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Our very own Country Manager of Travelstart Nigeria, Philip Akesson, a Swedish National, assisted the Swedish Embassy and representatives from consulates of the Nordic countries in getting 175 stranded Nordic citizens home.
We chatted to Philip about his personal experience with repatriation flights. Here’s what he had to say:

Travelstart: What was your experience like?
Philip: I was asked to assist at the airport to ensure that each passenger had the necessary documentation and to check them in for their flight. Since the usual airport staff were not on duty, it was up to the countries’ consulates and airline crew to carry out these tasks.
This repatriation flight was a very successful collaboration between the Nordic countries. They all worked together to secure a chartered plane for their citizens and residents. Personally, it was a nice experience to be part of the collaboration and a great example of how countries can come together and solve challenges in difficult times!
Travelstart: Who is responsible for organising repatriation flights?
Philip: Repatriation flights are most often initiated by the home countries. To gauge the demand, embassies in the respective countries ask their citizens, as well as residents, to complete an online form if they’re interested in travelling back home. Government and embassy officials at home and abroad then work closely with the airlines and local authorities to gain the necessary approvals for a repatriation flight.
Travelstart: How does the process unfold?
Philip: The process can differ depending on the countries involved and the reason for why there is a demand for a repatriation flight in the first place. It’s also important to mention that repatriation flights are different from evacuation flights. For many repatriation flights during COVID-19, this is how the process has unfolded:
1. The embassy of the respective countries sends a notification to its citizens asking who’s interested in being repatriated.
2. Based on demand, the foreign ministry of the home country then contacts airlines and/or travel companies who can help facilitate a repatriation flight.
3. Once a flight has been scheduled, the travel date and other terms are communicated to the stranded citizens. Since there are often a limited number of seats available, certain groups such as the elderly or those with medical or other needs are often prioritized.
4. The local embassy seeks approval from the departing country for landing permits and ensures that any other requirements are met.
5. The embassies or travel companies involved typically send a link to book and pay to the prioritized passengers first. Remaining seats are then opened up to other travellers.
Travelstart: Is there a lot of paperwork to fill out?
Philip: Additional paperwork is often required. In the case of our current COVID-19 situation, the embassies typically help out with documents stating that you are scheduled on a repatriation flight. This makes it easier to clear police checkpoints and get to the airport. If possible, the embassies can assist in getting passengers to the airport.
At the check-in counter, you might need to show evidence of citizenship, residence permit, hotel reservations or proof of onward journey to your end

destination. The documents needed depend on the immigration requirements of the arrival country. For example, if you book a flight to London but your end destination is Germany, it’s important to confirm what immigration rules apply in the UK during COVID-19 to ensure that you will be allowed to board your flight to London.

Travelstart: How soon can you be repatriated after submitting an application?
Philip: There are many factors at play. The demand for a repatriation flight partly determines what options are commercially viable for the airlines and, also, how actively each country’s government initiates the repatriation. Additionally, these flights require permissions from the country of departure. All of this can take some time.
Travelstart: How much does a repatriation flight cost?
Philip: The price of the ticket varies greatly but I’ve heard that a common benchmark is around the normal price of Premium Economy. It’s important to note that the price the airline sets needs to be commercially viable which depends on a range of factors. These planes often fly without paying passengers one leg of the trip and during COVID-19 middle seats are often left empty. In addition, the cost of the crew may be higher than normal due to the increased risk.
Travelstart: Does travel insurance cover repatriation?
Philip: There is no standard answer as this depends completely on the insurance policy you have taken out. Given the global scale of this situation, many insurance companies may try to reduce their risk exposure.
Travelstart: Which type of aircraft or airlines offer repatriation services?
Philip: It’s important to remember that repatriation flights are paid for by the passengers and they need to be commercially viable for the airlines. The number of passengers, distance travelled, and other factors mentioned above determine which airlines can offer their services and which of their aircraft would be most suitable. Carriers ranging from the global giants to lesser-known charter airlines have carried out repatriation flights from and to South Africa.

Important information for passengers being repatriated home:
Before boarding a flight, all passengers are subjected to pre-flight screening and if they present COVID-19 symptoms, they will not be allowed to board.
Upon landing back in South Africa, passengers are subjected to onboard screening before they can disembark the plane, and are escorted to a quarantine facility where they will remain for 14 days.
Numerous airlines have been involved in repatriating fellow South Africans back home from countries like Australia, the USA, UK, Brazil, Egypt, Italy, Germany and the Maldives, to name a few. To date, over 600 South Africans have successfully been repatriated, with over 3,000 in different parts of the world still waiting to get home.
And there you have repatriation flights explained. Do you have any other questions regarding travel during COVID-19 or how to stay safe? Head on over to our Essential Travel page for all the latest information on what you need to book a domestic flight. V.3180

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- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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