General information about South African visas Visitors visas are for international travellers (citizens of other countries) who have permanent residence outside South Africa and who wish to visit the country on a temporary basis for tourism or business purposes for a period of 90 days or less. A visa will allow you to travel to a South African port of entry where an immigration official will determine if you are allowed to enter South Africa and how long you can stay for that particular visit. Visitors are restricted to the activity or reason for which their visas were issued. On entry into 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 the country and will be set out under the heading conditions on the visa label. You must ensure that you apply for the correct visa/permit. Who needs a visa to visit South Africa? Requirements for visitors visas differ from country to country and the requirements are subject to change. As each application is treated as an individual case, you should make enquiries with your nearest South African mission or consulate abroad to see whether or not you are required to apply for a visa. There is a fee charged for issuing a visa, and you should check the cost with the office. This fee is payable in different currencies in different countries. Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials are obliged to insist on visas before allowing passengers to board. Foreigners with long-term status (work permits/ permit residence) in neighbouring countries who transit the Republic to return to their employment or residence are not subject to the transit visa, provided they are in possession of proof of their status.
Passport holders who are exempt from visas for South Africa The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the foreign countries/territories/international organisations listed below is not required to hold a visa when reporting to an immigration officer for an examination at a South African port of entry, subject to the terms and conditions set out in this list, including inter alia the intended period of stay in the Republic. 1. The holder of a national South African passport, travel document and document for travel purposes. 2. A citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries/territories/international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit: African Union Laissez Passer Andorra Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Botswana Brazil Canada Chile (only ordinary passport holders) Czech Republic Denmark Ecuador Finland France Germany (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of Germany in SA) Greece Iceland Luxembourg Malta Monaco Namibia (90 days per year) Netherlands New Zealand Norway Panama (only ordinary passport holders) Paraguay Portugal San Marino Singapore Spain St Vincent and the Grenadines Sweden Switzerland Tanzania (90 days per year) Trinidad and Tobago (only ordinary passport holders)
Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Liechtenstein British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (only ordinary passport holders) United States of America (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of the USA in SA) Uruguay Venezuela Zambia (90 days per year) Zimbabwe British overseas territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island 3. The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the following countries/territories/international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor s permit may be issued by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit: Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas (only ordinary passport holders) Barbados Belize Benin Bolivia Cape Verde Costa Rica Cyprus Gabon Guyana Hong Kong (only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports) Hungary Jordan Lesotho Macau (only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)) Malaysia Malawi Maldives Mauritius Mozambique Peru Poland Seychelles Slovak Republic South Korea Swaziland Thailand Turkey
4. Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passports. Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of the following countries do not require visas in respect of purposes for which a visitor s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) for the period indicated: Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas (only ordinary passport holders) Barbados Belize Benin Bolivia Cape Verde Costa Rica Cyprus Gabon Guyana Hong Kong (only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports) Hungary Jordan Lesotho Macau (only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)) Malaysia Malawi Maldives Mauritius Mozambique Peru Poland Seychelles Slovak Republic South Korea Swaziland Thailand Turkey civil air navigation services organisation
5. Notwithstanding this Schedule, a foreigner whose visa exemption has been withdrawn shall comply with the visa requirements until notified by the Department that his or her visa exemption has been reinstated by the Department on petition or of its own accord. 6. Visas are not required by passport holders of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi who are entering the Republic as commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers provided their visits do not exceed 15 days and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company on entry. The same principle applies to Zimbabwean commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers, except that their sojourn may not exceed 30 days at a time. The aforementioned does not apply to commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers who transport goods for a South African transport company. Such drivers must be in possession of a valid work permit. 7. Staff members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on SADC laissez-passers are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide official business visits up to 90 days and transit. 8. The following categories of the UN as well as their spouses, dependant relatives and other members of their household are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days for purposes for which a visitor s permit may be issued, and for official business purposes and transits and when accredited for placement at a UN mission in the Republic for the duration of their accreditation, provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of a UN agency. Holders of United Nations laissez-passers Volunteers attached to the UN Persons involved in any United Nations agency Persons performing services on behalf of the UN 9. Members of military forces attending any military-related matters with the South African National Defence Force are exempt from visa and study permit requirements, irrespective of their duration of stay provided they are in possession of letters of invitation from the SANDF as well as letters of consent from the military force of which they are members. civil air navigation services organisation
South African visitors visas may be granted for: visits to family or friends and also for tourism purposes business purposes a spouse who is joining their partner who is in South Africa on a work or study permit children who are joining parents who are in South Africa on work or study permits a fiancé who is joining his or her partner with the intention of marrying within 90 days study purposes (with a maximum stay of three months) charitable or voluntary activities research conferences to work in the production of a movie or show (i.e. in the entertainment industry) for medical purposes (with a maximum stay of three months) sports events
Documents required to apply for a visa A passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of your intended visit Your passport must have at least one unused page for entry/departure endorsements A completed form BI-84 (application for a visa) 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 colour passport photographs A return or onward ticket if you are travelling by air If you have children (minors) travelling with you or joining you in South Africa, you will need to provide the following additional documents o Proof of guardianship or custody, or consent from the guardian in the case of an unaccompanied minor Proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa in the form of: o Bank statements o Salary advances o Undertakings by the host(s) in South Africa o Bursary o Medical cover o Cash available (including credit cards and travellers cheques) You do not have to submit your visa application in person. You can ask anyone else (such as a travel agent, courier services or another family member) to submit the application on your behalf. Requirements for entering South Africa You will need the following if you wish to visit South Africa: A valid and acceptable passport or travel document for your intended stay At least one blank page in your passport for endorsements A valid visa, if required Sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses during your stay A return or onward ticket Yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America
Customs requirements for travellers South Africa recently made changes to the way we process travellers. One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a Traveller Card (also called a TC-01 form), which will need to be completed by those arriving in South Africa who have something to declare when passing through customs. Red or green channel? After arriving in South Africa, you need to complete the Traveller Card before proceeding to immigration. After reporting to immigration, collect your baggage and then proceed to the red or green customs channel or to the customs counter. The following customs channels must be followed, depending on your circumstances: If you have in your possession any prohibited/ restricted goods and/or goods which fall outside your duty-free allowance, or if you are unsure whether any goods in your possession fall within these categories, please proceed to the red channel. If you have something to declare, your Traveller Card and passport will be scanned and you can make a verbal declaration which is captured on the system by a customs officer. This information forms the basis of a Traveller Declaration form (TRD1). The TRD1 will also be used as a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) and Temporary Export Permit (TXP). If you are happy with the information on the TRD1, you will be asked to sign on an electronic signature pad and your signature will be captured on the system. The signed TRD1 is then printed and handed back to you. If the goods in your possession fall within your duty-free allowance, you do not have any prohibited or restricted goods in your possession, you are not in possession of any commercial goods (imported for trade purposes) and you are not in possession of gifts, carried on behalf of others, please proceed to the green channel, unless otherwise instructed by a customs official. You may be stopped, questioned or searched by a customs officer at any time in the red or green channel.