Visa policy of South Africa

The visa policy of South Africa is how the South African government determines who may and may not enter their country.... Visitors to South Africa must obtain a visa from one of the South African diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries, in which case they get what is called a "Port of Entry Visa". Visitors who require a visa must apply in person and provide biometric data.[1]

all visitors must hold a passport valid for 1 month after departure and with one blank page (two if a visa is required).[2]

South African Government announced that an e-Visa system would be introduced in February 2021.[3]

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that South Africa's new electronic visa system will be piloted for Kenyan citizens from November 1, 2019[4], and for Indian citizens from April 1, 2020.[5]

On 25 March 2020 the South African government removed 12 countries and territories from its visa-free exemption list. Citizens from these countries previously did not have to pay any sort of visa fees but now have to do so until further notice. More countries may be added to the list of removed countries if the South African government feels like they are a risk. A statement from the Department of Home Affairs reads “Take note: visa exemptions for travellers from COVID-19 high and medium risk countries has been withdrawn temporarily until further notice.”[6]

Visa policy map

Visa policy of South Africa

  South Africa

  Visa-free access to South Africa for 90 days

  Visa-free access to South Africa for 30 days

  Visa required for ordinary passports; Visa-free access for diplomatic, official and service passports

  Visa required for entry to South Africa for all passports

Visa exemptions

Nationals of the following countries can enter South Africa without a visa:[7][8]

90 days

Nationals of the following 46 countries/territories who hold valid national passports are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of up to 90 days:[9]

Andorra  Argentina  Australia  Austria  Belgium  Botswana  Brazil  Canada  Chile  Czech Republic  Denmark  Ecuador  Finland

Greece  Iceland  Ireland  Israel  Jamaica  Japan  Liechtenstein  Luxembourg  Madagascar^2  Malta  Monaco  Namibia^2  Netherlands  New Zealand^1  Norway  Panama  Paraguay  Qatar^1  Russia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

San Marino  São Tomé and Príncipe^1  Saudi Arabia^1  Seychelles^2  Sweden  Tanzania^2  Trinidad and Tobago^1  Tunisia  United Arab Emirates^1  United Kingdom^3  Uruguay  Venezuela  Zambia^2  Zimbabwe

1 – for ordinary passport holders only.
2 – the maximum stay is 90 days per year.
3 - Crown dependencies citizens and British Overseas Territories citizens only.

30 days

Citizens of the following 25 countries/territories who hold valid national passports are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of up to 30 days:

Angola^2  Antigua and Barbuda  Bahamas^1  Barbados  Belize  Benin  Bolivia  Cape Verde  Costa Rica  Cyprus  Eswatini  Gabon  Guyana

Hungary  Jordan  Lesotho  Macau^1  Malawi  Malaysia  Maldives  Mauritius  Mozambique  Peru  Poland  Thailand  Turkey

1 – for ordinary passport holders only.
2 - the maximum stay is 90 days per year.

Date of visa changes

Visa free 26 December 1996: Brazil[10] 29 April 2005: Mozambique[11] 30 March 2017: Russia 1 December 2017: Angola[12] 15 August 2019: New Zealand (resumed), Qatar, Saudi Arabia,[13] United Arab Emirates Cancelled Taiwan: 1 Jul 2005[14] Slovakia: 18 April 2016[15] New Zealand: 16 Jan 2017[16] (was resumed in 2019) France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America: 25 March 2020[17]

Diplomatic, service and official passports

Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries do not require visas for visits of the indicated period and transit for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):

Albania^1  Algeria^2  Angola  Belarus  Bulgaria  Comoros  Croatia  Cuba  Cyprus  DR Congo (conditional)  Egypt^2  Ghana  Guinea  Hungary^1  India

Indonesia^2  Ivory Coast^2  Kenya^2  Liberia  Madagascar^2  Mexico  Morocco^2  Mozambique  Namibia^2  Nigeria  Paraguay^1  Poland

Romania  Rwanda^2  Senegal  Slovakia  Thailand  Tunisia  Uganda  Vietnam

1 – 120 days
2 – 30 days

Visa exemption agreement was signed with Mali but not yet ratified.[18]

Eligible international organizations

Individuals holding the following travel documents are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of 90 days or less:

• African Union laissez-passer
• Southern African Development Community (SADC) laissez-passer

Staff members of SADC who travel on SADC laissez-passer are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide official business visits of 90 days or less and transit.

