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Are you excited by the idea of visiting South Africa? A country rich in beauty and biodiversity, South Africa stands as the perfect destination to look for business prospects and also to have a memorable vacation. But, while planning your South Africa trip, one thing you have to keep in mind is applying for a visa. A South African visa enables you to enter the territory of the country and explore different destinations as per your requirements.
Check below for all you need to know about the South Africa Visa For Indians.
Yes, as an ordinary Indian tourist, you will need a visa to enter South Africa. Only those with diplomatic or official passports are exempt from South Africa's visa requirements for Indian citizens.
A visa shows that a South African embassy or consulate has deemed you eligible to enter their country. However, there is no option for a visa on arrival if you want a South African visa for Indians. You must file your visa application online.
To visit South Africa, you’ll need:
A valid passport or travel document
At least one blank page in your passport
A valid visa (if required)
Enough money for your stay
A return or onward ticket
A yellow fever certificate (if travelling through or from a yellow fever area)
The South African government offers different visas as per the needs of the applicants. The main South African visa types you can choose from are discussed below.
This visa is issued for tourism purposes to foreigners who want to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days. It can also be issued for research, sports, and business purposes, provided the maximum duration of stay does not exceed 90 days.
Business people who want to invest in or start a new business should opt for a business visa for South Africa. As a business visa holder, you can also study part-time without having to change your visa.
When an employer in South Africa can’t find suitable candidates, he can hire people from abroad. In such cases, an employee in India may qualify for a work visa.
Individuals with specialised skills are the target of this visa. The South African government publishes a list of critical skills, and foreign professionals who possess these skills can apply for this visa.
To be eligible for this visa, your professional qualifications must be vetted by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
If a company wants to transfer its employees from India to South Africa, then the concerned employee can apply for this visa.
For the employee to be eligible, he must have worked at least six months for the company in India prior to his transfer.
Under all three categories of work visas, the applicant is eligible to study part-time.
Indians who want to study at specific institutions in South Africa can opt for this visa. The student will need medical insurance for this visa.
The holder of a student visa can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week on a part-time basis.
Through ACKO, you can get the 90-day Single Entry South African Tourist visa, which means:
You are allowed to enter South Africa once and stay for a maximum of 90 days from the entry date.
Unless you opt for a long-term multiple-entry visa, the South African e-visa validity is typically up to 90 days. Other categories meant for studies and business have a longer validity. Here’s a breakdown.
South Africa Visa Types | Maximum Validity |
---|---|
Visitor’s Visa | 90 days |
Business Visa | 5 years |
General Work Visa | 5 years |
Critical Skills Work Visa | 5 years |
Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa | 4 years |
Study Visa | 8 years |
For Indian applicants, South Africa visa processing times are typically:
Short-term visa: 5 to 15 working days
Long-term visa: 30 to 60 working days from submission at the Visa Application Centre
We will send your South African visa application to the embassy when your booking is confirmed.
To avoid any uncertainties, it is recommended to apply for the visa well in advance, preferably at least 4 months before your travel.
Through ACKO for a Single Entry Tourist Visa, the South Africa visa fees would be around INR 4,585* per person. With this visa, you can stay for 90 days with a validity period of 90 days.
Note: If the South African Embassy rejects your visa, the fees will not be refunded, and the prices are subject to change.
We make it easy and quick to get visas for all international countries.
From submitting documents to getting your visa in your email, we assist you with everything.
Select the payment method to pay for your visa fees.
You can track your visas' real-time progress by downloading the application.
To apply for a South African visa as an Indian citizen, you’ll need:
Passport: Valid for at least 30 days after your trip, with two blank pages.
Visa Application Form: Completed, dated, and signed Form BI-84.
Passport Photos: Two recent colour photos (35mm x 45mm) with a white or clear background.
Financial Proof: Bank statements for the last 6 months, showing a minimum balance of Rs. 75,000, or other financial documents.
Travel Insurance: Coverage of at least $50,000 per person.
Yellow Fever Certificate: Required if travelling through yellow fever areas.
Return or Onward Ticket: A confirmed ticket for your return or onward travel.
Accommodation: Proof of confirmed hotel or rental booking.
