What is a Business Visa Visa Exempt Countries Where and How to Obtain a Visa Types of Business Visa Downloadable Application Forms
A business visa is issued to any person who intends proceeding to South Africa for any of the following purposes: To promote commerce, trade or industry between South African institutions and institutions abroad To acquire commodities for export To explore investment opportunities on the stock exchange, money markets or property markets To hold or attend business meetings To visit a business enterprise as a shareholder or director with less than 25% control in that enterprise To inspect immovable property or to see business interests. To represent foreign print and electronic media in covering current events in South Africa for consumption abroad. To produce photographic stills.    Visa Exempt Countries Holders of passports of the following countries, do not require visas for bona fide tourist or business purposes for an unspecified period: United States of America Australia Austria Belgium Canada Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Iceland Italy Ireland Japan Liechtenstein Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Norway Portugal Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland  United Kingdom of Great Britain Applicants in the following categories are advised to contact their nearest South African Mission to clarify what type of visa they will need should they wish to visit South Africa: Concert performers Stage artists Musicians Religious workers Journalists Photographers Persons connected with the news media. Persons contemplating entering South Africa: a) in excess of the relevant exemption period; or b) with the intention to take up employment/studies; or c) to participate in any sports event; or d) to take up permanent residence in the Republic are still required to obtain the necessary authorization in order to gain admission to the Republic. Where the purpose of the visit has relevance to the pursuance of a person's career, for example, clergy who wish to address church meetings, representatives of the media for reporting or academics presenting lectures/participating in research, visas/entry authorizations are still required to enter South Africa. Visas/entry authorizations are not issued at the South African ports of entry and airline officials are obliged to insist on visas, if required, before allowing passengers to board flights to South Africa.    Where and How to Obtain a Visa Applicants who require visas should submit their completed applications to the nearest South African diplomatic or consular representative at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed date of departure. General under whose jurisdiction they fall, at the addresses set out below: Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia: The South African Consulate General 333 East 38th Street, 9th Floor New York NY 10016 Tel: (212) 213-4880 Fax: (212) 213-0102 Email: sacg@southafrica-newyork.net Website: http://www.southafrica-newyork.net Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin: The South African Consulate General 200 South Michigan Avenue, 6th Floor Chicago IL 60604 Tel. (312) 939-7929 Fax: (312) 939-2588 Email: sacgconsular@sacg.xohost.com Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming: The South African Consulate General 6300 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Tel. (323) 651-0902 Fax: (323) 651-5969 Email: safrcgla@cogent.net Website: http://www.link2southafrica.com Alabama, District of Colombia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands: The South African Embassy 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20008 Tel: (202) 232-4400 Fax: (202) 265-1607 Email: safrica@southafrica.net Website: http://www.southafrica.net Applicants in countries where South Africa is not represented may also send their applications directly to the Director General, Department of Home Affairs, Private Bag X114, Pretoria, 0001, Republic of South Africa. Applications may also be submitted through the airline, shipping company or travel agency arranging the applicant's visit to the Republic.     Downloadable Visa Application Form You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print these files. To download the reader click here Visa Application (PDF file)    Types of Business Visa 1. To Promote Commerce, Trade or Industry Between South African Institutions and Institutions Abroad Documents to be submitted: Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Two passport photos Letter of invitation from a host company in South Africa Itinerary Proof of funds. This can be done in a form of bank statement. Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.    2. To Acquire Commodities for Export Documents to be submitted: Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Two passport photos Letter of confirmation from the company(ies) that will be visited Itinerary Proof of funds Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.    3. To explore investment opportunities on the stock exchange, money markets or property markets Documents to be submitted: Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Letter of confirmation from the American company to that effect and duration of the applicant's visit Itinerary Proof of funds Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.    4. To hold or attend business meetings Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Two passport photos Letter of confirmation from the host company in South Africa confirming the applicant's visit. Proof of funds Itinerary Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.    5. To visit a business enterprise as a shareholder or director with less than 25% control in that enterprise.   Persons with more than 25% control shares in a company must have a work permit. The documents cited on item 4 should be submitted and a confirmation that the applicant holds 25% shares in the said company can also be submitted in addition to other documents. A prescribed fee of $80.00 should also be paid. Documents to be submitted: Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Two passport photos Proof of partnership agreement if the applicant holds 25% in the said company.  Such a letter should evince percentage of shares held by every person in the company.  Proof of funds Itinerary Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.    6. To inspect immovable property or to see business interests. In case of this purpose, it is worth mentioning that as long as an alien is legal in South Africa an alien may acquire an immovable property. However, the acquisition of such a property whilst illegal in South Africa is an offence in terms of the provisions of the Aliens Control Act. Aliens acquiring fixed assets for speculation of to rent out for income purposes, require work permits. Documents to be submitted Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Two passport photos Confirmation of the purpose of the applicant's visa from the company in the US that the applicant works for Confirmation letter from the company in South Africa of the visit of the applicant Itinerary Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.    7. To represent foreign print and electronic media in covering current events in South Africa for consumption abroad.  It is worth mentioning that producers of documentaries, feature films as well as TV commercials require work permits not visas. Documents to be submitted Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Two passport photos Confirmation from the media company concerned that the applicant is employed by it.  Such a confirmation letter should also detail the duration of the visit. Itinerary Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.    8. To produce photographic stills This entails producers and their teams who are employed and remunerated abroad, i.e. photographic teams taking photos for fashion catalogs, advertisements and brochures for overseas clients. Documents to be submitted: Prescribed visa application form Valid passport Two passport photos Confirmation from the media company concerned that the applicant is employed by it.  Such a confirmation letter should also detail the duration of the visit and whether the company will look after the applicant Itinerary Prescribed fee of $37.00 in money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Consulate General, New York.  No personal checks will be accepted.

Last Revised: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 Return to SACG Home