Tourist Visa In South Africa: A Simple Guide
Venture into the heart of the Rainbow Nation with the essential first step of securing a tourist visa. Need assistance regarding tourist visa? Worry Not! We’ve got you covered!
South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes, from the rolling vineyards of the Cape to the untamed wilderness of the Kruger National Park, are calling. This guide simplifies the visa process, ensuring your passage to this land of diversity and wonder is as smooth as the coastal sands of the Garden Route.
Let’s dive in!
What Is A South Africa Visitor Visa?
A South African visitor visa, also known as a standard visitor visa or South African tourist visa, allows foreign nationals to visit South Africa as a tourist, for business, and other permitted activities.
This visa is for a short period of up to 90 days or less.
Visitors’ visas are for international travelers who have permanent residence outside South Africa and wish to visit the country temporarily for tourism or business purposes for 90 days or less.
A visa indicates that your application has been reviewed at a South African embassy, mission, or consulate and that the consular officer has determined you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
The visa will allow you to travel to a South African port of entry, where an immigration official will then determine if you are allowed to enter South Africa and for how long you can stay for that particular visit.
Visitors are restricted to the activity or reason for which their visas were issued. A visa is considered a visitor’s permit on entry to South Africa.
The permit’s validity period is calculated from the country’s entry date and will be set out under the heading “conditions” on the visa label.
You must ensure that you apply for the correct visa/permit. Entry into the country may only be allowed if the purpose of the visit is correctly stated.
Requirements for visitor visas differ from country to country, and the requirements are subject to change.
Each application is treated as an individual case. It would help if you made inquiries with your nearest South African mission.
Apart from this, you can consult abroad or any office of the Department of Home Affairs to see whether or not you are required to apply for a visa.
Remember that there is a fee charged for issuing a visa, and you should check the cost with the office, as this is updated annually.
The fee is payable in different currencies in different countries.
Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials must insist on visas before allowing passengers to board.
If you arrive without a visa, immigration officials must take you back to your home country.
Foreigners with work permits/permit residence in the neighboring countries who transit the Republic to return to their employment or residence are not subject to the transit visa, provided they have proof of their status.
What Are The Types Of Visitor Visas In South Africa?
Before applying for your visa, you must correctly determine which type of visa you wish to apply for; you may be refused entry into the country if your purpose for a visit needs to be correctly stated.
Some of the visitor visas include:
Medical Treatment Visa
A visa for medical treatment is issued to individuals who wish to enter South Africa and seek medical treatment.
If you require medical treatment for over three months, you must apply for a temporary residence permit.
Visas For Working In The Entertainment Industry
A visa for working in the entertainment industry grants foreign nationals permission to enter the country and work for 30 to 90 days.
This is for artists, entertainers, and others who wish to enter South Africa for events, performances, and other activities.
Visa For Attending A Conference
A conference visa is issued to a foreign national who wishes to enter South Africa solely to attend a conference, seminar, or workshop held in the country.
Visas For Compliance Of Treaty Conditions
A treaty visa allows foreign nationals to enter South Africa to participate in programs previously agreed upon by South Africa and the traveling countries.
Visas For The Crew (maritime)
A maritime visa is granted to those who plan to enter South Africa and operate as a foreign crew on non-military ships on international voyages.
Visas For Cultural/Economic/Social Exchange Programs
This visa is issued to foreigners who wish to participate in cultural, economic, or social exchange programs.
Those are usually administered by an organ of the state or a public higher education institution.
This type of visa is issued to individuals under the age of 25, and it is valid for one year.
Transit visas
Transit visas are issued to individuals passing through South Africa en route to its neighboring countries.
Additionally, those who transit through the following airports do not have to have transit visas but will still have to provide biometric data:
- OR Tambo International
- Cape Town International
- King Shaka, and
- Lanseria (Johannesburg)
How Do You Apply For A South Africa Tourist Visa?
To submit a successful application, keep in mind the steps below:
- Correctly Identify The Type Of Visa You Want To Apply For: This is essential as your visa may not be issued simply because the visa you have applied for and the purpose of your visit do not correspond. When applying for a visitor visa, specify the type.
- Book An Appointment: Before visiting the visa application center in person to submit your visa application, you must book an appointment with the corresponding consulate or visa application center.
- Complete The Application Form: The application form is found online. Pay attention to the questions, and answer truthfully and fully. You must answer the required questions to ensure your visa is accepted and processed. Use block letters and black ink only.
- Gather The Required Documents: Depending on which type of visa you have applied for, you must prepare a list of South African visa application documents.
- Submit Your Application: Locate the closest visa application center to you and submit the documents.
- Pay The Fee: You will be charged a certain fee, which you must pay for your application to be considered complete.
- Attend The Interview: You may be called back for an interview. You may be asked for further information regarding your application, etc.
How Long Can Visitors Stay In South Africa?
Tourists, foreign workers, and international students can enter and legally stay in South Africa on a visitor visa for 90 days.
You must apply for a long-stay South Africa visa if you want to stay longer than 90 days. Remember to check the expiry date of your visa or entry stamp and ensure you stay within the limit.
Every state has penalties for overstaying beyond your visa’s validity.
How Long Does It Take To Process A South African Visa?
It takes approximately six working days to process your South Africa visitor visa. Remember that processing time can take up to eight weeks if further assessment is required.
It also depends on the workload of the embassy and whether your application is complete.
How Much Does A South African Visitor Visa Cost?
When you apply for your visa, you will be charged a fee of R 425— around USD 24– which you must pay for your application.
Remember that the visa fee is non-refundable even if your visa application is denied. Please note that if you apply through a visa application center, you will pay additional fees.
How Do You Pay The South Africa Visitor Visa Fee?
