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Every country has the sovereign right to decide who may or may not enter its territory. Possession of a visa does not guarantee automatic admission to the Republic. It only authorizes the holder to proceed to the Republic to report to an immigration officer at a port of entry for the purpose of being examined as to his/her ability or otherwise, to comply with the (entry) requirements of the Act.
The purpose of a visa on the one hand is to ensure proper screening of applicants so that undesirable persons are not admitted to the Republic and on the other hand to facilitate the entry of approved applicants at South African ports of entry. Visas provide immigration officers with the necessary information to ensure that applicants are admitted for the correct purpose and period into the RSA.
Please note that nationals who are exempt from the South African visa requirement are only exempt for the purposes of holiday, business and transit and still require visas for other purposes, e g for medical purposes.
Visas are considered by the South African missions abroad and must be affixed in the applicants' passports before departing to the RSA. Visas are not issued on arrival at South African ports of entry. Applicants arriving without visas will be refused entry into the RSA and placed on return flights in terms of legislation.
For any information or queries regarding existing visa applications, please send a message to Subdirectorate: Visas, detailing dates, place/office applied at and any other related information.
Click here for more information and conditions on:
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| Entry requirements |
- A valid acceptable passport / travel document good for a sufficient period to cover the intended stay.
- A valid visa, if required.
- Sufficient funds.
- A return / onward ticket.
- Yellow fever certificates are
required if the journey starts or entails passing through
the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
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| Where to apply for a visa |
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| What to submit |
- Passports must accompany the applications when submitted at a South African diplomatic or consular representative.
- If a business visa is applied for, a
letter of invitation from the South African company to be
visited must accompany the application, as well as a letter
from the company which the applicant represents.
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| Persons in transit |
Persons applying for transit visas must submit proof that they will be admitted to their destinations and they must be in possession of onward / return tickets.
A transit visa may not exceed 72 hours.
All deportees must be in possession of transit visas.
All other nationals are exempt from the transit visa requirement to make use
of the transit area, with the exclusion of deportees and those nationals listed below
who will be required to obtain transit visa before proceeding to the
RSA:
-Bangladesh
-Cameroon
-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
-Egypt
-Ethiopia
-Ghana
-India
-Kenya
-Nigeria
-Pakistan
-Peoples Republic of China (PROC)
-Russia
-Sierra Leone
-Somalia
-Sudan
-Ukraine
-Taiwan
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| Duration and purpose of stay |
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The period of residence in South Africa is not determined by the visa but by the temporary residence permit which is issued on arrival at the port of entry. Applicants must ensure that they request the full duration of their intended visit as extensions are subject to additional fees. Applicants must ensure that they apply for the correct visa / permit as the purpose of stay may not be changed once in the RSA.
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| Medical Visas |
A person wishing to receive medical treatment in the RSA must first apply for a medical visa at the nearest South African Mission. All applications for visits for medical purposes must be supported by a letter from the applicant's 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. Full details of the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees must be furnished. Should the individual's medical scheme or employer not be liable for the expenses incurred, proof of medical cover must be submitted.
Emergency patients transported by emergency flights or vehicles will be allowed entry, if not in possession of visas. Immigration officers will facilitate their entry by not applying the clearance procedures. However, it is the duty of the person in charge of the emergency flight or the pilot or owner of the aircraft or the owner or driver of the emergency vehicle, to report the entry and presence of the patient as soon as possible at an office of the Department of Home Affairs. An immigration officer must then visit the patient and if such patient is found to be an alien in possession of a valid passport, s/he will be issued with the necessary medical permit. If the patient is not in possession of a valid passport, s/he will be issued with a permit in terms of section 41 of the Aliens Control Act, 1996, to legalise his/her stay for the duration of his/her hospitalisation.
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