NB! ALL VISITORS (irrespective of whether they need a visa or not) MUST have 2 adjacent blank pages in their passports, which must be valid for 6 months after their departure from South Africa. These pages must be entitled “Visas”. (Note that some passports have an “Endorsement” page, often towards the end, which is not valid for this purpose). This requirement is strictly enforced.
Visitors’ visas are required for international travellers who have permanent residence outside South Africa and who wish to visit the country temporarily for tourism or business purposes for 90 days or less.
Please note that visa requirements differ from country to country. Please click here to see which countries are currently exempt from applying for a visa, and visit the Department of Home Affairs to determine which countries may use an e-visa. Learn more about applying for a South African visa on the Department of Home Affairs website.
We strongly advise you to contact the embassy and/or consulate directly on any documentation that may be required prior to attempting to submit your application or applying in person. Click here to see a list of all South African embassies and their contact information.
Remember that there is a fee charged for issuing a visa, and you should check the cost with the office as well, as this is updated annually. The fee is payable in different currencies in different countries.
Visas for people attending a conference in South Africa
- Normal procedures must be followed for applying for a visitor’s visa. Visit https://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/ for information.
- The application for a visa must be supported by a letter of invitation to the conference. Please note that visa invitation letters can only be made available upon receipt of conference registration and accommodation reservation payments.