Visa policy of South Africa

The visa policy of South Africa is how the South African government determines who may and may not enter South Africa. 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 a "Port of Entry Visa". Visitors who require a visa must apply in person and provide biometric data.[1]

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

The South African Government launched an e-Visa system, initially for 14 nationalities in February 2022.[3][4]

As of February 2020, South Africa added Tunisia to the visa-free exemption list.

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
  eVisa for 90 days
  Visa required

Visa exemptions

Nationals of the following countries can enter South Africa without a visa: [5] [6]

90 days

Citizens of the following countries/territories who hold valid national passports are allowed to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa: [7]

1 – Visa exemption applies for holders of ordinary passports only.
2 – The maximum stay is 90 days per year for ordinary passport holders; this limit does not apply to non-ordinary passport holders.
3 – The maximum stay is 90 days per year for all passport holders.

30 days

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

1 – Visa exemption applies for holders of ordinary passports only.
2 – The maximum stay is 90 days per year for ordinary passport holders; this limit does not apply to non-ordinary passport holders.

eVisa

Citizens of the following countries/territories who hold valid national passports may apply for eVisas online provided they will land at O. R. Tambo International Airport: [8]

1 – Already exempt from visa requirement.

Non-ordinary 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):

1 – 120 days
2 – 30 days

Visa exemption agreement was signed with Mali but not yet ratified.[19]

Eligible international organizations

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

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.

Visa types

Visas issued by South Africa are for:[20]
  • 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:[21]
  • 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

e-Visa system

The Department of Home Affairs announced during a parliamentary presentation on 18 February 2020 that a new e-Visa system would be introduced to simplify entrance into the country. The government department revealed that it had successfully trialled the e-Visa in Kenya, with further plans to extend this to India, Nigeria and China in the months following.[22]

The pilot trials were conducted in November 2019. The estimated time for an e-Visa application process would take 20 minutes, according to Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza, granted that all the relevant travel documents are readily available.[23]

Overstay consequences

It is a departure of a foreigner from South Africa on an expired visa that triggers an overstay.[24]

A foreigner who remains in South Africa beyond the expiry of his/her visa and has not applied for a valid status is an illegal foreigner in terms of the South African Immigration Act.[25]

An overstayer will upon departure be declared an undesirable person in terms of section 30(1)(f) of the Immigration Act.

  • A foreigner who has overstayed less than 30 days the validity of his/her visa will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 1 year.
  • A foreigner who has overstayed more than 30 days the validity of his/her visa will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 5 years.
  • A foreigner who overstayed twice in a period of 24 months (repeat offenders) will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 2 years.

The ban does not simply expire over time and the restrictions placed against the foreigner need to be removed and/or the undesirability uplifted. An undesirable person does not do not qualify for a port of entry visa, visa, admission into the Republic or a permanent residence permit.

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to South Africa were from the following countries of nationality:[26][27]

Country 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
 Zimbabwe2,258,7942,208,9302,039,9322,028,8811,900,7912,143,716
 Lesotho1,563,4481,739,1881,747,2111,757,0581,394,9131,501,642
 Mozambique1,333,1951,360,8961,339,2451,268,2581,200,3351,283,016
 Eswatini917,631883,735876,992893,618835,006918,490
 Botswana668,315688,566681,379679,828593,514555,590
 United Kingdom436,559430,708447,901447,840407,486401,914
 United States373,694376,892370,747345,013297,226309,255
 Germany322,720343,229349,211311,832256,646274,571
 Malawi199,079197,317175,014154,017135,260166,964
 Namibia184,431200,367208,747214,664212,514211,453
Total10,228,59310,472,10510,285,19710,044,1638,903,7739,549,236

See also
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for South Africa.

References
  1. "New visa rules will hurt tourism: DA – IOL News". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  2. "Department of Home Affairs – Exempt Countries". home-affairs.gov.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  3. "eVisa". Department of Home Affairs eVisa. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  4. "South Africa: SA eVisa System Launched in 14 Countries". allAfrica. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  5. "Countries exempt from South African Visas. Department of Home Affairs".
  6. "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  7. "Department of Home Affairs - Exempt Countries".
  8. "South Africa eVisa".
  9. "Concórdia". Concordia.itamaraty.gov.br. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  10. "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.
  11. 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.
  12. "South Africa soon to open visa-free door to Kiwis". 14 June 2023.
  13. "Kenya, South Africa to begin mutual visa-free system in January".
  14. "Ghana and South Africa agree visa-free entry to both countries".
  15. 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.
  16. Gschwind, RIC Media – Enrica Hölzinger,Patrick. "Visa & Consular – South African Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna". suedafrika-botschaft.at. Retrieved 8 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. "DHA revokes visa free travel for New Zealand nationals, but that's just the beginning". 14 December 2016.
  18. "Department of Home Affairs - Exempt Countries".
  19. "South Africa and Mali sign reciprocal Visa Waiver Agreement – African Daily Voice". Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  20. "Types of Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
  21. "Types of Temporary Residence Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
  22. Stanton, Maya. "South Africa to launch new e-visa scheme". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  23. "South Africa is expanding its new e-visa system". Business Tech. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  24. Eisenberg, Gary (June 2018). "Immigration Attorney". Eisenberg & Associates. Eisenberg & Associates. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  25. Department of Home Affairs. "South African Immigration Act" (PDF). DHA: Publications. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  26. "Tourism 2019, pages 11–14" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  27. Africa, Statistics South. "Publication – Statistics South Africa". statssa.gov.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
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