South African Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

December 5, 2016

An Overview

Citizens of India require a visa to enter South Africa. If you are applying for a tourist visa from India, you will have to apply from any of the following VFS visa application centres:

Delhi
Gurgaon
Jaipur
Kolkata
Mumbai
Ahmedabad
Pune
Goa
Bangalore

Visit our South Africa Travel Guide for further information »

Fees for applying for a South African Visa

Visa application fee for Indian nationals: Free
Visa application fee for foreign nationals: INR 2207

VFS logistic charges: INR 1375 (Delhi or Mumbai)
VFS logistic charges: INR 1675 (Gurgaon, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bangalore)

Please verify the latest charges on the VFS site.

Documents required for a South African visa for Indians

Holiday Visa

a)	Passport, (valid for at least 30 days after the intended stay/departure date from South Africa; at least three unused/blank visa pages)
b)	Fully completed visa application form-11 (DHA-84) – must be completed in black ink and block letters.
c)	Application form-11 (DHA-84) must be signed by the applicant and signature should match the signature on the passport.
d)	Proof of funds (Last 03 month’s bank statement signed and stamped on each and every page by the bank with a balance of INR 60,000 for Delhi which is equivalent to foreign exchange worth USD 1000 and minimum INR 20,000 for Mumbai which is equivalent to South African Currency R 3000.
e)	Proof of hotel booking (on Hotel’s Letterhead), (verifiable) stating the name, passport number of applicant(s) and duration of visit, physical address, as well as contact details of the hotel as well as authorized signature’s name, designation and signature;
f)	NOC for leave from employer/ school/ university clearly mentioning the name, passport number of applicant(s) and duration of visit. Letter must have the physical address, as well as contact details of authorized signature’s name, designation and signature.
g)	A day-to-day itinerary/travel plan covering your stay in South Africa.
h)	Vaccination certificate, (yellow fever) If applicant will travel through or stay in yellow fever belt. For the latest Yellow Fever Policy please click here
i)	Confirmed return/onward air ticket (Applicant applying in Mumbai) Air Ticket booking Receipt (Applicant applying in Delhi)
j)	Two recent (not older than 30 days/1 month) passport size, ( 35mm x 45mm of the picture)photographs
k)	Marriage certificate, where applicable (For verification purpose applicant needs to carry the Original Marriage Certificate at the time of submission at VFS centre)
l)	Notarized letter of consent for minors (below 18 years of age) travelling alone or with one of the parents , and a full birth certificate..
m)	Copies of passport bio-data pages (photo page and address/parents page (INDIAN PASSPORTS)
n)	Original covering letter signed by the applicant stating the name, passport number of applicant(s) and duration of visit. Letter must have the physical address, as well as contact details of authorized signature’s name, designation and signature (should clearly mention who will bear the expenses of the trip)
o)	For Minor Dependent Children Applicant:- Child accompanied by both parents- Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBS) + Notarized Consent from both parents Child accompanied by one parent- Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBS) + Affidavit / Court order and Notarized consent letter with ID copy from the other parent or death certificate (in case of death of one parent) Child accompanied by someone other than a parent- Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBS) + Affidavit / Court order and Notarized consent letter with ID copy from the other parent or death certificate (in case of death of one parent) Copies of ID documents / passport of the parents / Legal guardian and Contact details of the parents or legal guardian. Orphaned Child- Director –General of Department of Home Affairs may approve entry or departure of orphaned children travelling with a relative or a person related to his/her parents. Unaccompanied Child- Notarized Consent from one or both parents or legal guardian, as the case may be, in the form of an affidavit. Where one parent provides an affidavit granting full parental responsibilities and rights in respect of the child. A letter from the person who will receive the child in the Republic, his or her residential address and contact details in Republic where the child will be residing. Copy of ID, valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person receiving the child in the Republic; and Contact details of parents / Legal Gordian.
p)	For Minor Dependent Children Applicant Submission in Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune:- Child accompanied by both parents- Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBS) Child accompanied by one parent- Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBS) + Parental Consent Affidavit form attested by South African Consulate Mumbai Child accompanied by someone other than a parent- Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBS) + Parental Consent Affidavit form attested by South African Consulate Mumbai Orphaned Child- Director –General of Department of Home Affairs may approve entry or departure of orphaned children travelling with a relative or a person related to his/her parents. Unaccompanied Child- Parental Consent Affidavit form attested by South African Consulate Mumbai A letter from the person who will receive the child in the Republic, his or her residential address and contact details in Republic where the child will be residing. Copy of ID, valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person receiving the child in the Republic; and Contact details of parents / Legal Gordian.

Visa application form

This South African visa application form for holiday visitors is available here: South African Visa Application form for Indians

A checklist of documentation that needs to be submitted is available here: South African Visa Application Checklist

Please verify that you have the latest forms from the VFS site.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the South African visa to be issued?

Please note that visa processing time can vary from location and season. In our experience, visas can take anywhere from 5 working days to 3 weeks, so it is better to apply for your visa sooner than later.

Applications deposited in Gurgaon, Jaipur or Kolkata will travel to the South Africa High Commission in New Delhi for approval.

Applications deposited in Bangalore, Pune, Goa, or Ahmedabad will travel to the South African Consulate in Mumbai for approval.

All this takes time, so if you are applying in a busy season (like Christmas or over the summer holidays) ensure you have plenty of time.

What is an unabridged birth certificate?

In India, it’s your regular birth certificate issued by your local municipal authority. It should mention the names of both parents. South Africa has of late become very stringent about children travelling without their parents or with only one parent due to a rise in child trafficking, so they are asking for additional documents like the birth certificate.

I am going for my honeymoon. Do I need a marriage certificate?

If you are newly married (congrats!), you will need to show some proof of marriage with your application (like engagement photos or a wedding card). Again, this is a new rule because of a rise in human trafficking.

Do I really need to get every hotel booking signed and stamped?

Yes, you do!

Do I need to get the Yellow Fever Vaccination?

If you are visiting South Africa from certain countries, you are required to get the Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate. Please read more details here.

My passport is not machine readable. Will I face a problem?

YES , YOU WILL! One of our team members had this problem and was almost denied entry into South Africa. So please ensure your passport is machine readable.

That’s a lot of paperwork. Can you help?

Unfortunately, we only have the resources to help our guests. So if you are booking through Chalo Africa, we would be happy to assist.

I have a question regarding a business or work visa (critical skills). Can you help?

Sorry, we do not keep track of business visas or work visa requirements for South Africa. We only deal with tourist visas ourselves.

I have another question…

Feel free to ask away! A caveat: while we’d love to answer all your questions, there are moments when we don’t have enough time. We may be late in responding or unable to respond. Sorry!

Last note: The above information is the best to our knowledge. We recommend you verify it with VFS or the SA High Commission if confused.