South Africa, the southernmost nation on the African continent, has become a popular tourism destination due to its diverse geography, stunning natural surroundings, and rich cultural heritage. To have a trip to this wonderful nation, travelers must pay the South Africa visa fee in order to continue the visa application process. Thus, this article will be a great choice for you to completely comprehend this visa fee if you want to receive authorization to enter South Africa.
First of all, you should understand what a South Africa visa fee is before learning more about it. Actually, it refers to an administrative expense paid during the visa application process for entry into South Africa.
The South Africa visa fee is an administrative expense paid during the visa application process
No matter why you want to visit South Africa, you must apply for a visa in advance. This implies that you will not be allowed to enter South Africa if your visa is not valid. However, there are still a number of countries whose nationals are exempt from the requirements for South Africa visas.
According to the data of the South African Department of Home Affairs, here is a list of nations whose citizens can visit South Africa without a visa based on the length of stay and the types of passports:
|
Country/Organisation |
Type of passport |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Diplomatic passport |
Official passport |
Service passport |
Special passport |
Ordinary passport |
|
|
African Union laissez-passer |
90 days |
||||
|
African Development Bank laissez-passers |
90 days |
||||
|
Albania |
120 days |
120 days |
120 days |
||
|
Algeria |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
||
|
Andorra |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Angola |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
90 days per annum |
|
Anguilla |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Antigua and Barbuda |
30 days |
30 days |
|
30 days |
|
|
Argentina |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Australia |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Austria |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
Bahamas |
|
|
|
30 days |
|
|
Barbados |
30 days |
30 days |
|
30 days |
|
|
Belarus |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
||
|
Belgium |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Belize |
30 days |
30 days |
|
30 days |
|
|
Benin |
30 days |
30 days |
|
30 days |
|
|
Bermuda |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Bolivia |
30 days |
30 days |
|
30 days |
|
|
Botswana |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Brazil |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
British Antarctic Territory |
|
|
|
90 days |
|
|
British Indian Ocean Territory |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
British Virgin Island |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Bulgaria |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Canada |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Cape Verde |
30 days |
30 days |
|
30 days |
|
|
Cayman Islands |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
Chile |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
|
China |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
|
The Union of Comoros |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
||
|
The Democratic Republic of the Congo |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Costa Rica |
30 days |
30 days |
|
30 days |
|
|
Croatia |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
||
|
Cuba |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
||
|
Cyprus |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
30 days |
|
Czech Republic |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Denmark |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Ducie and Oeno Islands |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Ecuador |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Egypt |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
|
Ethiopia |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Falkland Islands |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Finland |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
France |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Gabon |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Germany |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Ghana |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days per annum |
|
Gibraltar |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Greece |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Guernsey |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Guinea |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Guyana |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Henderson |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Hong Kong |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Hungary |
120 days |
120 days |
120 days |
|
30 days |
|
Iceland |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
India |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Indonesia |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
|
Ireland |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Isle of Man |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Israel |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Italy |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Ivory Coast |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
|
Jamaica |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Japan |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Jersey |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Jordan |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Kenya |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days per annum |
|
The Kingdom of Eswatini |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Lesotho |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Liberia |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Liechtenstein |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Lithuania |
30 days per annum |
30 days per annum |
|
|
|
|
Luxembourg |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
Macau |
|
|
|
|
30 days |
|
Madagascar |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
90 days per annum |
|
Malawi |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
30 days |
|
Malaysia |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
Maldives |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Mali |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Malta |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Mauritius |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Mexico |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Monaco |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Montserrat |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Morocco |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
|
Mozambique |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
30 days |
|
Namibia |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
90 days per annum |
|
The Netherlands |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
90 days |
|
New Zealand |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
Niger |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Nigeria |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Norway |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Palestine |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
Panama |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Paraguay |
120 days |
120 days |
120 days |
|
90 days |
|
Peru |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
The Pitcairn Islands |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Poland |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
30 days |
|
Portugal |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Qatar |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
Republic of Korea (South Korea) |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
30 days |
|
Romania |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Russian Federation |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Rwanda |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
|
SADC laissez-passers |
|
90 days |
|
|
|
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
San Marino |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
São Tomé and Príncipe |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
Saudi Arabia |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
Senegal |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Seychelles |
30 days |
30 days |
|
|
90 days per annum |
|
Sierra Leone |
90 days per annum |
90 days per annum |
90 days per annum |
|
|
|
Singapore |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Slovak Republic |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Spain |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Sweden |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Switzerland |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Tanzania |
90 days per annum |
90 days per annum |
|
|
90 days per annum |
|
Thailand |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
30 days |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
Tunisia |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
Turkey |
30 days |
|
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
Turks and Caicos Islands |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Uganda |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
The United Arab Emirates |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
90 days |
|
The United Nations laissez-passer |
90 days |
||||
|
The United States of America |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
Uruguay |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Venezuela |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Vietnam |
90 days |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
|
Virgin Islands |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
|
Zambia |
90 days per annum |
90 days per annum |
|
|
90 days per annum |
|
Zimbabwe |
90 days |
90 days |
|
|
90 days |
Note:
Foreign citizens are not required to pay fees for diplomatic, official, and service passports.