Itinerary: A plan of your daily schedule in South Africa.
Medical Report: A recent report (within 6 months) from a registered doctor.
Aadhar Card: Both original and photocopy.
If visiting friends or family, include an invitation letter and the inviter’s ID and address proof.
You must upload your photograph while applying for your South Africa visa. Here are the specifications for the same.
The dimensions of the photo should be 35 mm x 45 mm.
The height of the face should be at least 29 mm.
The photograph should have clicked within the last three months.
The background colour must be white.
Here are the steps you must follow to apply for a South African visa through ACKO.
Step 1: Click here and visit the official page.
Step 2: Choose the type of visa you want.
Step 3: One by one, fill in your personal details.
Step 4: Submit all the required documents. These typically include:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity
- Completed visa application form
- Passport-size photographs
- Return ticket
Step 5: Read the “Declaration” and select “ I declare that I have read and understand the declaration and accept the terms and conditions.” Finally, click "Submit."
Step 6: Pay the visa fees.
Once the visa officials accept your application, you will get an email with an update about your South Africa e-visa for Indians.
There are cases when South African visa authorities reject certain visa applications.
Your application for a South Africa visa for Indians can get rejected for the following reasons.
If you enter any wrong information in your application or there is a mismatch between your passport details and the visa application form, then your visa application could get rejected.
Uploading the wrong or fake documents can lead to the rejection of your visa application.
Your bank statements should convince the authorities that you can afford the expenses in South Africa; otherwise, they can reject your visa.
If you have been involved in any crime previously, then your visa application can be declined.
Rejection of your South African visa for Indians can be a setback. The suggestions below can help you solve your South Africa e-visa problems and submit a successful visa application.
Verify that all the information provided by you in the application is correct. There should not be any discrepancy between your passport details and your application.
After finding out where you went wrong earlier, you can again submit an application for South African e-visa for Indians.
You can contact the officials at the South African Embassy or Consulate regarding the rejection of your application. Maybe they will shed a better light on the issue.
In your next application, upload your documents correctly. This will convince the visa officials about the authenticity of your application.
If you're on a South African tourist visa, you can apply for one extension, up to 90 days, but it must be done before your visa expires. Extensions can only be applied in person at the South African Department of Home Affairs and cannot be done from outside South Africa. There is a fee for the extension.
To apply for a visa extension, you’ll need:
Valid Passport: Must be valid for at least 30 days after your intended departure date.
Visit Details: Statement or documents explaining the purpose and duration of your stay.
Return/Onward Ticket: Proof of a return ticket or enough funds to buy one.
Financial Proof: Evidence of sufficient financial means.
If you want a South Africa visa for Indians, you should not get confused amid all the information that you have to fill out in the application form. Here are some things worth bearing in mind.
Different visas are provided for different objectives. Thoroughly analyse what you want to achieve with your trip and apply for the right visa accordingly.
When you fill up your application, carefully ensure that the details match the information in your passport.
It is possible that the embassy or consulate officials would want you to pay a visit. In such a case, you should keep your documents handy.
Though travel insurance is not mandatory for a South African trip, we strongly recommend that you buy one before your visit. It will give you financial security in case of any unforeseen expenses.
It is essentially a permit, which proves that South African visa authorities have reviewed your visa application and permitted you to visit the country. The activities you can take part in in South Africa will be defined by the type of visa you get.
You can file your application by visiting our website for South African e-visas.
Yes. You can apply for a South Africa sticker visa for Indians via our official visa portal for South Africa. It's very easy and convenient, and it will take hardly 5 minutes to complete the application.
For a single-entry tourist visa, you will get a validity of 90 days from the issuing date.
Broadly, depending on the duration and purpose of your visa, you will find two categories of visas.
However, through ACKO, you can apply for a single entry visa visit.
No, if you want to travel to South Africa, you must first apply for and acquire a visa in India before landing in South Africa.
It depends on the visa you apply for. While ordinarily there is no need for medical cover, you would need insurance in case you apply for a study visa, for example.
Some of the important factors are:
The South African visa application can take between a few days and months.
No change is possible after your e-visa is issued. If necessary, you can again apply for an e-visa.