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Country Info > South Africa >Visa Info > Travel Basics >Safari Tours > Beaches > National Parks >Arts & Culture > Shopping & Watersport > Govt & Economy

SOUTH AFRICA VISA INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS

The Basic Requirements:

• You must have a passport valid for long enough to cover your intended stay in South Africa - along with a valid visa, if required.
• You must be of sound mind and body, and have a clear record as far as certain criminal offences are concerned.
• You must have enough money both to support yourself for a reasonable period after your arrival, and to pay for your return passage if you do not already have a return or onward ticket.
• If you come from or have or journeyed through or disembarked in a country in the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America, you must have proof of inoculation against the disease. Note that a yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation - after which it remains valid for 10 years.

Who needs a visa?
If you fall under any of the following categories, then you do NOT need a visa to travel to SA for tourist, business or transit purposes (unless you have been specifically advised that your visa exemption has been withdrawn):

1. Holders of South African passports (or official travel documents issued in place of a passport) do NOT require visas.

2. Holders of passports of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - including the British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Mann and Virgin Islands - as well as the Republic of Ireland, are totally exempt from South African visa control.

HOWEVER: Nationals of the British Dependent Territories are subject to visa control. These Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Cucie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Turks and Caicos Islands.

3. Holders of passports of the following countries may visit South Africa for holidays or business of unspecified length - or for transits - without a visa (unless specifically advised that their visa exemptions have been withdrawn):

Australia,Austria,Belgium,Canada,Denmark,Finland,France,Germany,Greece,Iceland,Italy, Japan,Liechtenstein,Luxembourg,Netherlands,New Zealand,Norway,Portugal,Spain, Sweden,Switzerland,United States of America

No visa requirements for up to 90 days:
Holders of passports of the following countries may visit South Africa for holiday or business trips of up to 90 days - or for transits - without a visa (unless specifically advised that their visa exemptions have been withdrawn):

Argentina,Brazil,Chile,Ecuador,Israel,Jamaica,Malta,Paraguay,St Helena,Swaziland, Uruguay,Venezuela

No visa requirements for up to 30 days:
Holders of passports of the following countries may visit South Africa for holiday or business trips of up to 30 days - or for transits - without a visa (unless specifically advised that their visa exemptions have been withdrawn):

Antigua and Barbuda,Barbados,Belize,Benin,Bolivia,Botswana,Cape Verde,Costa Rica, Cyprus,Gabon,Guyana,Hong Kong (Only holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports, or Hong Kong Certificates of Indemnity),Hungary,Jordan,Lesotho,Malawi,Malaysia,Maldives,Mauritius,Mexico,Namibia
Peru,Seychelles,Singapore,Slovak Republic,South Korea,Thailand,Turkey (Turkish Republic of North Cyprus passport not acceptable),Zambia

Visas Required
You WILL require a visa to travel to South Africa if:

• You do not fall into one of the above categories or
• You intend to stay in South Africa for longer than the relevant exemption period or
• You intend to work or study in South Africa or
• You intend to take part in a sports event or
• You intend to take up permanent residence in South Africa.

You will also require a visa - regardless of your nationality or the duration of your stay - if the purpose of your visit is related to the pursuance of your career - for example, clergy who wish to address church meetings, representatives of the media who wish to report, or academics who wish to present lectures or conduct research. Categories affected by this regulation include:

Concert performers,Stage artists,Musicians,Religious workers,Journalists or persons connected with the news media on extended stay,Photographers,Sports persons with contracts,Models.

Other Countries not mentioned If your country is not mentioned above then you will require a visa to enter South Africa. Visa's can be obtained at any of the South African Embassies. Applicants must submit their completed application form BI-84E , Application for a Visa, which can be obtained at the Embassy or consulate before you travel.

Applications for visas must be submitted together with:

• Two (2) passport size photographs
• Original passport
• Details of intended travel arrangements
• A business letter if traveling on business
• The required fee if any any other documentation that may support their visit to South Africa