Consular Services
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Consular Services |
TYPES OF VISITOR'S VISAS
N.B. Regardless of the type of visa you are applying for, you are required to submit:
A completed visa application form (form can be found at www.home-affairs.gov.za)
Valid passport to cover the duration of your stay in SA.
Two passport size photos.
Proof of re-entry into the USA or a copy of US Resident Alien Card.
Proof of medical insurance coverage while abroad.
Flight itinerary.
Prescribed, non-refundable application fee of $47.00 where applicable. See list of countries subject to application fees.
A notarized consent from both parents to authorize the South African Embassy to grant the required visa to a childe, in case of a minor (under18 years of age). See 'Consent' form.
Processing time is approximately five (5) working days.
Prescribed fee must be submitted in the form of cast, money order or certified bank check payable to the South African Embassy, Washington, DC. No personal checks will be accepted. Postage fee of $15.00 or pre-paid FEDEX for return of passport must be provided at all times.
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1. BONA FIDE HOLIDAY OR FAMILY VISIT |
See list of countries whose passport holders are exempt from South
African visa requirements when visiting for bona fide holiday or transit
purposes.
Additional documents to be submitted:
A letter from a person being visited in RSA
Confirmation of hotel reservation if above mentioned is not applicable
Proof of funds. This can be done in a form of bank statement
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2. SPORTING ACTIVITIES |
Sportspersons from countries, which are exempt from South African visa
control who wish to participate in any sports event as amateurs or professionals
without reward (prize money is not considered reward), can enter on their visa
exemption. See list of countries exempt.
Additional documents to be submitted:
A letter of invitation or confirmation of the event from a sport of athletic organization in RSA
Proof of funds
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3. SPECIALIZED TECHNICIANS |
This type of visa is for persons who are sent to South Africa to install or repair specialized imported equipment on a contract basis while being remunerated by the supplier abroad or to train South Africans in this regard.
Additional documents to be submitted:
Confirmation letter from the employer in the US
Letter from the host company in South Africa
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4. SPOUSE OR A DEPENDANT CHILD |
Accompanying a person in possession of a valid visa/permit or a temporary resident permit (TRP).
Additional documents to be submitted:
A proof of the temporary residence permit from the person that the applicant is accompanying to RSA. This can be in the form of a notarized copy of a passport of the TRP holder in RSA.
Written undertaking of the person the applicant is to accompany that he or she will look after him or her
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5. SPEAKER OR ATTENDANT AT A CONFERENCE, SYMPOSIUM OR SEMINAR |
Persons who are provisionally exempt from South African visa control, may enter without visas in order to attend or address an international conference, congress, symposium or seminar. See list for countries which are exempt.
Additional documents to be submitted:
A letter of invitation from the host organization in RSA inviting the applicant.
Such a letter should detail the duration of the applicant's visit and also explain whether the host organization will look after the applicant amid his or her visit in RSA.
Proof of funds, if applicable.
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6. MEMBER OF A RELIGIOUS TOUR |
Persons traveling to participate in a religious tour are required to obtain visitors visa.
Additional documents to be submitted:
A letter of invitation from the host organization in RSA inviting the applicant.
Such a letter should detail the duration of the applicant's visit and also explain whether the host organization will look after the applicant amid his or her visit in RSA.
Proof of funds, if applicable.
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7. RESEARCHERS |
Additional documents to be submitted:
Proof of being attached to a tertiary institution.
A letter of invitation from the host institution or organization, if applicable.
Brief motivation covering the reasons why the research is undertaken in the RSA and the field of research.
Proof funding (if the institution that the applicant is attached to will not pay for his or her visit).
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8. VISITING PROFESSORS |
This visa is meant for professors who are visiting RSA on sabbatical or those invited to lecture at the host institution for a certain period of time.
Additional documents to be submitted:
Proof of being attached to a tertiary institution.
Letter of invitation from a host institution. Such a letter should state the duration of the visit and whether the university is funding the visit.
Proof of funding, if applicable.
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9. GAP STUDENTS |
These are students who have completed their high school education and have 12 months or less to commence their university of college education in their countries of origin. It is issued with an intention of allowing such students to spend some time at a South African school to participate in and to assist with sport and cultural activities.
Additional documents to be submitted:
Letter of acceptance from a host secondary education institution in RSA.
Proof of enrollment with a tertiary educational institution abroad. It is worth noting that such a proof should indicate the commencement date of study at a foreign institution.
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10. INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS |
Additional documents to be submitted:
A letter of invitation from the host organization.
A letter from the USA organization.
Proof of funds.
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11. TOURIST GUIDES |
Foreign tourist guides accompanying tour groups to RSA must be registered with the South African Registrar of Tourist Guides in terms of the Tourism Act, 1993 and be in possession of a visitors permit to that effect.
Additional documents to be submitted:
Proof of registration with the South African Tourist Guides.
Proof of funds.
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12. PERSONS WHO HAVE A CLAIM TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE |
Additional documents to be submitted:
Proof of permanent residence.
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13. POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS |
Additional documents to be submitted:
Proof of being attached to an academic institution.
