Svalbard and Jan Mayen visa requirements for South Africans

Travel and visa requirements

Norwegian Visa is not required for South Africans

Stay Duration: 360 days

Entry Requirements

  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen tourist visa is not required for Citizens of South Africa for an indefinite stay even for a lifetime.
  • Visitors are required to possess passports valid for the duration of stay.
  • Visitors are not required to pay any entry or departure tax.
  • Svalbard operates an Open border Policy to allow anybody into its territory without going through strict travel procedures.
  • Direct flight is available from Johannesburg to Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
  • Average summer temperatures on Svalbard range from 3 to 7 °C  in July, and winter temperatures from −13 to −20 °C  in January.
  • Svalbard uses the Central European Summer Time (GMT +2), hence, there is no time difference between South Africa and Svalbard.
  • Visitors are required to carry stun and tranquiler guns so as to frighten and chase off polar bears according to the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act.
  • Renting could be expensive in the country, in general, the housing and living expenses in Svalbard are among the highest in the world.
  • Svalbard’s transportation system is made up of ports and bus networks.
  • On Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, the power plugs and sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
  • The official language of Svalbard is Norwegian which is widely spoken by its citizens.
  • The primary religion practiced by a vast majority of the Svalbard’s population is Christianity.
  • Polar bears are the main tourist attraction for Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Svalbard habitable??

About 2000 people are living in Longyearbyen (in Svalbard), most of which are Northern Norwegians, and the rest are foreigners from all over the world.

Do I need a visa to visit Svalbard?

Foreign citizens do not need a visa or a work or residence permit from Norwegian authorities in order to settle in Svalbard.

Does Svalbard have internet connection?

GSM/3G phones work in the main towns of Svalbard. The Internet connection in Svalbard is top class, courtesy of NASA renting bulk capacity on undersea fibre optic cables running at seabed to mainland Norway for its experiments and Longyearbyen has several public Internet terminals.

What do one wear in Svalbard?

You will need windproof outerwear, several layers of wool and/or fleece, wear warm winter boots (with space for two pairs of wool socks) and to keep your hands, face and head warm with warm and windproof mittens/gloves, a balaclava and a warm, windproof hat.

Are there mosquitoes in Svalbard?

In certain localities, mosquitoes are found in large numbers. You should get mosquito nets and insecticides for your protection when visiting.