Visa Process
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.
Any queries relating to visas are handled by the South African missions or representative office in your country or the nearest one situated to you. 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. Visa requirements (what to submit)
Passport valid for no less that 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit Passports must contain at least 1 (one) unused page for entry/departure endorsements (sometimes referred to as visa page).
Payment of the prescribed fee, if applicable A vaccination certificate, if required by the Act. Statement and/or documentation confirming purpose and duration of visit. - Two (2) identity photographs and must comply to the following specifications:
- Length - 45mm
- Width - 35mm
- The background of the photograph shall be plain and free of shadows and shall not have a white lining
- Only the head and shoulders of the person concerned shall be included in the photograph and the head from the chin to the top of the hair shall not be smaller 22mm and not larger than 25mm
- The person concerned shall be photographed without any head-gear or veil, and any other additions to the face which tend to alter the natural likeness shall be removed. (The Director-General may exempt any person or any category of persons from any of these requirements.)
- Spectacles may be worn provided that the lenses do not make the eyes invisible. Spectacles with dark lenses may be worn if the eyes will appear distorted without them or if the person is blind
- The full-face of the person concerned shall be photographed directly from the front, and the head may not be bent or tuned sideways
- The face shall be a recognizable likeness of the person and the head, hair, eyebrows, eyes, nose and moustache or beard, if any, shall be sharply and clearly defined
- Neither the photograph nor the copies thereof may be defaced by holes, pencil or ink marks or in any other manner.
- Proof of financial means in the form of;
- Bank statements
- Salary advices
- Undertaking(s) by the host(s) in the Republic
- Bursaries
- Medical cover
- Or cash available, including credit cards or travellers' cheques
The Director-General may reject the copies of the photographs if they do not, in his or her judgment, comply with the requirements mentioned above, or if he or she deem them unsuitable in other respects, in which case the person concerned shall provide two new copies at his or her own cost.
WHERE TO APPLY FOR A SOUTH AFRICAN VISA
- At the South African diplomatic or consular representative in applicant's country of normal residence, which includes permanent residence and long-term temporary residence.
- At the South African diplomatic or consular representative in the country of which the applicant validly holds a valid passport.
- At the designated South African diplomatic or consular representative when a mission is not present in the applicantss country of residence.
Visas CANNOT be applied for at South African ports of entry.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How long does it take to process a visa application?
The normal processing period is 10 days.
- Why can visas not be issued at the airport?
In terms of current legislation a person must already be in possession of a visa before he / she arrives at the South African port of entry. A visa informs the immigration officer that the bona fides of the foreigner has already been determined in the pre-screening process.
- What is the purpose of the expiry date on the visa and how must the period of validity of the visitor's permit be calculated?
The expiry date on the visa states within which period the foreigner must enter the Republic. Upon admission the visa is deemed to be a visitor's permit. The endorsement on the visa determines for which period the visitor's permit will be valid, e.g. "To be admitted for a period of 30 days". The calculation for the expiry date of the permit is made from the date of entry. The actual expiry date is not endorsed on the permit.
- How do I extend my visa / Permit?
Once a person gets to the South African port of entry, the visa is regarded as a visitor's permit. A foreigner should contact any regional or district office of the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the extension of the visitor's permit.
- May I apply on behalf of e.g my mother? She is old and from a country where South Africa does not have a mission.
The application must be submitted at the nearest South African embassy or mission. The applicant does not need to go to the mission in person but may make use of courier services or travel agents to submit the application. The mission needs the physical passport to endorse the visa in the passport.
For more information visit the South African Department of Home Affairs
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Introduction
