Office hours for consular, immigration and civic Services
     Monday to Thursday:
     08:30-12:30 & 14h00-16:00
     Friday:
     08:30-12:00
     Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed

Office hours for consular, Immigration and Civic Services
     Monday to Thursday
     08:30-12:30 & 14h00-16:00
     Friday:
     08:30-12:00
     Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed

• After hours services are only rendered in the event of an emergency and exclude any enquiries of a general nature. Emergency consular services can be described as services rendered to South African nationals who are distressed, destitute, seriously injured, and assistance rendered to the next-of-kin in case of death or involved in natural/man-made disasters.
• In the event of an emergency, communicating, on behalf of South African nationals abroad, with the next of kin and/or friends in South Africa.
• Please note that services and assistance rendered are of a non-financial nature and is free of charge, unless otherwise       All costs involved will be for the account of the       client (e.g. hospital bills, flight tickets, accommodation, repatriation, legal fees etc.). The South African Embassy and DIRCO will take no responsibility for costs incurred by the clients
• Consular Legalisation Services are rendered to South African nationals requiring South African Commissioner of Oath. These services are rendered to provide legal validity to South African official public documents to enable a person to use the documents outside South Africa and in South Africa. The Legalisation Section service hours are strictly from 08:30 – 12:30 (Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays). Telephone enquiries are dealt with during public hours (08:00 – 12:30). It is however recommended that enquiries be submitted via e-mail due to the complexity of the services rendered as well as it is not always possible to deal with telephonic enquiries while serving the public during public hours.
• Logistical support and non-financial assistance is provided to South African nationals who are in hospital abroad or who may need to be repatriated to South Africa for urgent medical or professional attention.
• Communication with the next-of-kin in the event of reported death or life-threatening illness or injury. Logistical assistance is also provided with the importation of mortal remains (including import permit applications) or burials of South African nationals abroad. DIRCO does not provide financial assistance arising from the death of a South African national abroad.
• Provide guidance to next-of-kin and liaison with relevant stakeholders in the search for missing persons abroad and/or determination of the whereabouts of South African nationals abroad under certain circumstances.
• Assistance to families under certain circumstances in facilitating the transfer of funds to family members in distress/destitute abroad where commercial means are non-existent or limited or where levels of destitution dictate.
• Guidance to a custodial parent/guardian in matters of child abduction or child stealing in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Family Advocate through DIRCO where required, in cases of abduction of South African children to foreign countries. Where there is evidence that the health and safety of the child is in jeopardy, the matter is treated as an emergency. The Embassy of South Africa and DIRCO is not in a position to guarantee the return of the child.
• Abduction and kidnapping cover forcible restrictions on the freedom of movement of persons for different outcomes. All instances of kidnapping outside of South Africa should be reported to the South African Embassy immediately. We provide guidance to the next-of-kin of affected nationals.

ASSISTANCE TO SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS IN DETENTION

• Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963)”, which is the accepted standard for all member countries, persons who have been arrested outside their own country must be given access to their Consular Representative. South Africans in this situation must immediately request the authorities to allow them to contact the South African Embassy in Niamey. Alternatively, somebody can contact the South African Embassy in Niamey or DIRCO on their behalf.

WHAT CONSULAR OFFICERS AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY CAN DO FOR SOUTH AFRICANS DETAINED /ARRESTED ABROAD.

• The SA Embassy will provide general information about the legal system of the country of arrest where available.
• The Embassy will provide, there are, however, certain circumstances where prison visits cannot be undertaken which is outside the control of the South African Embassy.
• Contact the next-of-kin, family or friends through DIRCO only if authorised to do so by the detainee/ prisoner in writing.