This guide tells you everything you need to know about South African visa requirements. It’s important that you familiarise yourself with the legal requirements of entry into the country before your visit, in particular if you are travelling with minors.
Visa requirements are governed by the South African Immigration Act and are subject to change without prior notice. You can check the official website for the South African Department of Home Affairs for latest updates to the South African Immigration Act and changes to the requirements for a visa application.
The South African Immigration Act requires foreign visitors obtain a short-stay visa to enter the country. Residents of certain countries are exempt from applying for a visa prior to arriving in South Africa and are issued one upon arrival at one of the ports of entry.
If you are travelling to South Africa with a minor(s), you are required to produce certain documents. This includes an unabridged birth certificate and proof of guardianship or written consent from the guardian.
South African visas are granted for the following short-stay visits:
Documents required on arrival at port of entry:
A valid passport or acceptable travel document
A valid visa, if required
Proof of sufficient funds to cover daily expenses for duration of your stay
A return or onward ticket
Yellow fever certificate, if required
Unabridged birth certificate for minors
Documents required if travelling with a minor(s):
Unabridged birth certificate showing the particulars of both parents
Valid passport or travel document
Certified letter of consent for unaccompanied minor(s) or minor(s) travelling with only one parent
Documents required for a South African visa application
Valid passport or travel document
A completed Form BI-84 (application for a visa)
Yellow-fever vaccination certificate, if required
Statement or letter of proof confirming the purpose of your visit and how long you will be staying
Two colour passport photographs
Return or onward ticket if travelling by plane, bus or train
Unabridged birth certificate for each minor travelling with you
Proof of custody or guardianship for each minor travelling with you
Proof of funds available to pay for daily living expenses; may be:
Note
The South African Immigration Act stipulates that only machine-readable travel documents will be accepted at its ports of entry.
A Port of Entry visa for South Africa is a requirement of the South African Immigration Act. The visa regulations are in place to control who enters and exits South Africa and the official way the government of South Africa controls who may or may not enter the country.
A visa for South Africa may only be issued through an official South African Embassy, Diplomatic Mission or High Commission. You are required to apply in person prior to arriving in South Africa and provide the relevant documents needed for approval and authorisation.
Note
E-Visa: South Africa has developed an electronic application system which is in its pilot phase. When the system is available, eligible foreign visitors will be able to apply online for a visa for South Africa. For updates on the progress of its implementation, check the official website for the South African Department of Home Affairs.
What is a visa?
A visa is issued to an international traveller visiting South Africa for a short stay. An international traveller is someone who has permanent residence outside of South Africa and wishes to visit the country on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.
A valid visa allows you to enter a South African port of entry and stay in the country for the period of time specified in your visa. You are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application. In other words, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.
When is a visa issued?
A visa is issued once your application has been reviewed by a representative at a South African embassy, mission or consulate and it has been authorised. In other words, it has been determined that you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in South Africa. Instead, you are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of time relevant to your country status.
You or any member of your travelling party (including minors) will be denied entry into South Africa if you cannot produce the required travel documents and a valid visa, if required. Immigration officials are obliged to put you onto a flight back to your country of residence if you have not complied with the South African Immigration Act.
It’s your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the travel documents and visa requirements for South Africa. As a precaution, check the official website of the South African Department of Home Affairs for notices of changes to the regulations, in particular regulations pertaining to travelling with a minor(s).
Foreign visitors who reside in countries that are NOT exempt from obtaining a valid visa must be apply for a visa prior to arriving in the country. Short-stay visas issued at ports of entry are only applicable to foreign visitors residing in ‘Exempt Countries’.
You may be refused entry into South Africa if the purpose of your visit is stated incorrectly or the time period is incorrect. Conditions of entry are clearly stipulated on the visa label and it is your responsibility to insure this information is correct at the time you apply for a South African visa.
The visa is only valid for the period of time stated in your application (maximum period allowed is up to 90 days). South Africa issues single-entry visas and which expire as soon as you leave the country. If you leave the country for whatever reason during the time you specified you would be staying in South Africa, you will need to apply for a new visa for re-entry.
