VISITORS VISA

A short-term visitor’s visa for South Africa allows foreign nationals to visit the country primarily for tourism. This visa usually must be applied for before arrival in South Africa if you hold a passport from a country that is not visa-exempt.

If the traveler’s passport is visa-exempt, they can enter South Africa with an entry stamp valid for 30 to 90 days.

This visitor visa is intended for short stays only and cannot be converted into a longer-term visa while in the country. It is ideal for tourists, holidaymakers, business purposes, and those visiting family for a brief period.

MORE INFORMATION

PREPARE TO RENEW YOUR SOUTH AFRICAN VISA

Under the Immigration Act, South Africa offers 12 categories of longer-term visitor visas for stays exceeding three months and up to a maximum of three years. These visa types include:

Academic sabbaticals
Voluntary or charitable activities
Research purposes
Accompanying spouses and children of temporary residence visa holders
Teachers at international schools
Work in film and advertisement production (actors, camera operators, hairstylists, makeup artists, lighting and sound engineers)
Foreign journalists assigned by international news agencies
Visiting professors, lecturers, or academic researchers
Artists engaged in writing, painting, or sculpture creation
Foreign entertainers traveling through South Africa for performances
Tour hosts and leaders
Foreigners required to testify as state witnesses in criminal court cases

All the above-mentioned long-term visitor visas must be applied for from the applicant’s home country or country of temporary residence, where applicable, before traveling to South Africa.

Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I extend my Visitors Visa whilst in South Africa?

You can renew your South African visitor visa for an additional 90 days, subject to the specific conditions and eligibility criteria of your current visa.

What do I do if my visa is due to expire, but my extension application is still pending?

While your visa renewal application is pending, you are legally allowed to remain in South Africa. However, you cannot travel outside the country after your visa expires and before receiving your new visa.

It is therefore advisable to depart South Africa before your current visa expires and re-enter with a new visitor visa in order to avoid complications.

If you leave the country after your visa has expired, you will be considered an undesirable person for overstaying, resulting in a ban from re-entering South Africa for 1 to 5 years, depending on the length of the overstay.

This ban can be lifted through an appeal process, which typically takes 2 to 4 weeks before you may legally re-enter the country.

Am I able to change to a work visa / spousal visa from a visitor visa within South Africa?

The Immigration Act does allow visitors to change from a Visitor Visa to any other visa category while inside South Africa provided that they are the Spouse and/or dependant of a South African Citizen or Permanent Resident. However, should you not be a spouse or dependant of a South African Citizen or Permanent Resident, you must submit a new application from your home country or country of residence in order to obtain a work/study visa visa for South Africa.

Am I able to legally conduct work activities on a Visitors Visa?

A Visitor Visa allows you to travel to South Africa for holiday and business-related activities only. Permitted business activities include meetings, interviews, contract signings, training sessions, and conferences.

If you need to perform short-term work, you must apply for a short-term work visa, such as the Visitor Visa under Section 11(2) of the Immigration Act.

Our Main Focus Remains To Serve Corporates, Professionals and High Net Worth / Affluent Families With Legally Correct Immigration and Permanent Residency Services.

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Full Name(Required)

Contact Number

Email Address(Required)

Please select the visa category you require assistance with:(Required)

How old is the child?(Required)

Does the child's parent/ guardian have valid status within South Africa?(Required)

What is your marital status?(Required)

What is the status of your spouse?(Required)

What is the number of foreign nationals you are looking to employ?(Required)

CS - Do you currently have a formal offer of employment from a registered South African company?(Required)

CS - What is your highest level of Education?(Required)

CS - What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

CS - How many years of work experience do you have?(Required)

CS - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

CS - In which country did you complete your highest qualification(Required)

CS - What position have you been offered(Required)

CS - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

GWV - What is your highest level of education?(Required)

GWV - In order to qualify for a General Work Visa, you must have an offer of employment from a South African employer. What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

GWV - How many years of work experience do you have?(Required)

GWV - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

GWV - Are you proficient in one of South Africa's 11 official languages?(Required)

ICT - Are you being sent on a secondment or assignment to South Africa?(Required)

ICT - Have you been employed in your current position for longer than 6 months?(Required)

ICT - What is the expected duration of your secondment/ assignment?(Required)

RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

RV - What is the expiry date of your current visa(Required)

RV - Are you currently residing in South Africa?(Required)

RV - Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RWV - Are you currently employed by a foreign entity outside of South Africa?(Required)

RWV - Do you earn an annual salary exceeding R650,000? (UDS $37,000 / EUR 33,000)(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000? (*add)(Required)

RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least R1.8 million?(Required)

RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

RPV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

STWA - What is the duration of your assignment in South Africa?(Required)

STWA - Does your current employer support your work in South Africa?(Required)

SV - Do you have an enrollment letter from a recognized learning institution?(Required)

SV - What level of education will you be completing in South Africa?(Required)

VV - What is your intention in South Africa?(Required)

VV - What is you intended duration of stay in South Africa?(Required)

RNW - What visa do you currently hold?(Required)

Please specify other(Required)

What is the expiry date of your current visa(Required)

What is the expiry date of your current Critical Skills Work Visa?(Required)

What is the expiry date of your current Intra Company Transfer Work Visa?(Required)

PR - What Visa do you currently hold for South Africa?(Required)

PR - Have you received a permanent offer of employment?(Required)

PR - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_CS - What is the expiry date of your current Critical Skills Work Visa?(Required)

PR_CS - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_GWV - What is the expiry date of your current General Work Visa?(Required)

PR_GWV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_GWV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_ICT - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_ICT - Have you been offered Permanent employment by a South African employer?(Required)

PR_RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

PR_RV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_RV - Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?(Required)

PR_RV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_RPV - Do you receive an irrevocable income of at least R37,000 per month (Rental income, dividends, interest, pension, ect )(Required)

PR_RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least ZAR 1,8 million(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

RV - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least R2.4 million?(Required)

RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

RPV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

Are you being sent on a secondment or assignment to South Africa?(Required)

PR - Do you have direct family members that are South African Citizens or Permanent Residence holders?(Required)

BV - Do you intend to establish or invest in a business in South Africa?(Required)

What type of business do you intend to operate or invest in?(Required)

BV - Are you able to invest a minimum of R5 million into the South African economy?(Required)

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GWV - Total Points(Required)

Name

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