Whether you need a South African visa will depend on the travel document you are using to travel to South Africa and your nationality.
Generally speaking, if you are a national of a country that is on the visa-free country list for South Africa, then, you do not require a visa for a short trip such as tourist purposes.
If your country of nationality is not on the visa-free country list, then you need to apply for a South African visa at the nearest South African embassy or consulate or visa processing office at your country of permanent residence.
Generally, if applying for a South African visa as a family, all family members must provide their own individual documents. Every applicant who is submitting documents is expected to attend an appointment in person at the visa office of the embassy or their appointed visa application center.
South African Visa Processing Time
When applying for a South African visa, make sure you submit your application within the given time frame.
The time frame given below is a guide only as visa rules change according to your nationality and personal circumstances.
Please contact the South African visa office to get more info the visa process time for visa :
The earliest: Three months before the date of your planned departure to South Africa.
The latest: Two weeks before the intended date of travel to South Africa.
Recommended: at least 3 weeks prior to your trip, so you can avoid any possible delay at the embassy.
South Africa Visa Appointment Making a visa appointment with the South African embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done by yourself. Please contact the South African embassy or visa application center in your home country or visit the South African embassy website to book a visa appointment. Click here for South African embassy contact details and websites around the world. Please Note: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. South African embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibility for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the South African embassy.
Steps to Applying for a South African visa To apply for a South African visa follow the steps given below:
Check if you need to apply for a South African Visa.
Know when is the right time to apply!
Figure out what type of South African visa you need.
Find out where you should lodge your application.
Fill in the right South African visa form.
Collect the documents required for South African visa.
Make a visa appointment.
Attend the visa interview.
Submit your biometrics.
Pay the visa fee.
Please Note: Please consult South African embassy in your country as visa regulations for South Africa can and often change overnight. In individual cases, additional documents required for South African visa. We accept no responsibility as we have no affiliation with the embassy of South Africa or their visa section.
Going for a visa interview at the embassy? The visa officer at the South African consulate will look over your application and ask you questions if they wish to clarify anything. It is best to answer these questions honestly.
Typical questions asked at the South Africa visa interview include:
What is your purpose of your trip to South Africa?
Do you know anyone living in South Africa?
What is your current occupation?
How long have you been in your current occupation?
If you are a student, when will the studies finsh?
How will you suuport yourself whilst in South Africa?
Have you ever travelled to other countries?
Who will pay for your trip to South Africa?
What are your plans when you return from your trip?
What will you do if your visa application is rejected?
What is your marital status?
Will you be involved in business whilst in South Africa?
Common reasons why your South African visa application got rejected include:
Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip South Africa and you must provide documents to show that you can.
Proof of accommodation not provided – you must be able to show where you will be staying in South Africa and you can easily do this by providing a hotel reservation in South Africa.
The visa officer thinks you will not return to your home country – you must make it clear that you intend to leave South Africa and return to your home country before the expiry of your visa. You can do this by providing documents that show you have ties where you live, such as an employment letter or proof that you own your home etc.
No proof of residence – you must be able to prove that you can live in the country of your residence legally, so you must provide proof of residence.
South Africa Visa Types
South Africa Visa Types
There are several types of South African visas available and the visa type for South Africa you need to apply depends on the purpose of your trip to South Africa.
Finding out what type of South Africa visa you need to apply for is actually a pretty easy process. You can apply for South African visa if you are traveling for one of the following purposes:
South African Tourist Visa - South Africa visa is issued to foreigners that wish to visit South Africa, for a shorter period like 30 days within a 3-month period
South African Visitor Visa - Make it possible for non-South African family members and friends that live outside of South Africa to come to South Africa and meet their parents, children, spouse or friends.
South African Business Visa - To participate in business related activities including attending or conducting meetings or conferences or training, installing equipment or performing other temporary services for a client, local affiliate or branch office in South Africa.
South African Transit Visa - To transit through the airport or port in South Africa
Other South African Visa Types
There are other types of South African visas available for non-South African citizens to apply:
Student Visa
Journalist Visa
Retirement Visa
Permantent Resident Visa
Work Visa
Official Visit Visa
Cultural, Film Crew & Sports Visa
Merchant Seaman Visa
South African Entry Visa Types Single Entry visa for South Africa: A single-entry visa allows its holder to enter South Africa only once, within the given period of time, as mentioned in the visa sticker affixed to their passport. Once the visa holder exits the territory of South Africa or visa region associated with South Africa, he or she can no longer go back, even if they have not spend in South Africa the number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued them the visa. Double Entry visa for South Africa: In general, a double-entry visa applies the same way as the single-entry visa explained above. The sole difference between a single-entry and a double-entry visa is that the second gives you the chance to go once more back to South Africa Multiple Entry visa for South Africa: This type of visa allows the holder of the visa to enter South Africa mutiple times with visa validity period.
South African Tourist Visa Requirements
Please check from South African Visa Information to see if you will need a holiday visa to go to South Africa or the up-to-date tourist visa requirements for South Africa.
Along with the generally required documents for South Africa visa, below, the South African embassy may require some specific documents from the visa candidates depending on their employment status as well as several additional documents depending upon the type of South African visa applied for.
Fully completed and signed South African Tourist Visa Application Form and essential declaration
Passport Size Photographs: Photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the South African visa photo requirements.
