GoEswatini Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1、 Visa Notice

Chinese citizens must apply for visas to visit Eswatini. You can apply at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in a country with diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka (such as South Africa). The applicant must provide a valid passport (the remaining period of validity is more than 6 months), a recent photo, a copy of the passport information page and a copy of South Africa residence or visa, a completed visa application form and attach a letter briefly explaining the purpose of the visit, a letter of invitation from Eswatini, travel and accommodation arrangements, capital certificates (bank statements for the past 3 months) and other materials required for various visa applications, and pay visa fees. Please refer to: https://swazihighcom.co.za/index.php/visa-information/ .

2、 Entry Tips

From land to Eswatini, most visitors need to transit through South Africa. South Africa requires at least two blank visa pages on passports for entry and exit stamps, otherwise entry may be denied or even deported.

If you drive to Eswatini, an entry fee of 100 rand will be charged for each foreign licensed car at the border port. Due to the lack of ATMs or credit card machines at border ports, sufficient cash must be prepared.

Please visit the website of the Embassy of Eswatini in South Africa to learn more about the specific requirements for entering Eswatini: http://swazihighcom.co.za/ .

Customs epidemic prevention and control

When people from yellow fever endemic areas (some countries in Africa or South America) enter Eswatini, they must provide an effective yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Residency and Naturalization

1、 Alien residence policy and related procedures

If you need to stay in Eswatini for more than 60 days, you must apply to the Ministry of the Interior of Swaziland for a temporary residence permit.

2、 Common contact information

Eswatini government website: https://www.gov.sz/

Eswatini Ministry of the Interior website and contact number: https://www.gov.sz/index.php/ministries-departments/ministry-of-home-affairs +268 2404 2941 +268 2404 5880/2

The risk level of Eswatini is orange (high risk).                                     

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded Chinese citizens to travel to Eswatini cautiously in the near future. The local personnel and institutions have closely followed the development of the situation, maintained high vigilance, strengthened security precautions and emergency preparedness, and ensured personal and property safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

The social security situation in Eswatini is generally good.

natural disaster

Eswatini has not suffered major natural disasters so far. Occasional natural disasters such as flooding and hail.

FDA

Eswatini's regular hotels and restaurants are in good sanitary condition, and the food can be eaten with confidence.

Urgent Help

Emergency hotline: 00268-404-8911

Fire emergency hotline: 00268-404-3333 or 933

Alarm hotline: 999

air traffic

China has no direct flights to and from Eswatini, so it needs to transit through South Africa and other countries before flying to Eswatini.

Eswatini Airlines (Eswatini Airlink) is the only airline in Swaziland, which is jointly funded by the Slovak government and SA Airlink Airlines, a subsidiary of South African Airways.

King Mswati III International Airport is located near Manzini, about an hour's drive from the capital Mbabane, and has regular flights to and from Johannesburg, South Africa. There are taxis providing services for visiting guests.

land transport

Domestic transportation is mainly based on road transportation. The total length of the highway is 3800 kilometers, of which about 1500 kilometers are asphalt roads, and the rest are regional roads such as dirt roads or stone roads. There are national highways connecting with neighboring countries South Africa and Mozambique.

The railway has a total length of 370 kilometers and is connected to railways in Mozambique and South Africa. Railway freight is the main mode of transportation for trade within Sri Lanka and with neighboring countries.

water communication

Sri Lanka is an inland country with underdeveloped waterway transportation.

Urban transportation

There are buses, taxis, minibuses, buses and other means of transport in major cities of Eswatini, and the public transport network is relatively sound. The vehicle is driving on the left.

major city

Mbabane is the capital of Eswatini, with a population of about 100000. Located in the central part of the West Peled Nature Reserve, at an altitude of 1800 meters, with dense forests, moderate rainfall, and a mild climate, it is a mountain city that feels like spring all year round. The hottest temperature in January and February is 15-25 ℃; The coldest temperature in June is 5-19 ℃. January is the wettest month with an average monthly precipitation of 252 millimeters; The driest month is June, with an average monthly precipitation of 18 millimeters.

The earliest residents of the city were the Swazi people belonging to the Bantu language family. In the 1870s, gold mines were discovered in Eswatini, and the Dutch first came in. The British gained colonial control over Eswatini in 1902. Since then, Mbabane has become the administrative center of the British ruling the country. Mbabane is the industrial center of Eswatini, with textile, leather processing, fruit processing, pulp processing and other enterprises. Eswatini has 200000 hectares of forests, of which 80% are in the natural area where Mbabane is located, providing rich raw materials for pulp production. The pulp factory has an annual output of 160000 tons and generates 20% of the country's foreign exchange earnings annually. Mbabane produces 300000 tons of sucrose and syrup annually, which account for about 1/2 of the country's total export value. Mbabane has developed commerce and is an important distribution center for livestock, leather, and corn in the country.

