South Africa Visa Requirements
South Africa Visa requirements
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Not all travelers to South Africa require visas. If you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country, all you need is a passport to enter South Africa for a limited period. However, if you are not from a visa-exempt country, you will need a visa to enter South Africa. Here are the South Africa visa requirements (as per South African Home Affairs, 2020):

What you'll need to go to South Africa
  • A passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of your planned visit. Your passport must have at least two unused pages for entry/departure endorsements.
  • A completed Form BI-84 (South African application for a visa form).
  • Payment of the prescribed fee.
  • A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required).
  • Statement and/or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit.
  • Two passport photos, colored.
  • A return or onward ticket if you are traveling by air.
  • Proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while you are in South Africa. This can be in the form of bank statements, cash available (including credit cards and travelers’ cheques), salary advances, undertakings by your South Africa host(s), medical cover. For students, you may provide proof of bursaries/student loans/scholarships.
  • If you have children (minors) traveling with you or joining in South Africa, you will need to provide proof of guardianship or custody or consent from the guardian in the case of an unaccompanied minor.

Once you have met all the South African visa requirements, you can apply in person for a visa at a South African embassy or consulate. For your application, you will need to provide biometric data.

South Africa has recently launched a new online system for visa applications. At the time of this writing, (Oct 2020), it has not been finalized. If you’d like to apply for your visa online, you can apply for an e-visa here.

South African Visitors’ Visas may be granted for:

  • Tourists;
  • Visits to family or friends;
  • Business ventures;
  • Joining your spouse who is in South Africa on a work or study permit;
  • Children who are joining their parents in South Africa on work or study visas;
  • Fiancée/ fiancé who is joining their partner with the intension of marrying within 90 days;
  • Study purposes (max stay 3-months)
  • Conferences;
  • To work in the production of a movie or show (i.e. in the entertainment industry);
  • Medical purposes (max stay 3-months);
  • Sport events;
  • Charitable or voluntary activities;
  • Research.

Who needs a visa to travel to South Africa?

Citizens who require visas for travel to South Africa are as follows:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Albania
  3. Algeria
  4. Armenia
  5. Azerbaijan
  6. Bahrain
  7. Bangladesh
  8. Belarus
  9. Bermuda
  10. Bhutan
  11. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  12. Brunei
  13. Bulgaria
  14. Burkina Faso
  15. Burundi
  16. Cambodia
  17. Cameroon
  18. Central African Republic
  19. Chad
  20. China
  21. Colombia
  22. Comoros
  23. Congo
  24. Côte d’Ivoire
  25. Croatia
  26. Cuba
  27. Djibouti
  28. Dominican Republic
  29. DR of Congo
  30. Egypt
  31. El Salvador
  32. Equatorial Guinea
  33. Eritrea
  34. Estonia
  35. Ethiopia
  36. Faroe Islands
  37. Fiji
  38. French Guiana
  39. Gambia
  40. Georgia
  41. Ghana
  42. Gibraltar
  43. Greenland
  44. Guatemala
  45. Guinea
  46. Guinea-Bissau
  47. Honduras
  48. Indonesia
  49. Iran
  50. Iraq
  51. Kazakhstan
  52. Kiribati
  53. Kosovo
  54. Kuwait
  55. Kyrgyzstan
  56. Laos
  57. Latvia
  58. Lebanon
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About The Author

Hi! We’re the Cheltens’. We visit South Africa 1-2 times per year. We want to share our experiences with you so that you may make educated decisions when you plan your next trip to the rainbow nation.

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