Visa

South Africa Government Services
www.services.gov.za

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About applying for a visa

If you want to visit South Africa, you might be required to produce a valid visa to be allowed to enter into the country. You can only be exempted from this requirement if your country is exempted from visa control.

There are two types of visas you can apply for depending on your intending visit, namely: Visitors Visa and Transit Visa.

You must apply for a visitors’ visa if you want to visit South Africa for the following reasons:

holiday
business
attending conferences
study purposes not exceeding three months
medical treatment not exceeding three months
academic sabbatical
voluntary or charitable activities; and research

The maximum period for a visitor’s visa is 90 days, but it can be extended for another 90 days

Note: Visas are not issued on arrival at a port of entry and you will be refused admission if you cannot produce it. You can only be exempted from producing a visa if you are from a Visa-exempt country.

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What you should do

Apply at a South African representative in your country or nearest mission.
Complete form BI-84.
Submit the following:

passport valid for no less than 30 days after expiry of the intended visit
proof of guardianship if you are under 18
proof of a valid return air ticket if you are visiting for less than 12 months
deposit equivalent to the amount of a return ticket back to your country of origin (The deposit is refundable after you have left South Africa)
proof of financial means in the form of:

bank statement
salary advice
undertaking(s) by the host(s) in South Africa
bursary
medical cover; or
cash available, including credit cards or traveller’s cheques to cover living expenses during your visit to the country

statement /or documents confirming the purpose and duration of the visit. The documents must be original or copies certified by the issuing authority of the country of origin. If your qualifications are not in English, you must have them translated by a sworn translator into English.
yellow fever vaccination certificate, if required.

If you are visiting the country for more than three months, you must submit:

a marriage certificate, if applicable
proof of a permanent spousal relationship recognised in your country of origin, if applicable
a death certificate, if applicable
a decree of divorce, if applicable
proof of legal separation, if applicable
an affidavit, confirming marital status or spousal relationship. If applicable.