Valid national passport with at least one blank page - Passport must not be older than 10 years and it should valid for at least six more months beyond the date you plan to leave South Africa.
Original of valid visa for the country of your current residency if you’re citizen of another country and one copy
Your latest bank statements for three months and copies of the bank statements
Confirmation of travel insurance for South Africa showing the travel insurance coverage for the duration of the trip and one copy
Letter from your current employer or education establishment to confirm your current occupation
Proof of group travel if you are travelling in a group
Proof of accommodation booking reservation for South Africa and one copy
Proof of airline ticket reservation for South Africa to confirm your travel itenary and one copy
The correct South African visa application fees
What Documents are Required for South African Visa for Children? The legal guardians of minors applying for a South African visa, must submit some extra documents for the underage applicant and these may include child’s birth certificate, visa application form signed by both parents, family court order – in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child and certified copies of ID / passport of both parents. If the child will be travelling alone, a notarized parental authorization signed by both legal guardians is generally required. Please notice: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. South African embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibilty for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the South African embassy in Germany.
South African Visitor Visa Requirements
Please check from South African Visa Information to see if you will need a visitor visa to go to South Africa or the up-to-date visitor visa requirements for South Africa.
Along with the generally required documents for South Africa visa, below, the South African embassy may require some specific documents from the visa candidates depending on their employment status as well as several additional documents depending upon the type of South African visitor visa applied for.
Fully completed and signed South African Visitor Visa Application Form and essential declaration
Passport Size Photographs: Photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the South African visa photo requirements.
Valid national passport with at least one blank page - Passport must not be older than 10 years and it should valid for at least six more months beyond the date you plan to leave South Africa.
Original of valid visa for the country of your current residency if you’re citizen of another country and one copy
Your latest bank statements for three months and copies of the bank statements
Confirmation of travel insurance for South Africa showing the travel insurance coverage for the duration of the trip and one copy
Letter from your current employer or education establishment to confirm your current occupation
Proof of group travel if you are travelling in a group
Proof of accommodation booking reservation for South Africa and one copy
Proof of airline ticket reservation for South Africa to confirm your travel itenary and one copy
The correct South African visa application fees
What Documents are Required for South African Visa for Children? The legal guardians of minors applying for a South African visa, must submit some extra documents for the underage applicant and these may include child’s birth certificate, visa application form signed by both parents, family court order – in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child and certified copies of ID / passport of both parents. If the child will be travelling alone, a notarized parental authorization signed by both legal guardians is generally required. Please Note: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. South African embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibilty for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the South African embassy in Germany.
South African Transit Visa Requirements
General South Africans Transit Visa Requirements
Check to make sure on South African Transit Visa Information to see if you will need a transit visa for South Africa or the up-to-date tourist visa requirements for South Africa.
Fully completed and signed South African Business Visa Application Form and essential declaration
Passport Size Photographs: Photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the South African visa photo requirements.
Valid national passport with at least one blank page - Passport must not be older than 10 years and it should valid for at least six more months beyond the date you plan to leave South Africa.
Original of valid visa for the country of your current residency if you are a citizen of another country and one copy
Your latest bank statements for three months and copies of the bank statements
Confirmation of travel insurance for South Africa showing the travel insurance coverage for the duration of the trip and one copy
Proof of group travel if you are travelling in a group
Proof of airline ticket reservation for South Africa and one copy
transit visa fees for German nationals and residents in Germany
Please Note: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. South Africans embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibilty for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the South Africans embassy in Germany.
Steps to Applying for South African visa To apply for a South African visa follow the steps given below:
Check if you need to apply for a South African Visa.
Know when is the right time to apply!
Figure out what type of South African visa you need.
Find out where you should lodge your application.
Fill in the right South African visa form.
Collect the documents required for South African visa.
Make a visa appointment.
Attend the visa interview.
Submit your biometrics.
Pay the visa fee.
Please Note: Please consult South African embassy in your country as visa regulations for South Africa can and often change overnight. In individual cases, additional documents required for South African visa. We accept no responsibility as we have no affiliation with the embassy of South Africa or their visa section.
Get Your Flight Itenary
Going for a visa interview at the embassy? The visa officer at the South African consulate will look over your application and ask you questions if they wish to clarify anything. It is best to answer these questions honestly.
Typical questions asked at the South Africa visa interview include:
What is your purpose of your trip to South Africa?
Do you know anyone living in South Africa?
What is your current occupation?
How long have you been in your current occupation?
If you are a student, when will the studies finsh?
How will you suuport yourself whilst in South Africa?
Have you ever travelled to other countries?
Who will pay for your trip to South Africa?
What are your plans when you return from your trip?
What will you do if your visa application is rejected?
What is your marital status?
Will you be involved in business in South Africa?
Common reasons why your South African visa application got rejected include:
Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip South Africa and you must provide documents to show that you can.
Proof of accommodation not provided – you must be able to show where you will be staying in South Africa and you can easily do this by providing a hotel reservation in South Africa.
The visa officer thinks you will not return to your home country – you must make it clear that you intend to leave South Africa and return to your home country before the expiry of your visa. You can do this by providing documents that show you have ties where you live, such as an employment letter or proof that you own your home etc.
No proof of residence – you must be able to prove that you can live in the country of your residence legally, so you must provide proof of residence.