A Swiss couple’s honeymoon was abruptly cut short on 30 October 2025 when South African immigration officials refused entry to the groom at Cape Town International Airport because his Swiss travel document indicated ‘refugee’ status.
According to local media, Serhat Cirahan and his wife Bahar had travelled from Namibia to South Africa for the second leg of their post-wedding trip. Although the couple both hold valid Swiss residence permits, border officers cited South Africa’s stricter rules for refugee travel documents and placed Mr Cirahan in an overnight holding facility. The pair were forced to abandon their Cape Town plans and book last-minute flights back to Zurich at their own expense.
South Africa allows visa-free entry to holders of ordinary Swiss passports for stays of up to 90 days, but travellers with Swiss-issued refugee documents must obtain a visa in advance—a distinction that many dual-status residents and travel agents overlook. Immigration lawyers in Johannesburg noted a recent rise in such cases as post-pandemic travel picks up and authorities tighten document checks.
For multinational employers, the incident underscores the importance of verifying the exact type of travel document an employee or dependent carries, not just the country of issuance. Travellers holding Swiss refugee or subsidiary-protection passports should apply for the appropriate visa well ahead of trips outside the Schengen Area, and carry evidence of onward travel and accommodation to avoid detention or deportation.
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) said it is providing consular assistance and has updated its travel advisory to remind refugee-document holders of pre-authorisation requirements for South Africa and several other destinations, including the United States and the Gulf states.
According to local media, Serhat Cirahan and his wife Bahar had travelled from Namibia to South Africa for the second leg of their post-wedding trip. Although the couple both hold valid Swiss residence permits, border officers cited South Africa’s stricter rules for refugee travel documents and placed Mr Cirahan in an overnight holding facility. The pair were forced to abandon their Cape Town plans and book last-minute flights back to Zurich at their own expense.
South Africa allows visa-free entry to holders of ordinary Swiss passports for stays of up to 90 days, but travellers with Swiss-issued refugee documents must obtain a visa in advance—a distinction that many dual-status residents and travel agents overlook. Immigration lawyers in Johannesburg noted a recent rise in such cases as post-pandemic travel picks up and authorities tighten document checks.
For multinational employers, the incident underscores the importance of verifying the exact type of travel document an employee or dependent carries, not just the country of issuance. Travellers holding Swiss refugee or subsidiary-protection passports should apply for the appropriate visa well ahead of trips outside the Schengen Area, and carry evidence of onward travel and accommodation to avoid detention or deportation.
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) said it is providing consular assistance and has updated its travel advisory to remind refugee-document holders of pre-authorisation requirements for South Africa and several other destinations, including the United States and the Gulf states.