A visa fee is charged for issuing a visa (charged per visa application) and may be paid in the currency of the country where you reside. The cost of a visa for South Africa is increased annually. You can check the latest fee structure on the official website of the South African Department of Home Affairs.
The South African Department of Home Affairs brought in strict regulations that governs travelling to South Africa with minors. This was largely to address the global threat of child trafficking. The stringent criteria has since been relaxed and an update can be found on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs.
Updated advisory November 2019: New requirements for children travelling through South African ports of entry.
It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the regulations regarding minors entering South Africa. Immigration officials are obliged to refuse the minor(s) entry if parents or guardians cannot produce the relevant documents.
Documents required for minors
Unabridged birth certificate
Proof of guardianship, custody or consent to travel
Proof of financial means to pay for daily living expenses while in South Africa (such as bank statements or salary slip)
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS: Suggested format for parental consent letter (consent for person under the age of 18 to travel to or from the republic)
Document conditions for minors
If an unabridged birth certificate is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation issued by a competent authority in the country of origin. The same applies to certified letters of consent for the minor.
Minors travelling in school groups or with a non-family member or legal guardian are still required to present an unabridged birth certificate and a letter of consent that is signed and stamped by a Commissioner of Oaths as well as a valid passport.
What is an affidavit?
An affidavit is a letter of consent that is signed and dated by the parent(s) or guardian and verified and stamped by a Commissioner of Oaths.
What is an unabridged birth certificate?
An unabridged birth certificate is a long-form document that contains the information of both biological parents or legal guardians. Minors under the age of 18 years need an unabridged birth certificate to be allowed entry into South Africa in addition to a valid passport. A minor is a person under the age of full legal responsibility (under 18 years).
Where do get an unabridged birth certificate?
A long-form unabridged birth certificate is obtained from the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa (for SA residents) or from the governing body in your country that deals with identity and citizenship applications and regulations.
In South Africa, parents are required to register their child’s birth within 30 days from their date of birth. An unabridged birth certificate is issued at no additional cost once the registration application has been processed.
What you need for a minor travelling with one parent
If a minor is travelling with only one parent, he/she needs:
What you need for a minor travelling without his/her parents
If a minor is travelling unaccompanied by his/her parents, the child needs:
If only one parent gives consent, he/she needs to supply the following documents:
Minors travelling on domestic flights within South Africa
The revision to the South African Immigration Law now means minors travelling on domestic flights within South Africa are NOT required to present an unabridged birth certificate, only a valid identity document or passport.
Inability to consent due to recent death or mental or physical disability
If consent cannot be obtained because a parent(s) or legal guardian has recently deceased or is unable to respond due to a recent mental or physical disability, the person acting on behalf of the minor(s) may apply for a special dispensation in lieu of parental consent.
This person submits a full motivation with their request and needs to provide all the supporting documents. This may include a death certificate or certified medical reports.
Applications for a special dispensation to be addressed to the Office of the Director-General of Home Affairs: [email protected]
Residents from an Exempt Country do not need to apply for a South African visa prior to departing for South Africa. You will be issued a short-stay visa upon arrival at the port of entry.
Residents from countries that are NOT exempt can submit a visa application at the nearest South African diplomat or consulate office where they reside. You need to apply in person and provide biometric data for a visa application.
It’s recommended you apply for a South African visa well before departing for your trip so there is no risk that your application will not be approved in time.
If there is no diplomat or consulate office in your country, you can send your visa application to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa or use the online visa application facility.
Director-General: Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria, 0001
South Africa
The South African Department of Home Affairs has been piloting an electronic facility for online visa applications known as E-Visa. This eliminates the need to go in person to a South African diplomat or consulate office.
Note: E-Visa has been in its development phase and piloted in a few countries. The Department of Home Affairs announced it would be launched in November 2019.
E-Visa is described as a ‘world-class visa regime’ and will be a massive boost for tourism in South Africa. It makes the process of applying for and obtaining a visa to travel to South Africa significantly easier and faster. It’ll also increase efficiency at the South Africa ports of entry and speed up the movement of foreign visitors through immigration.
Foreign visitors who frequently visit South Africa can obtain a 10-year South African visa online. This is processed within approximately 5 working days of submitting a visa application online.