The process of paying your visa fee is usually simple and quick, as detailed below:
- If you are paying with a debit card, you must ensure you have enough money in your account.
- If you are paying online, you must also ensure you can pay online with your card.
- If you apply online only, you will pay the fee with a Visa card or Mastercard as a last step in the application.
- If you cannot apply online, you must pay the fee when you submit your application in person. If you pay in advance, you must attach the receipt to the rest of your documents.
Payments are completed at your country’s South African Consulate General or the South African High Commission. Cash and personal cheques are not accepted modes of payment.
Where Do You Apply For A South Africa Visa?
You can submit your application at any Home Affairs office or the nearest South African embassy, mission, or consulate in your home country.
Can You Extend Your Visitor Visa To South Africa?
The key to a smooth visa extension process is to start early. Be sure to get your current tourist visa, which is about to expire.
Plan your extension well in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles.
The extension process can take some time, so be proactive and give yourself plenty of leeway.
You must gather a specific set of documents to initiate your visa extension. These may include:
- A completed visa extension application form, which is done through VFS Global, South Africa.
- Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during the extended stay. This demonstrates that you won’t be a burden on the South African government.
- A flight itinerary that outlines your intended departure date. This proves you plan to leave the country once your extended visa expires.
- A valid passport with at least two blank pages for visa endorsements.
- A well-written reason for the extension. Clarity is essential.
Be prepared to pay a visa extension fee.
After you’ve submitted your application and paid the necessary fees, there will be a waiting period.
The Department of Home Affairs will review your application and make a decision. This process may take several weeks, so it’s essential to remain patient.
It’s worth noting that visa extension processing times can vary, so it’s advisable to check with the authorities or consult an immigration attorney for an estimate.
If you find the waiting period stressful or need guidance during this time, consider seeking legal assistance from professionals who can help monitor the progress of your application and ensure it’s on track.
While you wait for the decision on your extension, it’s crucial to continue adhering to all South African visa regulations.
Overstaying your current visa while waiting for an extension decision can lead to legal issues and future difficulties with visa applications.
Respect the terms and conditions of your existing visa until the extension is approved.
What Can You Bring To South Africa?
South Africa accepts limited quantities of consumer goods without being subject to import tax or VAT.
Travelers may enter the country with 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars, 50 ml of perfume, 250 ml of eau de toilette, 2 L of wine, and 1 L of other alcoholic beverages per person.
It is possible to bring in medication for one month, but a prescription for a more extended period is required.
All currency over R25,000 for South African banknotes and over $10,000 for any other currency must be declared.
South African Currency
The South African currency is the Rand, and Zar is the currency abbreviation for the Rand in the foreign exchange markets.
There are 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 Rand bills, 10, 20, and 50 cent coins, and 1, 2, and 5 Rand coins.
The exchange rate has been around 17 Rands for 1 Euro for about 2 years. The Rand is also used in Lesotho and Swaziland.
Current Health Conditions In South Africa
As of June 23, 2022, all COVID-19 health regulations have been removed. Travelers entering South Africa can no longer produce a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test.
Travelers arriving in or transiting through countries designated at risk by the WHO must have been vaccinated against yellow fever at least ten days before arrival and present a WHO-approved international vaccination certificate.
Treatment for malaria is recommended if traveling in some regions of South Africa.
The risk areas are along the borders with Botswana and Zimbabwe: Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the Krüger Park area on the border with Mozambique.
South Africa has the highest HIV seropositivity in the world. It is estimated that approximately 7.7 million South Africans are living with AIDS and that the disease caused 72,000 deaths in 2019.
The epidemic emerged in the early 1980s but was ignored by the government of the day.
In 2000, the Ministry of Health presented a program to combat the epidemic, but the government did not support it.
The government did not recognize the epidemic until the late 2000s and set up a treatment distribution plan.
Currently, less than 30% of those who have contracted the disease have access to therapy.
Safety In South Africa
South Africa is known to have a very high crime rate, but violent crime occurs mainly in certain areas, most often the townships.
The most common crimes that most people encounter are credit card fraud and petty theft.
It is essential to be on guard in public places, not to carry valuables or large sums of money, but always keep a few bills to give in case of an attack.
Be careful when withdrawing cash from ATMs, and preferably choose those inside the banks.
Stay away from neighborhoods that are considered dangerous, and always ask about the best route to take when traveling.
When driving in South Africa, keep your doors and windows closed and locked, ignore people approaching the vehicle at red lights, and avoid driving at night outside built-up areas.
Thieves widely use remote car jamming to turn off the central locking system of vehicles. Always check that the doors are locked.
If attacked, do not resist or fight back, but obey the attacker’s demands and go to the nearest police station.
Places to avoid in Johannesburg are the Hillbrow, Berea, Alexandra, and Yoville areas and the old city center at night and on weekends.
Avoid going to Victoria Pier or Point Road in Durban, and be careful on the Waterfront Promenade at all hours.
In Cape Town, you should remain vigilant in Woodstock, Observatory, and Bo Kaap when walking and in Longstreet at night because many pickpockets are present.
As long as the usual precautions are taken and vigilance is exercised, it is possible to travel or live in South Africa safely.
Choosing supervised beaches for swimming is preferable because of the strong sea currents. Sharks, including the great white, are present throughout the South African coastline.
The Durban area has anti-shark nets installed off most beaches.
Conclusion
With your tourist visa in hand, South Africa’s vast beauty and vibrant cultures are now open for you to explore. From the majestic Table Mountain to the historic Robben Island, your journey through the Rainbow Nation promises to be as enriching as it is exhilarating.
Remember, this visa is more than a document; it’s your key to unlocking unforgettable adventures in the heart of Africa.
Adventure Awaits!
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