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South Africa

Every South Africa visa route, explained

South Africa has a route for every purpose — short visits (visa-exempt or a visitor's visa/eVisa), plus study, work (general and critical-skills), business, relative's and retired-person visas. Routes with verified step-by-step guides link straight to them; the rest link to the Department of Home Affairs.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Visitor's visa

Short visits for tourism or business, up to 90 days. Many nationalities are visa-exempt; others need a visitor's visa from a South African mission (an eVisa exists for a defined list of countries).

  • Tourists and short-term business visitors
Up to 90 days (extendable once)

10 verified step-by-step guides →

Study

Study visa

For students enrolled at a SAQA-registered or DHA-approved educational institution in South Africa.

  • Students with a letter of acceptance from a registered SA institution

official page →

Work & business

General work visa

For foreigners with a job offer where no suitably qualified South African is available (subject to a labour-market test).

  • Workers with a confirmed South African job offer

official page →

Critical Skills work visa

For applicants with skills or qualifications on South Africa's critical-skills list; no job offer required to apply.

  • Holders of skills on the critical-skills list

official page →

Business visa

For foreigners establishing or investing in a business in South Africa in which they will be employed.

  • Investors and business founders

official page →

Family & residence

Relative's visa

For an immediate family member of a South African citizen or permanent resident.

  • Spouses, children and immediate family of citizens / permanent residents
Up to 2 years at a time

official page →

Other routes

Retired person's visa

Long-stay visa for retirees who can show a guaranteed minimum income or net worth.

official page →

Remote Work Visitor Visa

Visitor-visa category introduced in October 2024 letting remote employees of foreign employers work from South Africa, subject to a minimum income threshold.

  • Remote workers / location-independent professionals employed or contracting outside South Africa
Up to 3 years, renewable

official page →

Verified step-by-step guides

Grounded on official sources — documents, fees, timeline, every fact dated and linked.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Bangladeshi citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇨🇳 China → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Chinese citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇪🇬 Egypt → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Egyptian citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Ethiopian citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇬🇭 Ghana → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Ghanaian citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇮🇳 India → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Indian citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇰🇪 Kenya → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Kenyan citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇳🇬 Nigeria → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Nigerian citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇳🇵 Nepal → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Nepali citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
🇵🇰 Pakistan → South AfricaVisitor's visa
Pakistani citizens need a South African visitor's visa — apply at a South African embassy/mission for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.