Online visa applicants are still required to provide the relevant travel documents such as a valid passport and unabridged birth certificate for minors. The electronic application form is completed in only a few minutes and the E-Visa is issued automatically as soon as the application is approved.
E-Visa update: Check the official website of the South African Department of Home Affairs for updates on the progress of its electronic visa application system.
Biometric Movement Control System
South Africa has also finalised the development of a new Biometric Movement Control System. It has been piloted at a number of airports in the country and will finally be implemented through E-Gates at the major international airports.
The main goal of the Biometric Movement Control System is to speed up the processing of ‘low-risk travellers’ to make it easier for foreigners to visit South Africa.
In South Africa, fingerprints are most commonly used for biometric data.
Each visa application is treated as an individual case and the cost of a visa depends on a foreign visitors country of residence.
The following foreign visitors do NOT have to apply for a South African visa prior to arriving in the country:
Foreign commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers are required to produce a letter confirming their employment with the transport company and their stay may not exceed the visa free-entry period of up to 90 days.
Foreign visitors from certain countries are exempt from applying for a visa prior to arriving in South Africa. Instead, they are issued with a short-stay visa upon arrival for a maximum of 30 to 90 days, depending on the reason for their visit. A fee is charged for issuing a short-stay visa.
The list of Exempt Countries is subject to change without prior notice. It’s important that you check the official website of the South African Department of Home Affairs for latest updates to the list.
Please note
Different regulations apply to Diplomatic, Official and Service passport holders. The list below applies to ordinary passport holders only. Consult the official website for the South African Department of Home Affairs for information on other passport types.
ORDINARY PASSPORT HOLDERS: Updated January 2020
Countries marked with an asterisk (*) are only subject to visa fees if the intended visit exceeds thirty (30) days.
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE | VISA PERIOD | VISA FEE |
Andorra – Principality of | 90 days | Yes |
Angola – Republic of | 30 days | Yes |
Anguilla | 90 days | Yes |
Antigua and Barbuda | 30 days | No |
Argentina | 90 days | No |
Australia | 90 days | Yes |
Austria – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Bahamas | 30 days | Yes |
Barbados | 30 days | No |
Belgium | 90 days | Yes |
Belize * | 30 days | Yes |
Benin – Republic of | 30 days | Yes |
Bermuda | 90 days | No |
Bolivia – Plurinational State of | 30 days | No |
Botswana | 90 days | No |
Brazil | 90 days | No |
British Antarctic Territory | 90 days | Yes |
British Indian Ocean Territory | 90 days | Yes |
British Virgin Island | 90 days | No |
Canada | 90 days | Yes |
Cape Verde | 30 days | No |
Cayman Islands | 30 days | Yes |
Chile | 90 days | No |
Costa Rica | 30 days | No |
Cyprus | 30 days | No |
Czech Republic | 90 days | No |
Denmark – Kingdom of | 90 days | Yes |
Ducie and Oeno Islands | 90 days | Yes |
Ecuador | 90 days | No |
Falkland Islands | 90 days | Yes |
Finland – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
France – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Gabon – Republic of * | 30 days | Yes |
Germany – Federal Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Gibraltar | 90 days | Yes |
Greece – Hellenic Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Guernsey | 90 days | No |
Guyana | 30 days | No |
Henderson | 90 days | Yes |
Hong Kong | 30 days | Yes |
Hungary | 30 days | No |
Iceland – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Ireland | 90 days | No |
Isle of Man | 90 days | No |
Israel | 90 days | No |
Italy – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Jamaica | 90 days | Yes |
Japan | 90 days | Yes |
Jersey | 90 days | No |
Jordan | 30 days | No |
Swaziland/Eswatini – Kingdom of | 30 days | No |
Lesotho – Kingdom of | 30 days | No |
Liechtenstein | 90 days | No |
Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of | 90 days | Yes |
Macau | 30 days | No |
Madagascar – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Malawi | 30 days | No |
Malaysia * | 30 days | Yes |
Maldives | 30 days | No |
Malta | 90 days | No |
Mauritius | 30 days | No |
Monaco – Principality of | 90 days | Yes |
Montserrat | 90 days | Yes |
Mozambique – Republic of | 30 days | Yes |
Namibia | 90 days | No |
Netherlands – The Kingdom of | 90 days | Yes |
New Zealand | 90 days | Yes |
Norway | 90 days | Yes |
Panama – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Paraguay | 90 days | No |
