ticket to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in order to be admitted into the stadium and enjoy your chosen football (Soccer is a South African term) match. The official South African currency is the ‘Rand’ and the country’s main vendors accept all major foreign currencies and credit cards. Banks and foreign exchange will exchange foreign currencies into Rands on production of your passport and visa.

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (the Department which controls traveller entry into South Africa) is issuing special "event visas" for soccer fans coming to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup, enabling fans to use dedicated counters at major airports around the world for pre-clearance before they travel to South Africa. This is the first time that such a visa is being used for a major world event.

Home Affairs stipulates that certain minimum requirements have to be met when issuing this special event visa: You need proof of purchase of your ticket for the match and must meet certain health requirement, and you need a return ticket and a valid passport.

Those passengers who have received pre-clearance by South African immigration officials will be able to arrive in South Africa and proceed straight to baggage collection and on to customs.

Visitors to the country can enjoy their stay at a wide range of accommodation facilities ranging from 7-star hotels such as the newly opened ‘One And Only’ in Cape Town, the internationally-renowned Sun City near Rustenburg, there are also many game lodges, regular hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast facilities around in and around the Confederation Cup venues.

To ensure the safety of all visitors and spectators for the event South Africa has invested heavily to ensure state of the art safety and security equipment, systems and manpower which will be deployed at all venues.
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