Types of Visas

Visitor's visa will be issued to the following catergories:

• visits to family or friends and also for tourism purposes
• business purposes
• spouse to join a spouse who is in South Africa on a work or study permit
• children to join parents who are in South Africa on work or study permits
• fiancée/ fiancé to join his or her partner with the intension of marrying within 90 days
• study purposes (max stay 3-months)
• charitable or voluntary activities
• research
• conferences
• to work in the production of an movie or show (i.e. in the entertainment industry)
• for medical purposes (max stay 3-months)
• sport events

Transit visas (foreigners enroute to the neighbouring countries)

Diplomatic visas (Dipomatic passport holders for official business and accreditation)

Official visa (Official passport holders)

Courtesy Visa ( Will be issued to distinguished visitors as determined by DIRCO)

Requirements for extending your visa
Photograph specifications
Summary of costs & waiting periods

Visa for people requiring medical attention

• This visitor’s visa is issued to people who want to visit South Africa for medical treatment of less than three months. All applications for visits for medical purposes must:
  • Include a letter from a medical practitioner or medical institution, indicating the nature of the ailment, the reason/necessity for treatment, the period of treatment and particulars of the appointment/s made in South Africa
  • Include full details of the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees. If your medical scheme or employer will be liable for the expenses incurred, proof of medical cover must be submitted

• People who require medical treatment for longer than three months must apply for a temporary residency permit (Form BI-1784).
• Emergency patients transported by emergency flights or vehicles will be allowed entry if they do not have a visa. Immigration officers will facilitate their entry by not applying clearance procedures. However,
  • The person in charge of the emergency flight (or the pilot, the driver of the vehicle or the aircraft /vehicle owner) must report the entry and presence of the patient as soon as possible to an office of the Department of Home Affairs
  • An immigration officer will visit the patient and if necessary, will issue the necessary medical permit. If the patient does not have a valid passport, she/he will be issued with a permit to legalise his or her stay for the duration of his or her hospitalisation.

Visas for people in the entertainment industry

• If you are from a country that is not exempt from South African visa requirements and do not intend to work for longer than six months, then:
  • You must submit an application for a visa (Form BI-84) with the relevant documentation as listed on the application form, pay the prescribed fee and you must also request for authorisation to work on the visitor’s visa at your nearest South African embassy or mission. If approved, your visa will be endorsed to allow you to stay and work for a period of between 30 and 90 days.
  • You may apply only once for an extension of your visitor’s visa - for a further 90 days (making your stay a total maximum of 180 days or six months). To do so, you need to submit an application to any office of the Department of Home Affairs together with the temporary residency Form BI-1738 and pay additional fees as prescribed
  • You must make your extension application before your current visa expires.

• If you are from a country that is exempt from South African visa requirements, and do not intend to work for longer than six months:
  • You may proceed to a South African port of entry with the relevant letters from the local or international agency or company confirming your full particulars, purpose and period of visit and your designation
  • The immigration officer will issue you with a visitor’s permit – valid for between 30 days and 90 days – along with the required authorisation to work
  • You may apply only once for an extension of your visitor’s visa - for a further 90 days (making your stay a total maximum of 180 days or six months). To do so, you need to submit an application to any office of the Department of Home Affairs together with the temporary residency Form BI-1738 and pay additional fees as prescribed.
  • You must make your extension application before your visa period expires.

Visas for people attending a conference in South Africa

• Normal procedures must be followed for applying for a visitor’s visa (Form BI-84)
  • whether you are from a country that is exempt from getting visas, or
  • whether you are from a country that requires you get a visa
• The application for a visa must be supported by a letter or invitation for the conference
• The conference organizer should notify the Department of Home Affairs that the conference is taking place - giving all the relevant details and a list of delegates, if possible
• The Department of Home Affairs will then notify all South Africa representatives abroad, authorising them to issue visas to the delegates providing that
  • nothing detrimental is know about the delegate, and that
  • all visitor visa requirements are met

Transit visas (foreigners enroute to the neighbouring countries)

If you are a national of a non-visa exempt country and are in transit to a neighbouring country, you will be required to be in possession of and to produce a valid transit visa upon entering South Africa.
The transit visa is applicable for those traveling to neighbouring countries i.e.  the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Kingdom of Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.