Peru | 30 days | No |
Pitcairn Islands | 90 days | Yes |
Poland – Republic of | 30 days | Yes |
Portugal – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Qatar – Stare of | 90 days | Yes |
Republic of Korea (South Korea) * | 30 days | Yes |
Russian Federation | 90 days | Yes |
Saint Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island | 90 days | Yes |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 90 days | No |
San Marino – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Sao Tome and Principe – Democratic Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of | 90 days | Yes |
Seychelles | 90 days | No |
Singapore – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | 90 days | No |
Spain – Kingdom of | 90 days | Yes |
Sweden | 90 days | No |
Switzerland | 90 days | No |
Tanzania – United Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Thailand – Kingdom of * | 30 days | Yes |
Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Tunisia – Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Turkey – Republic of | 30 days | Yes |
Turks and Caicos Islands | 30 days | Yes |
United Arab Emirates | 90 days | Yes |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 90 days | No |
United States of America | 90 days | Yes |
Uruguay | 90 days | No |
Venezuela – Bolivarian Republic of | 90 days | Yes |
Virgin Islands – British | 90 days | No |
Zambia | 90 days (per/a) | No |
Zimbabwe | 90 days | No |
Note: Diplomatic, Official and Service passport holders do not pay visa fees.
Foreign visitors who overstay their visa are declared ‘undesirable persons’ in terms of Section 30(1)(h) read with 50(1) of the Immigration Act, no 13 of 202 as amended (no 13 of 2011).
As a consequence, the person will incur a ban from South Africa for a period of up to 5 years. Individuals who have been affected by the amended overstay visa regulations can contact the Department of Home Affairs and lodge a visa overstay appeal.
A declaration of undesirability prevents you from applying for a visa and re-entering South Africa for a prescribed period of time:
To appeal this issue, you are required to submit the following to the South African Department of Home Affairs:
Email your appeal to: [email protected]
To confirm your appeal has been received, contact IMS Deportations at 012-406-4985.
An overstay appeal can only be submitted once you have departed South Africa and been declared an undesirable. There are limited circumstances under which a foreign visitor may submit an overstay appeal while still in South Africa. You overstay appeal may be successful if you are able to provide proof the you were unable to obtain an extension to your visa in time due to circumstances beyond your control (illness, incapacitation or death of a spouse or family member).
You are required to apply for a temporary residence visa if your visit to South Africa exceeds 90 days (3 months) or if you are travelling to South Africa to study or work. Temporary residence visas may not exceed three (3) years.
The requirements for a temporary residence visa are not the same as those for a South African visitor’s visa.
Applicants are required to apply in person at their nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate.
South African temporary residence visas are issued for the following circumstances:
Study visa
Issued to foreigners intending to study at a South African learning facility
Treaty visa
Issued to foreigners conducting activities in South Africa in terms of an international agreement to which South Africa is a party.
Relative’s visa
Issued to a relative or spouse of a South African citizen or resident who intends to move to South Africa and take up permanent residence; the person must be a first-kin or second-kin family member which could be a spouse, life partner, child, parents and sibling.
Spousal visa
Issued to foreigners who are legally married to a person with South African citizenship or residence.
Life partner visa
Issued to foreigners that have been in a proven genuine and stable relationship with a South African citizen or resident for at least 2 years.
Medical visa
Issued to foreigners intending to visit South Africa for the purposes of undergoing medical treatment for an extended period of time (for example, oncology).
Retired person’s visa
Issued to retirees intending to live in South Africa only for limited time or seasonal period during the validity of the permit (three-year period).
Business visa
Issued to foreigners who intend to establish or invest in a business in South Africa in which they may be employed. The person must be able to invest at least R5 million (subject to change) into a business and 60% of the workforce must be South Africans. You are required to submit a comprehensive business plan with your business visa application and present proof that you have set up the business in a suitable company structure.