Manzini is a city in central Eswatini with a population of about 80000. Located 30 kilometers southeast of Mbabane, it has a subtropical climate. Built in 1890, it was once a colonial stronghold. Manzini has small food processing, cotton ginning, fertilizer, slaughtering, clothing, plastic products, pharmaceuticals, radio and television assembly plants, and the satellite town of Machapa 6 kilometers to the west, forming the industrial center of Eswatini. Highways and railways connect Mbabane and neighboring Mozambique, with an airport nearby.

Commodity prices

The main crops in Eswatini include sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, lemon, pineapple, peanut, etc. Prices are slightly higher than within China.

The monetary unit of Eswatini is Lilangeni (E), 1E=100 cents. Lilangeni banknotes come in denominations of 200E, 100E, 50E, 20E, and 10E, while coins come in denominations of 5E, 2E, 1E, and so on.

Lilangeni is equivalent to South African rand, which can be directly used in Eswatini (in January 2025, the exchange rate of US dollar to rand is about 1:18.7).

Both cash and bank cards (with VISA and MASTERCARD logos, UnionPay logo cards cannot be used temporarily) can be used for shopping in Sri Lanka. ATMs are available at Standard Bank in Swazi Mall in the capital city of Mbappe, as well as at the Royal Swazi Hotel casino.

Major banks in Swaziland include First National Bank, Standard Bank and Nedbank in South Africa and Eswatini Bank in Eswatini.

Bank working hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.

Insurance Medical

The local medical conditions are average, it is recommended to bring your own commonly used medicines. There are several relatively well-equipped private clinics in Mbabane city that can handle common illnesses. In case of serious circumstances, it is recommended to seek treatment at a hospital in South Africa.

In lowland grassland areas, one may be infected with malaria and should pay attention to mosquito prevention or take antimalarial drugs in advance. It is recommended to purchase appropriate medical insurance before traveling, so that international rescue can be obtained in case of accidents.

Customs taboos

1、 Major holidays

2025 Holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday (Friday before Easter), Monday after Easter (Monday after Easter), King Mswati III's birthday (April 19), Flag Day (April 25), Labor Day (May 1), Ascension Day (Thursday in May or June, 40 days after Easter), Old King's birthday (July 22), Umhlanga Festival (Reed Dance Festival, September 4), Independence Day (September 6), Christmas Day (December 25), Rites Festival (December 26), Incwala Festival (Tasting Ceremony, December 12) From the last week of the month to the first week of January, the specific time is subject to official announcement.

2、 Customs and special etiquette

The staple food of Eswatini is corn and millet. There is a shortage of meat supply. The traditional diet of the tribe includes leafy vegetables, plant roots, and fruits. Some tribes prohibit the consumption of fish, women abstain from eggs, married women abstain from dairy products, and some tribes abstain from birds and wild animals.

Eswatini has a very unique cultural tradition. The annual reed dance performance attracts tourists from all over the world. Thousands of Eswatini girls from all over the country participated in the ceremony, holding reeds, singing and dancing, and enjoying the carnival, which lasted about 8 days. This festival is not only a grand occasion to celebrate the adulthood and chastity of young girls, but also a cultural event in Eswatini, and also the annual imperial election ceremony of King Mswati III.

Communications Power

1、 Network communication

Internet services in Eswatini started late, and the network speed is still slow at present.

The telecommunications industry is relatively developed, and its satellite communication system can directly communicate with Europe and North America. In 1994, there were 17500 telephone exchanges. The digital mobile communication telephone network was launched in 1997, and China roaming mobile phones can be used in Eswatini.

Domestic call to Eswatini: 00268+area code (0 before the area code is not added)+phone number

Domestic calls to Eswatini: 00268+phone number (0 before phone number is not added)

Eswatini dial domestic landline: 0086+area code (0 before the area code is not added)+phone number, for example, call Beijing landline 00861012345678

Eswatini dial domestic mobile phone: 0086+mobile phone number

2、 Plug standard

Most plugs are large three hole round sockets, and using Chinese standard plugs for electrical appliances requires a conversion plug.

3、 Standard voltage

The standard voltage is 230 volts.

contact information