Proof of being accepted by an academic institution in RSA to conduct post doctoral research at it.
Proof of funds.
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14. VOLUNTEER COACHES AND TRAINERS ATTENDING COMMUNITY SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS |
Additional documents to be submitted:
Proof of being accepted or invited by a local sport organization to attend community sports development projects in RSA. Such a letter should show the duration of the development program to be undertaken and whether the organization concerned will look after the applicant while in RSA.
Proof of funds (if the host organization will not look after the applicant).
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15. PERSONS VISITING RSA ON ORGANIZED STUDY OR TOURISM PACKAGES |
Additional documents to be submitted:
Letter of invitation from the host organization in RSA. Such a letter should show the duration of the visit.
Proof of funds.
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16. MODELS |
As models are not employed by the agencies that contracted them in the RSA, they must apply for a visitor's visa.
Additional documents to be submitted:
A contract between the model and the agency he/she will work with in RSA. Such a contract should be fully signed by both of them - model and agency.
Curriculum vitae
Portfolio card of the model concerned.
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17. KEY PERSONNEL OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS |
This category is mainly for persons who are seconded by multinational companies that have invested in RSA in order to train South Africans or to implement a certain project for which persons who can implement them are not available in the said company's personnel in RSA. No age restriction is placed on seconded personnel and no police clearances are requested from them. Those who are seconded to companies owned by South Africans must apply for a work permit.
Additional documents to be submitted:
Applicant's resume
Medical certificate
Supporting letter from the US employer detailing the nature of the job the applicant will perform, job title, duration of the secondment
Written undertaking to repatriate the applicant from RSA on the expiry of the contract. Such an undertaking should be signed by both the applicant and his/her employer.
Proof of medical coverage while in RSA.
Holders of valid permanent residence permits for South Africa no longer require re-entry visas when returning to the country from foreign trips. This also applies to those with valid study, work, and work seeker's permits, their dependents, and refugees.
WHERE TO OBTAIN A VISA OR PERMIT
Applicants who require visas should submit their completed applications to the South African Mission under whose jurisdiction they fall, at the addresses set out below:
Alabama, Caribbean, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
The South African Embassy
Consular Section
4301 Connecticut Aye, NW - Suite 220
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-232-4400
Fax: 202-244-9417
Email: consular@saembassy.org
Website: http://www.saembassy.org
Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia
The South African Consulate General
333 East 38th Street
8th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-213-4880
Fax: 212-213-0102
Email: sacg@southafrica-newyork.net
Website: http://www.southafrica-newyork.net
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
The South African Consulate General
6300 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel: 323-651-0902
Fax: 323-651-5969
Email: sacgla@link2sa.com
Website: http://www.link2sa.com
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin
The South African Consulate General
200 South Michigan Avenue
6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel: 312-939-7929
Fax: 312-939-2588
Email: sacongenchicago@world.att.net
SOJOURN IN SOUTH AFRICA
This is not governed by the duration of the validity of the visa, but by the temporary residence permit (green sticker) which is issued on arrival at the South African port of entry, which is usually valid for three months (90 days).
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Yellow fever immunization is a requirement ONLY if the journey to the Republic starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America by any means other than by scheduled air service. The validity of yellow fever certifications extends for a period often (10) years beginning ten (10) days after the date of immunization, or in the case of re-immunization within such period often (10) years from the date of that re-immunization.
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
Visitors to South Africa traveling to neighboring countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe or Mozambique, must ensure that they are in possession of visas which are valid for those countries, and for re-entry if they intend returning to South Africa.
DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL PASSPORT HOLDERS
Applications for visas should be submitted by the Government Department dealing with foreign/external affairs, or by other formal communication, together with visa application forms. Diplomats and officials abroad should apply to the South African Mission represented in the country to which they are assigned, or via their Mission in South Africa. In countries where there is no South African representation, or the applicant’s country does not have any representation in South Africa, application should be made directly to the Director General, Department of Foreign Affairs, Protocol Section, Private Bag X152, Pretoria, 0001, Republic of South Africa.
As a matter of policy, loose leaf visas are not issued. In highly exceptional cases (e.g. when the applicant resides in a country where South Africa has not representation) and applicant may request that a loose leaf visa be granted. Such applications must be accompanied by notarized copies of passports (where applicants do not want to mail their passports overseas) and two photographs for each application, as well as an explanation for such request.
MINOR CHILDREN
Applications by minor children (18 years and under) planning to visit or travel to South Africa, must be accompanied by a certified letter of consent from the parent not accompanying the child or children. Where a visa application for a child is not accompanied by visa applications from the parent(s), a notarized letter of explanation (e.g. that the parent (s) are South African passport holders or that the child is traveling alone) should be attached to the child’s application form. The letter should also authorize the South African Mission to grant visa facilities to the child. Applications for visas for minor children must be signed by both parents. If one of the parents is deceased this fact must be stated. In special circumstances (i.e. the absence of a parent) a letter or facsimile giving consent will be accepted. If the parent or guardian refuses consent and a competent court orders otherwise, the relevant court order must accompany the visa application. If parents are divorced, both parents’ consent is required unless a competent court orders otherwise.