All foreigners who intend to conduct short-term or urgent work in South Africa are required to apply for a work visa. This includes but is not limited to service technicians, trainers, instructors and film crews. The work period may not exceed three (3) months.
You may apply for one extension to your work visa which is allowed for a period not exceeding three (3) months. If you have been granted an extension, you don’t qualify for another work visa (Section 11(2) within the same calendar year.
A work visa is granted for a specific period of time and for a specific purpose. Service contractors who are required to travel to South Africa on an annual basis to maintain and repair equipment or oversee projects have to re-apply for authorisation each year. Back-to-back work visa applications from the same applicant are not accepted.
General work visa
Issued to foreigners with general skills and qualifications intending to work in South Africa. You must provide a formal written job offer and the employer must be able to prove he/she cannot find a South African for the position.
Intra-company transfer work visa
Issued to foreigners who are transferred by their company to an affiliate company in South Africa. The company in South Africa must be a subsidiary, branch or affiliate of the overseas company.
Critical skills work visa
Issued to foreigners in possession of exceptional skills or qualifications that are scarce in South Africa; your occupation and qualification must appear on South Africa’s critical skills list.
Corporate visa
Issued to foreigners working at a managerial level in commercial or corporate organisation. You must provide a formal written job offer from a recognised and approved corporation and the human resources department must provide proof that they cannot find a South African for the position.
Exchange visa
Issued to foreigners under the age of 25-years who may work in the country for up to one (1) year
Spousal/life partner visa
A spouse or life partner with a valid visa may only work, study or run a business in the country with a special endorsement on the visa. The following conditions apply:
The requirements for a work visa for Zimbabweans are the same as they are for all foreign visitors. However, Zimbabweans residing and working in South Africa on a Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) are able to work in South Africa without re-applying annually for a work visa.
What is a Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP)
South Africa has a close association with its neighbour, Zimbabwe. The ZEP was introduced to provide some relief to Zimbabwean who live and work in South Africa and offers a temporary solution for Zimbabweans who are unemployed in their country and suffering from the severe decline in the economy because of the volatile political situation.
The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) is only applicable to applicants who are in South Africa on a Zimbabwe Special Dispensation (ZSP).
Conditions imposed on a ZEP
Only Zimbabweans on valid ZSP visas may apply for a ZEP
ZEP’s are valid for a period of four years; effective from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021
ZEP’s are not renewable
ZEP’s do not entitle holders to apply for permanent residence, irrespective of how long the person stays in South Africa
ZEP holders may not change the conditions of the permit while in South Africa
Legitimate family members, spouses and life partners of a ZEP holder may also apply for a permit. Only children who are born in South Africa while a parent was in the country on a ZEP may apply for a permit.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for any foreign visitor who is travelling from or transiting through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. This applies to visitors who are 1 years of age and older.
If required, a yellow fever certificate must be presented upon arrival in South Africa. It’s required for any person(s) who has spent more than 12 hours in a ‘yellow fever country’, including transiting through an airport.
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). The disease is similar to malaria but the difference is patients become severely jaundiced (a yellow colouring which gives the disease its name). Yellow fever is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.
In mild cases, yellow fever causes a fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, yellow fever causes heart, liver and kidney problems as well as bleeding (hemorrhaging). Severe cases of yellow fever may be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.
Length of time a yellow fever certificate is valid
A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered. It’s important that you get your yellow fever vaccination in time before leaving for South Africa. You may be refused entry if you leave it late and arrive in South Africa within the 10-day waiting period.
Existing and new yellow fever vaccination certificates are valid for life (after the 10-day waiting period has lapsed). Prior to 2016, travellers were required to show proof of a re-vaccination or booster dose.
Yellow fever vaccination waiver
A vaccination waiver is issued by a medical practitioner if the yellow fever vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons. You need to check whether the vaccination waiver will be honoured because a serious outbreak of yellow fever may force immigration officials to be more stringent in refusing entry.
AFRICA
Angola
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Côte d’Ivoire
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Sudan
Togo
Uganda
AMERICAS
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
French Guiana
Guyana
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuela