The visa policy of South Africa is how the South African government determines who may and may not enter South Africa.
Visitors to South Africa must obtain a visa from one of the South African diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries, in which case they get a "Port of Entry Visa". Visitors who require a visa must apply in person and provide biometric data.[1]
All visitors must hold a passport that is valid for 1 month after departure and with one blank page (two if a visa is required).[2]
The South African Government launched an e-Visa system, initially for 14 nationalities in February 2022.[3][4]
As of February 2020, South Africa added Tunisia to the visa-free exemption list.
Visa policy mapedit
Visa exemptionedit
Nationals of the following countries can enter South Africa without a visa:[5][6]
90 daysedit
Citizens of the following countries / territories who hold valid national passports are allowed to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa:
[7]
1 - Visa exemption applies for holders of ordinary passports only. 2 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for ordinary passport holders; this limit does not apply to non-ordinary passport holders. 3 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for all passport holders.
30 daysedit
Citizens of the following countries / territories who hold valid national passports are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of up to 30 days:
1 - Visa exemption applies for holders of ordinary passports only. 2 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for ordinary passport holders; this limit does not apply to non-ordinary passport holders.
New Zealand: 16 January 2017[16] (was resumed in 2019)
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America: 25 March 2020 (Since restored) [17]
Non-ordinary passportsedit
Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries do not require visas for visits of the indicated period and transit for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):
Southern African Development Community (SADC) laissez-passer: Staff members of SADC who travel on SADC laissez-passer are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide official business visits of 90 days or less and transit.
Temporary residence visas issued by South Africa are:[21]edit
Business visas
Work visas
Quota work visas
General work visas
Critical skills work visa
Intra-company Transfer Work visa
Corporate visas
Study visas
Exchange visas
Retired persons' visa
Relatives' visa
Medical Treatment visa
Overstay consequencesedit
It is a departure of a foreigner from South Africa on an expired visa that triggers an overstay.[22]
A foreigner who remains in South Africa beyond the expiry of his/her visa and has not applied for a valid status is an illegal foreigner in terms of the South African Immigration Act.[23]
An overstayer will upon departure be declared an undesirable person in terms of section 30(1)(f) of the Immigration Act.
A foreigner who has overstayed less than 30 days the validity of his/her visa will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 1 year.
A foreigner who has overstayed more than 30 days the validity of his/her visa will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 5 years.
A foreigner who overstayed twice in a period of 24 months (repeat offenders) will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 2 years.
The ban does not simply expire over time and the restrictions placed against the foreigner need to be removed and/or the undesirability uplifted. An undesirable person does not do not qualify for a port of entry visa, visa, admission into the Republic or a permanent residence permit.
Visitor statisticsedit
Most visitors arriving to South Africa were from the following countries of nationality:[24][25]
^"Concórdia". Concordia.itamaraty.gov.br. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
^"Statement of Treaties and International Agreements Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during the month of February 2010" (PDF). New York: United Nations. June 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
^Edwards, Caryn (24 November 2017). "Angola-South Africa entry VISA free exemption a big boost for tourism, trade & investment in the Cape". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^"South Africa soon to open visa-free door to Kiwis". 14 June 2023.
^"Kenya, South Africa to begin mutual visa-free system in January".
^"Ghana and South Africa agree visa-free entry to both countries".
^外交部 (12 July 2017). "中華民國(台灣)外交部全球資訊網". 中華民國外交部 – 全球資訊網 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Gschwind, RIC Media – Enrica Hölzinger, Patrick. "Visa & Consular – South African Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna". suedafrika-botschaft.at. Retrieved 8 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"DHA revokes visa free travel for New Zealand nationals, but that's just the beginning". 14 December 2016.
^"South Africa and Mali sign reciprocal Visa Waiver Agreement - African Daily Voice". Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.