With amazing national parks, miles and miles of beaches, some of the best wildlife, and rich culture and history, ‘the rainbow nation’ of South Africa is a tourist hotspot. The South Africa tourist visa for Indians has helped several Indian nationals achieve their dream of visiting the country.
The tourist visa for South Africa is an endorsement that lets individuals enter the country to take part in tourism-related activities such as spending a holiday, taking part in adventure sports, visiting your friends/family, and so on. Though quite a lot of nationalities are actually allowed to enter the country without this, as an Indian citizen with an ordinary passport, you will need a tourist visa to enter the nation.
The application for the tourist permit is done offline. Before starting the application, you must ensure that you are eligible to travel to the country on a tourist category. You can then make the application as follows -
Note that you will have to provide your biometrics at the VAC. As a result, they will be taking your digital photograph, as well as fingerprint scans.
Also, ensure that you provide correct information and genuine documents. Providing false information and fake documents are grounds for visa rejection.
There are certain criteria that need to be fulfilled at the time of applying for a tourist visa for South Africa from India. These are as follows
Based on your individual case, there may be additional eligibility to meet. To know the exact requirements for your case, do consult with a reputed travel agency.
As per the requirements, the South Africa tourist visa documents are as follows. However, based on your individual case, there may be additional documents required.
The total cost for the tourist permit is dependent on a number of factors. It can vary according to the VAC service charges, as well as on the foreign exchange rates. As a result, ensure that you check the exact amount before starting your application.
Entry | Stay Duration | Validity | Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Multiple entry Normal | 90 days | 3 months | 5301.0 |
The time taken to process the tourist visa application can vary as per the number of entries, the volume of applications at the High Commission, and so on. Normally, in most cases, it will need at least 7 working days and a maximum of 30 days to process. As a result, ensure that you apply well in advance.
Once you have submitted the application at the VAC, it is then sent to the nearest South African diplomatic mission for the processing. This is either the South African high commission in New Delhi or the consulate general of South Africa in Mumbai. Note that the VAC has no influence over the processing and the decision making of the visa.
After a decision has been made, you can either collect the passport from the VAC or have them deliver it to you for an additional charge.
You can check the status of your application by clicking here, and entering the reference number and date of birth. Alternately, you may contact the travel agency you have applied through to know the status.
On successfully obtaining your tourist visa, you must keep in mind the following few points to ensure that you have a hassle-free trip to South Africa-
No, it is strictly prohibited to work in the country while you are on a tourist category. You may take up unpaid volunteer or charity work, however. If you do require to do paid work, you will have to apply for a work permit once you are back in your home country.
The validity will totally depend on the decision of the South African high commission. They will consider your travel date, passport validity, the purpose of the visit, and other factors while determining it. The stay duration in the country, however, is granted for up to 90 days.
As per the general requirements by the high commission, there isn’t any mandatory rule for an interview. Your visa appointment is simply to submit the application, pay the fees, and provide your biometrics. However, the high commission does have the rights to call you for an interview if they require additional verification.
No, having confirmed round trip flight bookings is one of the strict requirements for applying for a tourist visa to South Africa from India. As a result, you will not be issued with a visa if you do not have this. You will also be not allowed to board the aircraft with a return ticket.
The high commission requirements state that you will need funds of an equivalent of at least 3000 South African Rand to apply for the tourist visa. As per the requirements, you are expected to possess sufficient funds to support the entire duration of your stay. You must also make sure that the funds are easily accessible to you and that your transaction history is stable.
No, it is not possible to convert one type of the short term permit into another category. You are also not allowed to take up an academic course while you are on this category. If you require to study in the country, you can apply for the student visa once you are back in your home country.