Belize, Benin, Gabon, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Turkey only require visa fees if the planned visit is longer than 30 days.
Depending on whether you hold a diplomatic, official, or service passport, the list of nations according to the visa-exemption policy of South Africa may vary. For further information, you need to contact the South African Embassies or Consulates.
You must decide why you want to visit South Africa and know exactly what type of visa you want to apply for before discovering the South Africa visa fee. It is true that there are numerous types of South Africa visas available to foreign nationals. To learn more about them, you can check out the information below:
|
Type of visa |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Visitor visa |
Travelers with a visitor visa to South Africa can stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. The visitor visa is the most common type of South Africa visa. |
|
Business visa |
For a maximum of 90 days, eligible citizens may apply for a South Africa business visa in order to work or invest in the South African economy. The application form (BI-1738) must be filled out before making an investment or launching a business. Investors are required to contribute financially as well. Additionally, this visa is used for people who plan to do business in South Africa, such as attending meetings, conferences, or negotiations. |
|
Work visa |
People can apply for a work visa if they have received an offer of employment from a South African company. Applications for visas can be filed at a South Africa Embassy or Consulate overseas or at a Visa Facilitation Services Center (VFS) in South Africa. |
|
Study visa |
The study visa is used for foreigners who want to study at educational institutions in South Africa. The validity of the study visa depends on the length of the course. |
|
Transit visa |
The transit visa is granted to foreign nationals who want to pass through South Africa on route to one of its neighbors. The visa is only valid for a maximum of three days. |
|
Tourist visa (E-Visa) |
For foreign visitors who wish to come to South Africa for a brief vacation, a tourist visa is required. Applications for the tourist visa are now being accepted online only for 14 different nationalities. It will be delivered to your email after it is accepted. You can enter South Africa by showing the E-Visa at the border. |
Note:
Besides the aforementioned types of visas, South Africa also offers other ones, such as an exchange visa, a retired persons’ visa, a relatives' visa, etc.
There are many types of South Africa visas that you can use to visit this nation
You can apply for a visa in person at a South African Embassy or Consulate with the simple steps below:
You need to verify the main purpose of your trip to South Africa in order to choose a suitable type of visa.
You need to make an appointment at the closest South African visa application office, which may be an Embassy, a Consulate, or a visa application center. You should ask them about their visa requirements and the South Africa visa fee before applying for your visa.
You do not forget to fill out all the details on the application form, then print and bring the completed form to the visa application center, the Embassy, or the Consulate after downloading it.
Providing the required documents for the South African diplomatic mission to which you submit is a must. Thus, you need to prepare them in advance. Here is a list of what you need to have in advance:
A completed application form (BI-84);
A passport or a travel document;
Two passport-sized photos;
Proof of your payment for the South Africa visa fee;
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever (if required);
A return or onward ticket (in case you travel by air);
Besides these documents, based on the type of visa that you choose, you need to present other paperwork, such as proof of relationship to dependents, proof of sufficient funds, etc.
You are required to show up for the appointment to submit your visa application in person. This implies that you are not allowed to have someone else as your substitute attend the appointment. You will need to submit the necessary paperwork and your biometric documents.
After submitting your application form and other documents, you need to wait for the result of your visa application.
You can go to the South African diplomatic mission to receive your passport, which contains your visa, after a decision has been reached. When you get your passport in person, you will need to bring a form of government identification along with your receipt. A representative may receive your passport if that person has your signed letter of authorization and the two aforementioned documents.
