South Africa Tourist Visa
US green card holders traveling to South Africa may require a visa. List the most important information first.
Do US green card holders need a visa? Yes, if the country of your citizenship does not allow visa-free entry to South Africa.
Type of visa required:
Tourist visa (E-visa or embassy visa, depending on nationality). Visa processing time:
3-5 business days.
Visa cost:
About $87. You can also check the amount online before paying.
Do US citizens need a visa?
What is South Africa Online Visa? Eligible passport holders will now be able to apply online and will receive an approved visa by email. Additionally, if you are traveling for tourism (Tourist Visa) or for business purposes, you can apply for the South Africa e-Visa.
Tourist visas are usually valid for 90 days. This means you can stay up to 90 days after entering South Africa. However, you must leave the country before your visa expires.
The government introduced the South African e-Visa to travelers from 14 countries in February 2022. The South African government plans to add more countries to the list soon.
Famous Clifton Beach in Cape Town, South Africa
What you need to know about South African visas
Before you start the application process, let’s take a look at the important information you need to know about tourist visas.
Do US green card holders need a visa to South Africa?
Your nationality determines whether you need a South African visa. To find out if you can travel visa-free, visit the South African visa website.
Visitors from more than 100 countries who want to visit South Africa must obtain a visa from one of the South African diplomatic missions (paper visas):
These countries include:
Algeria, Burkina, Burundi, Central African R., Congo, Côte, d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Tunisia, and other countries.
With traditional applications, you must apply in person at a South African Embassy or Consulate, provide biometric data, and hold a passport at least valid for 1 month after they depart from South Africa (and with at least one blank page).
Who Can Apply For A South Africa e-Visa?
Passport holders from 14 countries can now apply for a South Africa eVisa. The eligible countries in 2023 are:
Cameroon, China, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Uganda. More countries may be added to the list soon, including Australia, Canada, the United States, and all EU member states. Until then, travelers from these countries will need to apply for a traditional South African Embassy visa.
Do US citizens need a visa to South Africa?
No, you don’t need a visa. The United States is one of the visa waiver countries she is. This means you do not need a visa to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days.
However, if you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa.
Which countries can travel to South Africa without a visa?
There are over 50 nationalities who can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days. The following nationalities are eligible for visa-free travel:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Monaco, Qatar, Switzerland, Spain, Tunisia, United States, Zimbabwe, etc.
How long does it take to process a South African visa?
Visa processing usually takes 3 business days. Unfortunately, visa processing can take some time. As such, he recommends waiting five business days before confirming the status.
What is the visa cost? The e-Visa costs approximately $87. However, you can check the visa cost before paying.
How long is the visa valid for?
The visa is valid for 90 days. This means he can stay in South Africa for no more than 90 days and must leave before it expires. South Africa visa requirements
Visa regulations play a very important role in your application. If you or your documents do not meet the requirements, your visa will be refused.
Let’s see the requirements.
What documents are required for the South African e-Visa?
Foreign nationals need specific travel documents to apply for a South African visa (visa requirements). You will need the following travel documents: valid passport.
Proof of sufficient funds (account statement) to cover current expenses during your stay.
Return ticket or next ticket
Yellow fever certificate if departing from or transiting yellow fever zones in Africa or South America.
passport expiration date
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the return date (expected date of stay). You should also make sure that your passport has at least 2 blank pages. What is the bank balance required for a South African visa?
ZAR 3000 (about USD 173). You will need to prove this balance with your bank statement when you apply for your visa. This is proof that you have enough money to cover your trip’s planned stay.
How to get a South African visa
You can apply for a visa in two ways:
- online
- at an embassy or consulate
Next, we describe these two application processes.
How to apply for a South African e-Visa
Applying for a visa can be stressful. I know how it feels when you don’t know what to do. That’s why we provide a step-by-step guide to help you understand exactly what to do during your visa application.
step 1: Visit the South African e-Visa Portal
To apply for a visa, you will need to visit the Ministry of Home Affairs website where you are applying. You will be presented with the following four steps:
Create a profile, submit online forms, upload documents, and confirm secure payments. Start with the first step.
Step 2: create account
You will need to provide your full name, passport number, passport expiry date, email address and password information. You will then receive a confirmation email that you will use to activate your account.
Step 3: Please select the purpose of your visit
You must select the purpose of your visit from the list of options presented. It will be as follows.
Step 4: fill in the application form
The application must be filled out honestly. Incorrect information may result in visa denial. You will be required to provide information such as name, date of birth, passport type, occupation and contact information.
You must also provide a physical address and a contact number for someone in your home country. Then complete the financial and health declaration.
Step 5: Uploading travel documents
Next, you will need to upload all relevant travel documents such as passport copy, passport photo and anything else you may be asked for.