Visa Applications South Africa
Like many countries, South Africa provides visas for tourists, as well as business visas for long-term stays revolving around work.
(For more info on requirements and stipulations for Visa applications for South Africa - click here)
To apply for a visit visa South Africa, you must be in South Africa for a short term for things like:
• Joining a spouse who is working or studying spouse to join a spouse who is in South Africa on a work or study permit
• Studying (visa expires in 3 months)
• Work (entertainment industry, health industry, etc.)
In order to apply for a visit visa, you will need:
• A valid passport with one available page
• A completed visa application
• A yellow-fever vaccination certificate
• Documentation on the purpose of your visit
• Two passport photographs
• Proof of return ticket home
◦ Cash or credit available
It should be noted that a large number of countries’ citizens are not required to have a visa to enter or work in South Africa. The list includes, but is not limited to: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the British Isles, and the United States. South Africa has one of the most lenient visa policies for these countries, as long as a person’s stay is less than 90 days. Even more countries do not require their citizens to have a South Africa visa, but limit the extension of their stay to 30 days. The countries include, but are not limited to: Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Turkey. If a person intending to enter South Africa is on a diplomatic or government mission, there are special exemptions that allow them to stay within the country for any number of days as agreed upon between two governments. This varies from 30 days for Chinese diplomats to 120 days for Hungarian representatives. In reality, there are more exemptions to South Africa’s visa policy than there are countries that need South African visas to enter the country. As a general rule of thumb, most visitors visas (as these are all considered) expire within 90 days. If you intend to stay in South Africa for longer than that, you will need to apply for a temporary residence permit, which is different from a visa and will require you to maintain contact with the immigration department in South Africa. If you are traveling to South Africa, and are unsure if your country requires a visa to enter South Africa, contact your embassy, or the Department of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa.