Visa Requirements
FOR THOSE THAT REQUIRE A VISA. Effective 10 May 2015, applicants for visas will be required to apply in person at the South African mission. No appointment necessary.
US Citizens
US citizens do not need a visa for tourist or business travel for stay up to 90 days. A valid US Passport is required.
A Yellow fever immunization is needed if arriving from an infected area. and malarial suppressants are recommended.
Any US citizen who wishes to travel to South Africa for any purpose other than tourism or business negotiations (e.g. work, study, adoption, immigration, or stays longer than stipulated in the entry requirements) should contact the embassy or nearest consulate directly.
The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:
African Union Laissez Passer, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile (only ordinary passport holders), Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of Germany in SA), Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia (only ordinary passport holders), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Sweden, Spain, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Switzerland, Tanzania (90 days per year), Trinidad & Tobago(only ordinary passport holders), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (only ordinary passport holders)
British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man. British Oversees Territories namely: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.
United States of America (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of the USA in SA)
Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia(90 days per annum), Zimbabwe
3. The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas (only ordinary passport holders), Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Gabon, Guyana
Hong Kong [only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports]
Hungary, Jordan, Lesotho, Macau [only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)], Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Peru, Poland, Seychelles, South Korea, Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey
4. Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders.
Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of the following countries do not require visas in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for the period indicated and transit:
Albania (120 days),
Algeria (30 days)
Angola (90 days)
Belarus (90 days)
Benelux states (90 days)
Bulgaria (90 days)
China (PROC) (30 days)
Cyprus (90 days)
Comoros (90 days)
Croatia (90 days)
Cuba (90 days)
Egypt (30 days)
Ghana (90 days)
Guinea (90 days)
Hungary (120 days)
India (90 days)
Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) (30 days)
Kenya (30 days)
Mexico (90 days)
Madagascar (30 days)
Morocco (30 days)
Mozambique (90 days)
Namibia (30 days)
Nigeria (90 days)
Paraguay (120 days)
Poland (90 days)
Romania (90 days)
Russian Federation (90 days)
Rwanda (30 days)
Senegal (90 days)
Slovak Republic (90 days)
Thailand (90 days)
Tunisia (90 days)
Vietnam (90 days)
5. Notwithstanding this Schedule, a foreigner whose visa exemption has been withdrawn shall comply with the visa requirements until notified by the Department that his or her visa exemption has been re-instated by the Department on petition or of its own accord.
6. Visas are not required by passport holders of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi who are entering the Republic as commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers provide their visits do not exceed 15 days and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company on entry.
The same principle applies to Zimbabwean commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers, except that their sojourn may not exceed 30 days at a time. The afore-mentioned does not apply to commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers who transport goods for a South African transport company. Such drivers must be in possession of a valid work visa.
7. Staff members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on SADC laissez-passers are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide official business visits up to 90 days and transit.
8. The following categories of the UN as well as their spouses, dependent relatives and other members of the households are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days for purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued, and for official business purposes and transits and when accredited for placement at a UN mission in the Republic for the duration of their accreditation, provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of an UN agency.
- Holders of United Nations Laissez-passers
- Volunteers attached to the UN
- Persons involved in any United Nations agency
- Persons performing services on behalf of the UN
9. Members of military forces attending any military related matters with the South African National Defence Force are exempt from visa and study visa requirements, irrespective of their duration of stay provided they are in possession of letters of invitation from the SANDF as well as letters of consent from the military force of which they are members.
Non-US Citizens
Tourist Visa
- A valid, signed US passport. The passport must have at least 6 months remaining after the completion of your stay in South Africa, and contain at least one blank visa page.
- Two (2) fully completed and signed South Africa Visa Applications
- Two (2) passport photographs, signed on the rear
- Copy of US Alien Registration Card (Green Card), or proof of legal residence in the USA, with valid US visa if returning to the United States.
- Copy of itinerary -OR- air tickets showing round trip
- International Certificate of Vaccination showing Yellow Fever if arriving from an infected area with 5 days.
Business Visa
- A valid, signed US passport. The passport must have at least 6 months remaining after the completion of your stay in South Africa, and contain at least one blank visa page.
- Two (2) fully completed and signed South Africa Visa Applications
- Two (2) passport photographs, signed on the rear
- Copy of US Alien Registration Card (Green Card), or proof of legal residence in the USA, with valid US visa if returning to the United States.
- Copy of itinerary -OR- air tickets showing round trip
- International Certificate of Vaccination showing Yellow Fever if arriving from an infected area with 5 days.
- A business letter of introduction and financial responsibility is required to be typed on your company letterhead and addressed to: Embassy of South Africa, Visa Section, Washington, DC. This letter must be signed by a company officer other than the traveler, and should:
- state the nature of business to be performed;
- include the name and address of the company to be visited;
- guarantee sufficient financial support during visit; and
- guarantee return transportation to the US for the applicant.
Fees
In addition to the standard Iratex fees, the following consular fees apply: $50.00 per visa
Visa Information
Processing time is at the Embassy is 1 week for tourist and business visas, 2 weeks for work visas.
The South Africa visa is usually valid for a single entry within 3 months from date of issue provided the passport remains valid. The length of stay is determined at the airport upon arrival. A notarized letter from both parents is necessary to authorize the South African Consulate to issue a visa to a child under 18 years of age.