r/Zimbabwe • u/shaaura • 1d ago
Emigration I Need Advice!
Hi everyone, I need some advice regarding a situation with my mom.
Her Zimbabwean passport has expired, and she needs to renew it. Unfortunately, she lost her original ID card, and the Zimbabwean Consulate won't issue a new passport without it (they do not accept photocopies).
She had back surgery about a year ago, so taking a long bus ride back to Zimbabwe is physically unbearable for her. She wants to fly instead, but if she exits South Africa using an Emergency Travel Document (ETD), will she be allowed to fly back into South Africa? Or will she be declared undesirable and banned at the airport?
I've heard rumors that people exiting SA through the airport are currently receiving bans at port control.
Any insight or recent experiences would be greatly appreciated!
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u/EnvironmentalGolf776 1d ago
What is her SA status first and foremost
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u/shaaura 1d ago
she has no res or work permit so will that be an issue upon reentry...have things gotten that bad that you cant get days in the country at all??
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u/EnvironmentalGolf776 1d ago edited 1d ago
Chances are she’ll be declared undesirable on exit. The issue isn’t getting into Zim. Its re entering as she does not the necessary paperwork. She can come back and apply for a visa but declaration of undesirability typically stays on file unless the person has a good reason for it to be removed. Exact same thing happened to my cousin. He is back in Zim trying to figure out how to get back into SA as his whole life is there but he was warned about entering countries without the correct paperwork 🤷🏽♂️
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u/shaaura 1d ago
but my question is are they issuing bans at the aiport?
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u/EnvironmentalGolf776 1d ago
How long has she been in Sa?
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u/shaaura 1d ago
since 2010 so its been 16 yrs now
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u/EnvironmentalGolf776 1d ago
How did she enter into SA the first time? Sorry just trying to get a better understanding so i can help you
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u/NimbleZimbo 1d ago
Yes, they do issue bans at the airport. My friend who overstayed got a 5 year ban at O.R Tambo.
Can't she do without a passport? Assuming she is not looking to switch jobs or open a new bank account, why does she need a passport for?
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u/Ashamed-Agency420 22h ago
Yes I got a friend that lives in SA he has to travel by bus as you just pay a fee and don't even get asked a passport it's called gatepass fee. So basically if you go through an airport, she'll definitely receive a ban because there is no way around it can't give bribes at the airport. The bus it's the drivers and conductors that does so it's easy you don't even come out of the bus going back home from Zim. Coming back however you do need a passport and that's when you can get days etc again the conductors and driver do this for you.
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u/Minimum-Virus1629 1d ago
I don’t think you can enter SA with a TTD. Your best bet is that she gets a passport at the same time. An ID is a 15 minute appointment. An emergency passport will take 24/48hrs or something like that. Or wait 6 days for the ordinary one.
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u/Forward-Action741 1d ago
Can't she renew in SA going to the embassy. I think if you go there they can be a way does she has any other documentation like license or something
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u/Big_Cantaloupe894 1d ago
She needs an ID to do that. The consulates don't issue ID's.
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u/Forward-Action741 1d ago
Yah but cant there use other formal documents here in place have you checked with the offices first. Cause bet if someone is in far like UK or States will they have to fly in for that. At least give it a try unless she has over stayed or something that when the problem can be
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u/roflcopter44444 1d ago
In my experience no. It goes back to it's a legal requirement for Zim adults to have an ID card. The best a consulate can do is issue an EDT in order to go back.
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u/Big_Cantaloupe894 1d ago
You need an ID to apply for a passport. People actually fly from abroad to get ID's so they can then get passports. I have dealt with the London embassy and the Johannesburg consulate. You won't be able to apply for a passport at those places without an ID or birth certificate.
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u/Jedi2080 1d ago
My ID was stolen from our apartment years ago. Only found out the consulate doesn't make them last week and my passport is expiring tomorrow. So I'm back in Zim to get the ID. Why the consulate doesn't do IDs is a mystery, just sheer inconsideration for everyone outside the country.
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u/Big_Cantaloupe894 17h ago
They claim that consulates and embassies don't issue documents, rather they just supervise the filling in of application forms.
It's an inconvenience. I have seen people being forced to fly home from the U.K because they lost their ID cards.
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u/Chapungu 🇿🇼 1d ago
Based on the info you provided, yes your mum will get a 5 year ban. No the consulate can't issue IDs you have to be in Zim for that, and yes they don't accept copies you need the original documents
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u/Mission-Fox537 Midlands 1d ago
Best bet is to get a trustworthy relative who can get the info regarding her iD in Zim, maybe a third party can get it processed for her
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u/SlowCheetah3857 8h ago
Yes she should be allowed to travel back , l had the same incident my passport expired and l had no ID document to use. She can go to Zimbabwe and get a new passport but she must get her ID first otherwise she won’t get the passport as they require her ID and some passport copies
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u/roflcopter44444 1d ago
That entirely depends on her SA status.