The South African online visa, also known as an eVisa or electronic visa, is a visa which you can apply for online. It lets a person travel to South Africa for either business or tourism purposes — and was created to boost the tourism industry in South Africa. The online visa simplifies and fast processes the application of your visa, thereby bypassing the process of visiting the South African embassy. Citizens from eligible countries can apply through the South African eVisa online portal. If your application is approved you can either be granted a multiple or single-entry visa. The validity of the visa depends on nationality and the purpose of your visit. You can apply for the eVisa anywhere in the world, at the convenience of your own time and day. Not all countries are eligible for the South African online visa currently there are 34 countries eligible for it, and 20 of those countries have just been recently added. Below is a list of countries eligible for the South African online visa.
Timeline for the South African online visa
The South African online visa was officially first launched for 14 countries, on February 2022. Twenty other countries were added to the list of eligible countries for the South African online visa, on February 2023. The implementation of the e-visa was first announced on March 2018 and in November 2019 it went on a test run until it was properly launched in February 2022.
- March 2018: It is announced that the South African online visa will be launched soon, but it is still unclear
- End of 2019: The trial programme for the South African online visa started at the end of 2019 with Keyna.
- Early 2020: The trial programme is extended to Chinese, Indian and Nigerian nationals.
- May 2021: Ten more countries are added to the trial programme and the Home Affairs Minister announces the introduction of smart passport gates at the country’s major airports.
- February 2022: The South African online visa is officially launched and 14 countries are eligible to apply for it.
- February 2023: Twenty more countries become eligible for the South African online visa.
List of countries eligible for SA eVisa
Continent |
Country |
Year of eligibility for eVisa |
Africa |
Cameroon | 2023 |
| Congo | 2023 | |
| Egypt | 2023 | |
| Ethiopia | 2023 | |
| Kenya | 2019 | |
| Nigeria | 2020 | |
| Uganda | 2023 | |
| Algeria | 2021 | |
| Comoros | 2021 | |
| The Republic of Congo | 2021 | |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 2021 | |
| Ghana | 2021 | |
| Liberia | 2021 | |
| Mali | 2021 | |
| Morocco | 2021 | |
| Niger | 2021 | |
| Senegal | 2021 | |
| Guinea | 2021 | |
Asia |
India | 2020 |
| Iran | 2023 | |
| Pakistan | 2023 | |
| China | 2020 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 2021 | |
| Philippines | 2023 | |
|
Europe |
Belarus | 2021 |
| Bulgaria | 2021 | |
| Croatia | 2021 | |
| Albania | 2021 | |
| Lithuania | 2021 | |
| Romania | 2021 | |
| Slovakia | 2021 | |
North America |
Cuba | 2021 |
| Mexico | 2023 |
Requirements for the South African online visa
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Passport
The passport must be from an eligible country and valid for 6 months from your arrival date and have at least one blank page.
-
Valid credit card or debit card
This is that you may be able to pay for your visa online.
-
Proof of sufficient funds
This can be in a form of bank statements, preferably the last three months’ bank statement. This is to prove that you are able to finance yourself on a day-to-day basis, during your duration in South Africa.
-
Proof of return ticket
This is to ensure that you won’t stay longer than permitted in South Africa. If you intend to stay longer you then need to apply for the correct visa.
-
Yellow fever certificate
This is only applicable to those who have travelled through the yellow fever areas of South America and Africa before they entered South Africa.
-
Approved South African online visa
This is your eVisa and should be linked to your passport electronically.
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Email: info@apostillelegalisation.co.za
