Visitor's visa: Indian citizen in United States → South Africa
Indian citizens living in the United States need a South African visitor's visa — apply at the South African mission or its appointed visa centre (VFS Global) covering your US address for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days.
South African visitor's visa for a tourism or business visit of up to 90 days, applied for at a South African embassy, mission or consulate.
- Validity
- Issued for a period of 90 days or less (becomes a visitor's permit on entry, with its period of validity calculated from the date of entry)
- Entries
- As issued (single or multiple entry)
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 90 days — the immigration officer sets the period at the port of entry
When to start
Start 14–35 days before your travel date.
A visitor's visa is for travellers resident outside South Africa visiting for tourism or business for 90 days or less.
Gather a passport valid 30+ days beyond your visit (with an unused page), a completed Form BI-84, and the prescribed fee.
Submit your application at a South African embassy, mission or consulate, where a consular officer reviews it.
On arrival, an immigration official decides admission and how long you may stay; the visa becomes a visitor's permit.
What you'll need
- Passport — A passport or travel document valid for at least 30 days after your intended visit, with an unused page for entry/departure endorsements. ✓ verified
- Form BI-84 — A completed Form BI-84 (application for a visa) plus payment of the prescribed fee. ✓ verified
- Prescribed fee — Payment of the prescribed visa fee. ✓ verified
- Yellow-fever certificate — A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if applicable to your travel). ✓ verified·
Where you'll apply
Because you live in the United States, apply for the South African visitor's visa at the South African mission or its appointed visa centre (VFS Global) covering your US address (an eVisa is available to a defined list of countries).
- VFS Global South Africa Visa Application Centre — Washington DC — serves United States (mid-Atlantic / east coast)
- VFS Global South Africa Visa Application Centre — New York — serves United States (northeast)
- VFS Global South Africa Visa Application Centre — Los Angeles — serves United States (west coast)
Fees
| Visitor's visa | varies |
Gotchas to watch
- A visa is permission to travel, not a guarantee — the immigration official at the port of entry sets the length of stay.
- Visitors are restricted to the activity or purpose for which the visa was issued.