The South African Tourist Visa for your Holiday or Visiting a Family
If you are thinking of going to South Africa on a holiday or to visit a relative or friend, then applying for a South African holiday visa can become a necessary task.
Usually, a visitor can apply for the required South African tourist visa online/ at the nearest South African consulate in the country where you live, for a stay in South Africa of up to 3 months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of South African Tourist Visa
Before applying for a tourist visa for South Africa, it is advised you check whether you meet all the South African visa requirements.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the tourist visa for South Africa:
- You do not intend to conduct volunteer job that can otherwise be carried out by a paid worker in South Africa.
- You do not intend to join a work relationship in South Africa.
- You do not intend to give services to South African organisations (this is allowed with a South African work visa or business visa).
- You do not plan to give or sell product or services to consumers in South Africa.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the South Africa Government.
- You do not pose a threat to the health or safety and security of residents of South Africa.
- You have the ability to demonstrate that you have enough funds to pay for your stay and return from South Africa.
Do I need a South African tourist visa?
It relies on your citizenship as well as the kind of travel document you are using to take a trip to South Africa.Please go here to find out if you require a South African visa.
Who can obtain a South African tourist visa?
Any individual wanting to go on holiday to South Africa can apply for a South African tourist visa.
There are several types of visa for South Africa which you can use as a visitor to South Africa. If you are unsure which sort of South African tourist visa you need to apply, please call the nearby South African visa office to get further information as goal of this page is to give you basic overview when looking for South African tourist visa.
What type of South African visa do I need?
This depends upon three factors:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to South Africa or eligible to get a visa on arrival in South Africa, then you may not require to make an application for a South African tourist visa prior to leaving from your home country. Please click here to confirm if you need a South African visa.
- The duration of your trip in South Africa – If you intend to stay in South Africa for a shorter duration no more than 90 days, then you can get the South African tourist visa. If you wish to remain much longer, then contact the nearest South African visa office to obtain the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you like to execute in South Africa – If your main reason of taking a trip is for vacation, then you can apply for all kinds of South African tourist visas talked about on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Get South African Visitor Visa
- Visitor visa Form for South Africa – Completed South African visa Form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport has to be valid for at the very least 6 months prior to going into South Africa and three months after departing South Africa. It should have a minimum of two extra visa web pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo needs to be no older than 6 months and should be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Give a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous South African visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to South Africa – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some scenarios the South African visa office might request prepaid air travel tickets to South Africa.
- Travel insurance policy – Evidence of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the South African embassy provided with the Certificate of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance have to cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency need to be issued by an insurance company. If you are thinking about using your credit card travel insurance for your travel to South Africa, please contact South African consular office for more information and travel insurance coverage requirements for the South African visa.
- Original bank statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months revealing enough funds to cover your trip in South Africa. If statements are printed online after that it has to be Confirmed (stamped) by the financial institution officials.
- Hotel Reservations in South Africa – Copy of confirmed hotel bookings including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In many situations, only bookings which are partly or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter should be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, verifying your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly income and yearly leave. Additionally, please provide your 3 latest pay slips. If you are self-employed: give certified copies of business registration, tax return.
- For students. Please provide the following:
- Proof of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming ongoing enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance coverage from Organisation/University – Provide a letter from the University specifying the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance policy for the whole trip in addition to the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
As a whole, visa applications for South African visa ought to be submitted for an optimum of 6 months, and no later than 15 days, before the journey.