Most non-South African citizens wishing to enter South Africa must have a valid visa. The visa states the purpose and duration of the visit.
a yellow fever certificate if you are travelling through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
People who do not have South African passports need to apply for visas. This includes people who want to come to South Africa for a holiday or for business.
However visitors who have passports from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including the British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Mann and Virgin Islands, the Republic of Ireland as well as British Overseas Territories) are totally exempt from South African visa control and do not need visas for any purpose.
Also, visitors from certain other countries are exempt from the visa requirements under certain conditions.
You must organise a visa before you come to South Africa. You cannot apply for a visa at South African ports of entry.
If there is a South African diplomatic or consular representative in your country, then you must submit your visa application to them.
Remember you cannot apply for a visa when you arrive in South Africa.
Once you get to the South African port of entry, e.g. Johannesburg International Airport, you will be given a temporary residence permit, which replaces your visa and states how long you may stay in the country.
This temporary residence permit (TRP) must be kept valid and an application for extension (BI-159) can be submitted at any regional or district office of the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.
pay the R425.
show that you have booked an air ticket.
If a business visa is applied for, you also need to provide a letter of invitation from the South African company to be visited, as well as a letter from your company.
For more information on how to apply for a visa to visit South Africa, contact your nearest South African diplomatic or consular representative or visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
There is a R425, US$47 or €43 application fee for visitors from certain countries.