South Africa has introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, streamlining visa applications for eligible visitors. This digital system allows you to apply online and receive real-time approvals, removing the need for paper applications or embassy visits.

A visa will be issued for a visit for tourism or business purposes and is valid for a period of 90 days. Some countries are exempted from visa control, which means that citizens from those countries do not need a visa to visit South Africa.

South Africa visa processing times vary significantly by visa type, country, and consulate workload, ranging from a few days (like 5-10 for some short-term visitor visas with complete documents) to several weeks or even months for long-stay permits (like 4-6 weeks for some Temporary Residence Permits, up to 8-12 weeks for study/tourist, or longer for complex ones like spousal visas due to backlogs). Standard times often start at around 15 working days, but can extend to 30-60 days or more if there are issues or high demand, so always check VFS Global or the specific Embassy/Consulate website for current estimates.

A valid passport in respect to each applicant with at least 2 clear pages and should be valid for at least a period of 1month from date of return. Two passport size photographs (45*35mm) not more than 12 months old, coloured with a white or clear background.

Higher English Language Requirements (8 January 2026) The English language requirement for new Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual (HPI) visa applicants will increase from B1 (GCSE level) to B2 (A-level standard) from 08 January 2026.

once per visit The visitor's visa can only be extended once per visit, however there is no limit for how often foreigners may enter South Africa as a tourist per calendar year.