The bank balance requirements for each type of visa are different, so you should consider the following information to prepare your bank balance well:
|
Type of visa |
Description |
|
Tourist visa |
To apply for the tourist visa, you need to have a minimum amount of money that is the equivalent of 3000 South African Rand (ZAR) per month of stay in accordance with the high commission requirements. You need to make sure that you can easily access the money. Besides, your stable transaction history is of paramount importance. |
|
Work visa |
For the work visa, your employment contract states the remuneration that is adequate to cover living expenses. In fact, you need to have a balance that covers your spending for six months, and the exact amount depends on your situation. |
|
Study visa |
Regarding the study visa, the bank balance needs to contain a minimum amount of money that is equivalent to your tuition fees for one year plus your living expenses of 5000 ZAR per month. |
|
Retirement visa |
For the retirement visa, a minimum of 20,000 ZAR must be earned on a monthly basis from pensions, rental income, and other retirement investments. When it comes to the business visa, you must pledge to contribute 5 million ZAR to the company's book value in South Africa. |
To complete the process of your visa application, paying the South Africa visa fee is a crucial step that you must not skip. In this part, we will offer you several useful insights into the visa fee:
To learn more about the visa fee for each type of visa, you can check out the details on the list below:
|
Type of visa |
South Africa visa fee |
|
Visitor visa |
$36.00 |
|
Study visa |
$36.00 |
|
Transit visa |
$36.00 |
|
Visa to attend business meetings (no more than 90 days) |
$36.00 |
|
Visa to conduct research |
$36.00 |
|
Treaty visa |
$36.00 |
|
Medical visa |
$36.00 |
|
Exchange visa |
$36.00 |
|
A retired person's visa |
$36.00 |
|
Business visa (more than 90 days) |
$127.00 |
|
General work visa |
$127.00 |
|
Critical skills work visa |
$127.00 |
|
Corporate visa |
No fee |
The South Africa visa fee may vary depending on the types of visas
Unfortunately, it is not fixed. Depending on the South African diplomatic mission to which you submit and the type of visa that you intend to choose, the South Africa visa fee may be significantly modified. Therefore, it is recommended that you reach out to that diplomatic mission to understand its requirements for the visa fee.
Actually, besides the visa fee, you also need to pay other fees, such as a mailing fee, fees for a passport or travel document, etc.
There are many different payment methods for your visa fee. In particular, your payment can be made by a credit or debit card or in cash.
The processing time may vary depending on the type of visa that you apply for and the diplomatic mission to which you submit your application. However, it may last from 10 to 15 days or even longer.
Despite having a few disadvantages, applying for a South Africa visa offers considerable advantages for applicants. Here is a list of the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining this visa:
|
Getting a South Africa visa |
|
|---|---|
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
You will have a chance to visit one of the most fascinating nations in Africa. |
The documentation preparation and the process of your visa application may take a significant amount of time. |
|
It allows you to experience the diverse geography, stunning natural surroundings, and rich cultural heritage of this nation. |
The South Africa visa fee can be costly, with a variety of fees ranging from $36 to $186 based on the type of visa that you apply for. |
|
Plenty of business opportunities can be offered to you. |
It does not ensure that you can get your visa successfully. A refusal can be given to you if your visa application has a certain problem, such as wrong or unidentified information, late payment of the visa fee, etc. |
|
It will add value to your resume if you have overseas experience. |
Traveling to South Africa may not only cost a lot of money but also be time-consuming. |
To understand the culture and beautiful landscape in South Africa, you should not miss the following tourist destinations:
|
Attractions |
|
|---|---|
|
Cape Agulhas |
Addo Elephant National Park |
|
Cradle of Humankind |
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park |
|
Blyde River Canyon |
Kruger National Park |
|
Drakensberg Mountains |
The Apartheid Museum |
|
Table Mountain |
Two Oceans Aquarium |
You should visit the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa to enjoy its nature
Additionally, here are some must-do activities that you should join if you have a chance to visit this fascinating country:
|
Activities |
|
|---|---|
|
Surfing in Jeffreys Bay |
Driving along the Garden Route |
|
Watching the beautiful wildflowers of Namaqua |
Having a sight-seeing trip in Durban |
|
Experiencing the Sun City Resort |
Attending the Cape Town Jazz Festival for two days in late March |
|
Observing lovely African penguins at Boulders Beach |
Participating in the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival on the 2nd of January |
|
Watching whales in Hermanus |
Hiking Table Mountain in the Cape Town area |
In conclusion, South Africa has a variety of wonderful things that are waiting for you to discover. To have a chance to visit this beautiful nation, paying the South Africa visa fee on time and then getting the visa successfully is a must-do. This step is very easy for you to carry out.
However, a few problems may be posed during the process of the visa application. If you need our support to solve these problems, you can contact us at [email protected].
