Visa Applications Made Easy

Short stay visitor visa South Africa

A visitor visa in South Africa allows a non-visa exempt foreign national to visit the country for tourism purposes and needs to be applied for prior to arrival in South Africa.

A visitor visa is usually valid for 3 months unless the visa has been applied for on other grounds. The visa can be extended for a further 3 months, as long as the application is made 60 days prior to the expiry of the current visitor visa and as long as there are no restrictions on the current permit.  Restrictions to a visa are endorsed onto the face of the visa and may include “may not change status”, “may not renew”, etc.

Long stay visitor visa South Africa

A long stay visitor visa allows a foreign national to remain in South Africa for a period exceeding 3 months, but not exceeding 3 years.

Long-stay visitor visas are a collection of many visa sub-categories.  A candidate could qualify for long-stay visa if:

You are an accompanying spouse or life partner to a foreign national who holds or qualifies for a valid work visa, study visa, business visa, retirement visa, relative’s visa, treaty visa or crew visa
Your accompanying child/children would also qualify on the above grounds
You are partaking in an academic sabbatical supported by your educational institution
You are teaching at an international school
Involved in films and advertisements produced in South Africa, including, but not restricted to, an actor, cameraman, hairstylist, make-up artist or sound and lighting crew
You are a journalist in the employ of a foreign news agency
Conducting research activities, with proof of financial support
You are an artist who wishes to perform, write, paint and sculpt
You are a tour leader or host of such tour
You are the spouse or life partner of a South African citizen/permanent resident and you have been offered a job, registered to study or has opened and conducts your own business
You, as parents, are both foreign nationals on temporary residency visas and have had a child that was born in South Africa

A long stay visitor visa in South Africa can be issued for any period not exceeding 3 years, provided the foreign national controls sufficient financial resources to sustain him or herself while in South Africa.

Visitor visa – accompanying spouse

To apply for an accompanying spouse visitor visa the following proof will need to be provided:

Marriage certificate/spousal affidavit
Divorce decree (if applicable)
Proof of court order awarding custody (if applicable)
Support confirmation from spouse.
Undertaking to repatriate the family from the temporary residence permit visa holder’s employer.

Visitor visa – accompanying child

To apply for an accompanying child visitor visa the following proof will need to be provided:

Proof of support from parent(s)
Undertaking to repatriate the family
Proof of funds
All minors under the age of 18 need to possess an unabridged birth certificate when entering or exiting South Africa.

LE ROUX ATTORNEYS Inc  specializes in assisting foreign visitors to South Africa with all their visa requirements

Contact Details

35 Rose Street   Bo Kaap   Cape Town   South Africa   Tel +27 21 286 0057

Website www.savisas.com

e mail   [email protected]