• United Nations laissez-passer

Visa types

Visas issued by South Africa are for:[19]

• Tourism or visits to family or friends
• Medical treatment
• Working in the entertainment industry
• Attending a conference
• Treaty conditions compliance
• Maritime crew
• Cultural, economic and social exchange programmes
• Transit

Temporary residence visas issued by South Africa are:[20]

• Business visas
• Work visas
• Quota work visas
• General work visas
• Critical skills work visa
• Intra-company Transfer Work visa
• Corporate visas
• Study visas
• Exchange visas
• Retired persons’ visa
• Relatives’ visa
• Medical Treatment visa

Overstay consequences

According to the amended South African Immigration Act 13 of 2002, foreign nationals overstaying the expiry of their South African visas will be determined “undesirable” and, consequently, face being banned from the Republic for a period of up to 5 years.[21]

Minors

From 1 June 2015, all minors under the age of 18 travelling in and out of South Africa must hold, in addition to their passport, an unabridged birth certificate[22] with particulars of both parents. The requirement applies to both domestic and foreign citizens. If the child is travelling with only one parent, an affidavit with the absent parent's consent is required. If the child is travelling with another adult and without both parents, an affidavit with consent of both parents must be produced. An unaccompanied minor, in addition to holding an affidavit and birth certificate, must provide the requisite information of the local South African host.[23][24] The rule has been widely criticized by the tourism industry, but officials claimed that the rule was implemented to fight widespread human trafficking and unilateral child custody abuse in South Africa.[25][26] By October 2016 over 13,000 tourists had been prevented from entering the country due to the unabridged birth certificate requirement, thus having a negative impact on the economy.[27]

In September 2018 the Cabinet announced that they intend on scrapping this controversial requirement for children travelling.[28]

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to South Africa were from the following countries of nationality:[29][30]

Country	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014
Zimbabwe	2,258,794	2,208,930	2,039,932	2,028,881	1,900,791	2,143,716
Lesotho	1,563,448	1,739,188	1,747,211	1,757,058	1,394,913	1,501,642
Mozambique	1,333,195	1,360,896	1,339,245	1,268,258	1,200,335	1,283,016
eSwatini	917,631	883,735	876,992	893,618	835,006	918,490
Botswana	668,315	688,566	681,379	679,828	593,514	555,590
United Kingdom	436,559	430,708	447,901	447,840	407,486	401,914
United States	373,694	376,892	370,747	345,013	297,226	309,255
Germany	322,720	343,229	349,211	311,832	256,646	274,571
Malawi	199,079	197,317	175,014	154,017	135,260	166,964
Namibia	184,431	200,367	208,747	214,664	212,514	211,453
Total	10,228,593	10,472,105	10,285,197	10,044,163	8,903,773	9,549,236

See also

• Visa requirements for South African citizens
• List of ports of entry in South Africa
• List of diplomatic missions of South Africa

References

1. "New visa rules will hurt tourism: DA – IOL News". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
2. "Department of Home Affairs – Exempt Countries". www.home-affairs.gov.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
4. South Africa e-Visa to be Piloted for Kenyans from November 1, 2019
6. http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries
7. "Countries exempt from South African Visas. Department of Home Affairs".
8. "Country information (visa section)". Timatic. International Air Transport Association (IATA) through Olympic Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
9. http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries
10. "Concórdia". Concordia.itamaraty.gov.br. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
11. "Statement of Treaties and International Agreements Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during the month of February 2010" (PDF). New York: United Nations. June 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
12. Edwards, Caryn (24 November 2017). "Angola-South Africa entry VISA free exemption a big boost for tourism, trade & investment in the Cape". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
13. "Saudi Embassy ZA on Twitter: "ؼؚ٠اإ Ř§Ů„Ů…ŮˆŘ§ŘˇŮ†ŮŠŮ† Ř§Ů„ŘłŘšŮˆŘŻŮŠŮŠŮ† من تأشيع؊ Ř§Ů„ŘŻŘŽŮˆŮ„ ؼلى ŘŹŮ†ŮˆŘ¨ ؼ٠عيقياđ&#x;‡żđ&#x;‡Śđ&#x;‡¸đ&#x;‡Śâ€Ś "". Twitter.com. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
14. 外交部 (12 July 2017). "中華民國(台灣)外交部全球資訊網". 中華民國外交部 – 全球資訊網 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). Retrieved 8 March 2018.
15. Gschwind, RIC Media – Enrica Hölzinger,Patrick. "Visa & Consular – South African Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna". www.suedafrika-botschaft.at. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
16. "New Zealand travellers now need visas to enter SA – DHA". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
17. http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries
18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
19. "Types of Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
20. "Types of Temporary Residence Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
21. "Overstay Visa South Africa". Retrieved 7 October 2015.
22. "Travelling with children to or from South Africa? Child Visa Checklist app helps". Drive South Africa. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
23. "Unabridged Birth Certificates – Travelstart.co.za". www.travelstart.co.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
24. "How to travel with children into and out of SA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
25. "The sorry, messy unabridged birth certificate saga: SA front pages, 2015-05-22". Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
26. Leadbeater, Chris (4 February 2016). "South Africa's new rules on travelling with children 'may deter families'". Retrieved 8 March 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
27. "New visa rules: 13 000 denied entry into SA | IOL". Retrieved 4 November 2016.
28. "More details on South Africa's new visa rules revealed". Businesstech.co.za. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
29. "Tourism 2019, pages 11–14" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2020.
30. Africa, Statistics South. "Publication – Statistics South Africa". www.statssa.gov.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.