Entry requirements

Do I Need A Visa?

Most tourists visiting South Africa require a visa, with the following exceptions:

If you hold a passport from following countries or areas, you do not need to apply for a visa if you will be staying with us for less than 90 days:

African Union / Unity Laissez Passer, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, United States of America.

If you hold a passport from following countries or areas, you also do not need to apply for a visa if you will be staying with us for a period of less than 30 days:

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cypru,s Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Jordan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Peru, Poland, Seychelles, Slovak, Republic, South Korea,  Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey, and Zambia.

What documentation do I need?

1. Your passport must have a validity period for at least 180 days after your indended date of departure from South Africa
2. Your passport must contain at least 2 unused pages for our entry and departure stamps.
3. If applicable, you must (obviously?) pay the official visa fee before you will be allowed into the country.
4. You must bring a copy of your vaccination certificate, if having a vaccination was a requirement for entry into South Africa.
5. You need to bring the relevant documentation which confirms the purpose and duration of your visit.
6. Two recent identity photographs in full colour are required. These must be taken with you standing face forward - and not side on.
7. It is essential that you bring with you proof of financial means at your disposal for your trip, or you must have written undertakings from your hosts here to cover all your expenses during the stay in South Africa.
8. If you are traveling by air you must have your return (or onward) ticket with you. Otheraise, you need to furnish proof that you have sufficient funds; or you must lodge a cash deposit of equivalent value to such a ticket.
9. You must have your visa BEFORE you leave for South Africa. Unlike some countries, visas are not issued at South African airports or border gates and if you arrive without a visa, you will be refused entry into South Africa
10. You do not have to submit your application for a visa in person.
11. It normally takes 10 days for a visa to be processed.
12. Yellow Fever is a very serious disease which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Accordingly, vaccinations are essential for anyone who has passed through an officially listed Yellow Fever country on their way to South Africa. These listed countries include: Angola, Kenya, Burundi, Liberia, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Cameroon, Niger, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Chad, Sao Tome and Principe, Congo, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Somalia, Gambia, Sudan, Gabon, Rwanda, Guinea, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Ghana, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Zaire, South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Surinam, French, Guyana, Venezuela The vaccination has to be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and given to you at least 10 days prior to your departure for South Africa. If you have your vaccination less a period of less than 10 days before your departure, you may be refused entry into the country.