South African Visitors Visa

Duration and Purpose of Stay

U.S. citizens (U.S. passport holders) traveling to the Republic of South Africa for 90 days or less for tourism or business purposes do not need visas.

U.S. green card holders (non-US passport holders) who are nationals of other countries must check the list of visa exempt countries to see if they need to apply for visas.

If your visit would exceed 90 days or if you want to travel to South Africa to study or to work, you will need to apply for a visitor's permit instead of a visitors visa. Requirements for permit is not the same with visitor visa.

Please note that foreigners who wish to visit South Africa must have a passport valid for 30 more days after the intended return date from South Africa. The passport must contain at least two unused visa pages for endorsement purposes. The unused visa page needed for endorsement is separate from pages reserved for observations and amendments

Visitors (Tourist) Visas - issued on request to applicants intending to visit the Republic for a period between 1 to 90 days.

Visitors visas are for international travelers, (citizens of other countries) who has permanent residence outside the Republic of South Africa and who wish to go to the country on a temporary basis for tourism or business purposes for 90 days or less.

A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed at a South African embassy or consulate and that the consular officer has determined you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.

The visa will allow you to travel to a South African port of entry (airport or land border crossing) where an immigration official will then determine if you will be allowed to enter South Africa and for how long you can stay for that particular visit. Visitors are restricted to the activity or reason for which their visas were issued. Applicants for visitors visas must provide evidence that they don’t intend to immigrate to the Republic of South Africa.

On entry to South Africa, a visa is considered to be a visitor's permit. The permit's period of validity is calculated from the date of entry into South Africa and will be set out under the heading "conditions" on the visa label. Applicants must ensure that they apply for the correct visa/permit. Entry in the Republic may be refused if the purpose of visit was not correctly stated.

Entry Requirements for a Visitor's (Tourist) Visa

Passport requirements when applying for a South African visa or permit
Note: Passports/travel documents must be valid for at least 30 days after expiry of visit to South Africa

For nationals of countries whose citizens require a visa or permit:
Passports (Including Travel/Emergency Travel Documents) must have:
- At least two (2) unused (blank) visa pages when presented at the Embassy or Consulate; one page for affixing the visa or permit by the embassy/consulate and the other page for endorsement of entry/departure stamp by the South African Immigration Services.
For nationals of countries whose citizens are visa exempt:
Passports must have:
- at least one (1) unused (blank) visa page when presented to the South African Immigration Services upon arrival in South Africa.
  
  Note: Visa pages referred above do not include pages reserved for observations, amendments and endorsements.
Visa application form (BI-84).
Flight Itinerary
Two (2) passport photos with white or light background
A statement or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of the visit e.g. proof of accommodation in South Africa such as hotel booking or invitation from the host and proof of host's legal status in South Africa
Prescribed fee of US$72.00 for processing. Additional $16.00 for mailing for out of state applicants ($88.00 in total for out of state applicants) in certified bank check or money order. No personal checks will be accepted.

** New York applicants: Effective 1 April 2008, all fees for consular transactions including mailing fees (where applicable) must be paid in postal money order or certified bank checks only. Cash or personal check payments are not accepted. The postal money orders and certified bank checks must be made payable to the SACG, with the exact amount as no refunds will be made.

Proof of sufficient funds (recent bank statement, credit card, etc).
Yellow fever certificate if the applicant will be traveling or intends traveling or traveled from or through the yellow fever endemic area. (Click here for list of countries falling within the Yellow Fever Belt)
Proof of U.S. visa status such as greencard, H1B, F1, etc.
Any other documentation or proof that the visa official may deem necessary
Processing Time: 5 days

Where to file your application

Visitor's Permits - issued on entry in South Africa for visits of three (3) months or more, but not exceeding (3) years.

Categories of Visitor's Permit

Sabbatical
Voluntary or Charitable Activities
Research
Spouse and Dependents
Bonafide Activities

Visitor's Permit for Sabbatical

See Requirements
Applicants must lodge a cash deposit of equivalent value of a round trip ticket or onward ticket.
A letter from the foreign academic institution confirming the enrolment abroad;
A letter from the host organization or institution in the Republic of South Africa.

Visitor's Permit for Charitable Activities

See Requirements
Applicants must lodge a cash deposit of equivalent value of a round trip ticket or onward ticket.
A letter from the organization where the services will be rendered, confirming the nature and period of the services;
A letter of confirmation that it is not a paid post.

Visitor's Permit for Research

See Requirements
Applicants must lodge a cash deposit of equivalent value of a return ticket or onward ticket.
A letter from the educational institution concerned, confirming the nature and period of the research;
Confirmation of the available funds to cover accommodation, living and medical expenses for the duration of the research.

Visitor's Permit for Spouse and Dependents

See list of basic Requirements
Medical certificate of the applicant and all members accompanying the applicant;
Birth certificate, to be unabridged where relevant to prove parenthood;
Marriage certificate, if applicable;
Divorce decree, if applicable;
Proof of custody, if applicable;
Death certificate of late spouse, if applicable;
Consent from parents, if applicable;
Proof of adoption, if applicable;
Proof of legal separation, if applicable;
Police clearance certificate, for applicants 21 years or older from all countries where the person resided one year or longer. For applicants in the United States the ONLY police clearance certificates that will be accepted are those issued by the State Police concerned or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Given that it takes time to issue such a certificate, an acknowledgement receipt of an application can be included in your application for visitor permit as a proof that such a police clearance certificate has been applied for.
Any additional information that the Department may request as proof of the existence of the good faith spousal relationship.

Visitor's Permit for Spouse of a South African citizen/Permanent Resident who does not qualify for a general work permit

See list of basic Requirements
An offer of employment
Proof of legal marriage or life partnership.
Proof that the spouse is a South African citizen/permanent resident through submission of certified copies of South African I.D., passport, permanent residence certificate.

Application Fees

Nationals of certain countries are subject to visa fees. Fees are charged per application and are not refundable if the application be refused. Fees must be paid in postal money order or certified bank check payable to SACG (if application was submitted to any of the three Consulates General in the USA) or South African Embassy (if application was submitted to the South African Embassy in Washington, DC). The postal money order or certified bank check must be made out with the exact amount as no refunds will be made. Cash and personal check payments are not accepted.

Last Revised: Thursday, July 02, 2009