South Africa visa types (18)
Official visa categories with requirements, documents and FAQs. Start from a passport-specific route above for entry rules.
Visitor's Visa (Section 11) — Short-stay visa for tourism, business visits, family or friends, conferences, research, study tours, and other temporary purposes of up to 90 days.
Transit Visa (Section 10B) — Visa for foreigners transiting South Africa en route to a neighbouring country.
Medical Treatment Visa (Section 17) — Visa for receiving medical treatment in South Africa for up to six months.
Entertainment Industry Visa (Visitor's Visa with Work Authorisation) — Visitor's visa endorsed to allow foreign performers and crew to work in South Africa's entertainment industry for up to 90 days.
Treaty Visa (Section 14) — Temporary residence visa issued to foreigners who must comply with the terms of a treaty to which South Africa is a party.
Business Visa (Section 15) — Temporary residence visa for foreigners investing in or establishing a business in South Africa.
General Work Visa (Section 19) — Work visa issued where no suitably qualified South African citizen or permanent resident is available for the position.
Critical Skills Work Visa (Section 19) — Work visa for foreigners whose occupation appears on South Africa's Critical Skills List.
Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa (Section 19) — Work visa for employees transferred from a foreign branch to a South African branch of a multinational company.
Corporate Visa (Section 21) — Visa allowing a corporate entity to employ a pre-determined number of skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled foreign workers.
Study Visa (Section 13) — Visa for foreign nationals studying at a registered learning institution in South Africa.
Exchange Visa (Section 22) — Visa for foreigners under 25 participating in cultural, economic, or social exchange programmes.
Retired Person's Visa (Section 20) — Visa for foreign nationals wishing to retire in South Africa.
Relative's Visa (Section 18) — Visa for immediate family members of a South African citizen or permanent resident.
Permanent Residence Permit (Section 25-27) — Permanent residence in South Africa under direct residence (Section 26) or residence on other grounds (Section 27).
Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) — Exemption permit for qualifying Zimbabwean nationals under Section 31(2)(b) of the Immigration Act.
Lesotho Exemption Permit (LEP) — Exemption permit for qualifying Lesotho nationals under Section 31(2)(b) of the Immigration Act.
Asylum Seeker Permit and Refugee Status (Section 22/24) — Asylum process for persons fleeing persecution, leading to a Section 22 permit and, if granted, refugee status under Section 24.