South Africa Visa for Indians – Visitor Visa (Section 11(1))
Indian citizens travelling to South Africa for tourism, family visits or business need a Visitor Visa (Section 11(1)). The application is submitted through the embassy / visa application centre and usually requires biometrics.
- Processing time: 5–15 working days
- Validity: As granted
- Stay: Up to 90 days per visit
South Africa visa types for Indians
- Visitor – Visitor visa: Tourism, visiting family and business meetings (Up to 90 days)
- Study – Study visa: Study at a South African institution (Duration of the course)
- Critical Skills – Critical skills work visa: Professionals in listed critical-skill occupations (Up to 5 years)
- General Work – General work visa: Job offer from a South African employer (Up to 5 years)
- Transit – Transit visa: Connecting through South Africa (Transit only)
How to apply for a South Africa visa from India
- Free consultation – Our visa expert checks your profile, travel history and purpose, and tells you your realistic chances before you spend anything.
- Document checklist & review – You get a personalised checklist. We review every document, draft your cover letter and fix gaps that commonly lead to refusals.
- Application form filing – We fill your online application form accurately and share it with you for final confirmation.
- Fee payment & appointment – Government / VFS fee is paid and we book the earliest biometrics / interview slot, tracking cancellations for earlier dates.
- Biometrics / interview – You attend the visa centre or embassy. For interview countries you get mock interviews and a question bank first.
- Tracking & passport delivery – We track your application daily and inform you the moment your passport is ready for collection or courier.
South Africa visa documents checklist
Everyone
- Passport valid 30+ days after you leave South Africa, with 2 blank pages
- Visa application form (BI-84), filled and signed
- 2 colour passport photos
- Return flight booking and day-by-day itinerary
- Hotel bookings / proof of accommodation
- Bank statements for the last 3 months
- Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the last 2 years
- Cover letter
- Yellow fever certificate only if travelling from / through a yellow-fever country
If you are employed
- Employment letter on company letterhead — designation, salary, joining date and approved leave dates
- Salary slips for the last 3 months
- Form 16 for the last 2 years
- Company ID card
If you are self-employed or own a business
- Business registration — GST certificate, Udyam, shop & establishment licence or partnership deed
- Business bank statements for the last 6 months
- Business ITR / audited balance sheet for the last 2 years
- Visiting card or letterhead of the business
Students
- Bonafide certificate and leave letter (NOC) from the school / college
- Student ID card
- Parents' bank statements and ITR + parents' consent letter (they pay for the trip)
Retired
- Pension slips or pension bank statement for the last 6 months
- Proof of retirement (retirement letter / PPO)
Homemakers
- Spouse's job or business documents, bank statements and ITR
- Marriage certificate (or another proof of relationship)
- Spouse's consent / sponsorship letter
Children under 18
- Birth certificate
- Copies of both parents' passports
- Consent letter (NOC) from both parents, notarised — if the child travels with one parent or without parents
- School leave letter / bonafide certificate
If someone else pays, or you visit family / friends
- Sponsor's letter + sponsor's bank statements (6 months) and ITR
- Proof of relationship with the sponsor
- Invitation letter from the host + copy of the host's passport and visa / residence status
- Tip: Carry originals of everything to the appointment, arranged in a folder — we check each document with you first.
South Africa visa fees
- Government visa fee – currently waived for Indian passport holders: Free
- Visa Filing: ₹2,949 total (government fee + service fee + GST)
- Filing + VFS Appointment: ₹4,719 total (government fee + service fee + GST)
- Complete Assistance: ₹7,079 total (government fee + service fee + GST)
Other Africa visas
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