Visitors Permit

The maximum duration for this permit is 3 months. If a longer stay is required the applicant must apply in advance abroad or he can extend the visitor’s permit locally, confirming the purpose of stay.

A valid return air ticket, proof of sufficient financial means, the application fee and/or a deposit must be accompany an application for extension. 
At this stage that a visitor’s permit can only be extended once.

Please be aware that all extensions and changes need to be applied for 30 days before expiry of the current permit. Missing the cut-off date without demonstration of good cause (e.g. illness, accident) will mean that you have to leave South Africa.

Countries exempt from South African visas:

The exemptions pertain to ordinary, diplomatic and official passport holders. Official visits (on invitation of the South African Government) and accreditation for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders are not dealt with here.

Visas are not required by citizens of the following countries for the periods and subject to the conditions indicated:

Holders of South African passports, travel documents and documents for travel purposes.

Holders of passports of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland including the British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Mann and Virgin Islands as well as the Republic of Ireland are totally exempt from South African visa control and thus do not require visas for any purpose regulated by visas.

Please Note:

Nationals of the British Dependent Territories are subject to visa control. The Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Cucie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Antigua and Barbuda: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Argentina: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Australia: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Austria: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Barbados: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Belgium: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Belize: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Benin: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Bolivia: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Botswana: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Brazil: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 

Canada: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Cape Verde: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Chile: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Costa Rica: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Cyprus: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits. Diplomatic and official passport holders visiting the RSA for holiday purposes are exempt for 90 days. 

Czech Republic: Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 

Denmark: Bona fide holiday and business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Ecuador: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Egypt: Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 

Finland: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
France: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Gabon: Bona fide holiday & business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Germany: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Greece: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Guyana: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 

Hong Kong: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits This exemption is only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National - Overseas (BNO) passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports and Hong Kong Certificates of Identity. 
Hungary: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits Diplomatic and official passport holders visiting the RSA for holiday purposes are exempt for 120 days. 

Iceland: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Israel: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Italy: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Jamaica: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Japan: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Jordan: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 

Lesotho: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Liechtenstein: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Luxemburg: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Macau: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits This exemption is only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR). 
Malaysia: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Maldives: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Malta: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Malta: Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Mauritius: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Mexico: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Morocco: Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 

Namibia: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Netherlands (Kingdom of the): Bona fide holiday and business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
New Zealand: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Norway: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Paraguay: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Peru: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Poland: Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Portugal: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Romania: Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday visits not exceeding 120 days and transits 

San Marino: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Seychelles: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Singapore: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Slovak Republic: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
South Korea: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Spain: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
St Helena: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
St Vincent & the Grenadines: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Swaziland: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 
Sweden: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Switzerland: Bona fide holiday & business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 

Thailand: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Tunisia: Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Turkey: Bona fide holiday & business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 

United States of America: Bona fide holiday and business visits only (period unspecified) and transits 
Uruguay: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 

Venezuala: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 90 days and transits 

Zambia: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits 
Zimbabwe: Bona fide holiday and business visits not exceeding 30 days and transits. Only government officials, including police on cross border investigation