Visa Requirements

Please note that it is your responsibility to arrive in South Africa with the correct visa. You can EXTEND your visa if necessary, but you cannot CHANGE the status of your visa.

All information given here is correct as of 1 January 2011. It may change from time to time and may vary from Embassy to Embassy. For the latest information visit www.home-affairs.gov.za or contact your nearest South African Embassy / Consulate.

If anything is unclear or if you are experiencing any problems with the Embassy then please contact us for assistance. We are here to help and guide you through the process.

Which visa do I need?

Please answer the three questions below in order to receive an indication of which visa you will require.

What would you like to do?
From which country are you passport holder?
Total length of stay in South Africa in days (1-365):

Visa extension

Students may extend their visitor’s permit while they are in South Africa. However, the application may be rejected by the Department of Home Affairs without any given reason. It is therefore recommended that the visa received upon entry into South Africa is valid for the full duration of your stay.

Requirements:

Application at least 30 days prior to expiry of existing permit.
A completed application form (BI-1739 - completed in black ink only).
A passport valid for no less than 30 days after expiry of intended visit.
A valid permit.
A permit fee.
Proof of financial means (i.e. bank statements or salary advice).
Applicants travelling by air must be in possession of a return or onward ticket and must furnish proof of a return booking with the relevant airline.
A letter stating the purpose and duration of the stay.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required except for travellers going to the north-eastern areas of South Africa, where anti-malaria precautions are recommended. Clients should consult their doctor for recommendations.

A Yellow fever certificate is compulsory for those persons who have travelled from, or intend travelling through countries in the yellow fever belt:

Africa: Angola, Burundi, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire.

South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela, Argentina and Paraguay.

Medical Aid insurance

Medical Aid insurance is required for certain types of visa, but we recommend it to all students, even where not required. NetworX from Compcare is a medical aid insurance that is specifically designed for students who visit South Africa for 1 to 12 months. The costs are ZAR 306 (€ 32 / US$ 47) per month (as of June 2011). More information and enrolment.