PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 30 days longer than the period covering stay in South Africa required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following for business and tourist purposes:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above.
Note: All except Australia, the UK and Northern Ireland require a visa for stays of longer than 90 days.
(b) nationals of British Overseas Territories, British Virgin Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland.
(c) nationals of British Dependent Territories except Arguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Henderson, Cucie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
(d) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uruguay and Venezuela for stays of up to 90 days;
(e) nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Jordan, Korea (Rep), Lesotho, Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Peru, Poland, Seychelles, Slovak Republic, Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey and Zambia for stays of up to 30 days;
(f) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Note: (a) Holders of Visitors visas are not allowed to take up employment in South Africa. However, employment can be taken up under certain circumstances and if the requirements for a work permit are complied with, but only if the embassy/consulate is contacted in advance. (b) Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 years must hold written consent from their parents when travelling alone. (c) Study or work permits must be obtained in the country of normal residence before entry into South Africa. However, exceptions may be made.

Types of visa and cost: Visitors, Business and Transit: £33. Study Permits: £33 (depending on level of education). Work Permits: £118. Nationals of India and Zimbabwe are exempt from visa fees. Other nationals must apply for a visa with the appropriate fee. All fees are subject to change without notice: please check with Embassy or Consulate to confirm costs.
Note: Visa fees will only be requested from nationals of Belize, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Hong Kong (SAR), Korea (Rep), Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Turkey if the intended visit exceeds 30 days.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. Applicants in countries where South Africa is not represented may send their applications to the embassy in the nearest country.

Application requirements: (a) Passport with at least two blank pages valid for 30 days longer than the duration of the visit to South Africa. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) One completed application form (failure to complete the application fully and in detail may result in visa being delayed or refused). (d) Fee (payable by cash, bank draft or postal order). (e) A stamped self-addressed special delivery envelope if applying by post. (f) A valid yellow fever certificate, if travelling through or from a yellow fever endemic area. (g) Proof of sufficient funds to cover visit. (h) Onward/return ticket and, if in transit, proof of sufficient documentation for admission to the country of destination. For Study permits: (a)-(g) and, (h) Letter, with official letterhead, of admission from a South African education institution, confirming exact period of study and accommodation arrangements. (i) Letter from current place of study, if on a student exchange. (j) Fully completed application form BI-1738. (k) Proof of qualifications. For Business permits: (a)-(h) and, (i) Comprehensive business letters from both the UK and South African companies confirming the purpose, nature and duration of the visit, containing written partner agreements containing full details of the partners/directors and their residential status in the Republic, if applicable. (j) Certification by a chartered accountant that the applicant will have at least R2,5 m value invested as part of the book value of the business and will comply with at least one of the other criteria stipulated in regulation 24 (contact Embassy/Consulate for further details). This may include audited financial statements proving viability of any future business.
Note: (a) In the case of failure to comply with any of these regulations, visitors may be required to leave a cash deposit with the Immigration Officer. (b) Visitors must be of sound mind and body. (c) Medical insurance is required by all visitors. (d) There is now no single work permit. The work permits available are: a 'General Quota' work permit, an 'Extraordinary Quota' work permit, a general work permit, an exceptional skills work permit, an intra-company transfer work permit, a work permit under a corporate permit, a work permit for a corporate worker in terms of an agreement with a foreign state, and a work permit for a corporate worker undertaking seasonal labour. Each of these particular work permits has specific application requirements. These specific requirements can be obtained directly from the Embassy/Consulate or from the form BI-1738, which may be downloaded from the website

Working days required: Applications should be made well in advance. The processing time is 10 days, although visas may be processed in 4 working days if application is submitted directly rather than by post. Nationals applying in the UK for a visa are advised to apply well in advance of their departure date. Work permits may take 12 to 30 calendar days to process.

Temporary residence: Temporary residence permits encompass Study, Work or Workseeker Permits. Contact the nearest Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) for further details.