Africa from India: South Africa, Egypt, Algeria Visa Guide

All three are applied for from India, but they differ in almost every practical detail: one charges no visa fee, one offers an online alternative, and one has strict payment rules. Fees and processing times below are as published on the official VFS and embassy sources, checked on 10 October 2026. Every country's full guide is in our visa hub for Indian passport holders.

South Africa, Egypt and Algeria side by side

South Africa: no visa fee for short trips

VFS Global's South Africa pages for India state that all short-term visa categories, including transit, are gratis for Indian nationals; other foreign nationals pay INR 2342/-. Longer and work-related categories are charged:

• Study, Treaty, Medical Treatment, Relative, Exchange, Retired Person, Remote Work, Volunteer/Charity Work: INR 2342/-, although the VFS Study Visa page also says the fee is gratis for all Indian nationals.
• Business visa or permit, General Work, Critical Skill, Intra Company Transfer and Corporate Work (including Trusted Employer Scheme categories): INR 8375/-.
• Research Work: gratis for Indians under the short-term category, INR 2342/- under the long-term category.

Short-term visas take a minimum of 05 working days in New Delhi and Mumbai and a minimum of 07 working days in Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa and Bengaluru. Long-term visas take a minimum of 90 days from submission, so start a study or work file well ahead. The nine centres are New Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa and Bengaluru. VFS service charges are not in our summary, so check them on the VFS South Africa visa-type page.

Egypt: VFS application or e-Visa

Egypt gives Indian travellers two routes. Through VFS, the fees are:

Fees are non-refundable. Processing is a minimum of 10 to 12 working days for the Delhi location and 12 to 15 working days elsewhere in India, indicative and at the discretion of the Embassy of Egypt in New Delhi. Our dataset does not list Egypt's centre cities, so pick yours on the VFS Egypt apply page.

The alternative is the Egypt e-Visa portal, where the guidance is to apply at least 7 days before departure; no processing time is published. Travel insurance requirements are not published on the pages we read, though VFS links an optional non-Schengen travel insurance page.

Algeria: reciprocal fees, demand drafts and insurance by entry type

Algeria's fees for Indian nationals are set on a reciprocal basis and apply across all categories: INR 8,100 for a single entry of 30 days and INR 9,700 for a 90-day visa. Payment rules are strict. Through VFS, you pay in INR only by bank demand draft payable to ‘Embassy of Algeria in New Delhi’, issued in the same month you submit, and drafts with a travel agent named as purchaser are not accepted. At the Embassy, payment is exclusively in INR by bank cheque payable to the Embassy of Algeria in New Delhi.

You can apply in person at the Embassy Visa Section in New Delhi or through VFS. Processing is a minimum of 07 working days in Delhi and 10 to 12 working days from other locations, both indicative. Travel insurance is required, and its validity has to match your visa:

Also in our dataset: Equatorial Guinea's e-Visa

If your Africa plans stretch further, Equatorial Guinea runs an official e-Visa for tourist or business trips at 50 USD, the same for infants, minors and adults, paid online by MasterCard, Visa or Union Pay with 3D Secure and non-refundable. A complete application takes up to 72 hours, normally 24 to 72 hours from payment. Travel insurance is a mandatory upload, though no minimum cover is published, and the official site carries a notice about Malabo airport that you should read before booking flights.

Planning a multi-country Africa trip from India

• Sequence by processing time. Egypt's VFS route has the longest published minimum outside Delhi, at 12 to 15 working days, so start there. If an application needs your passport at a centre, processing times run back to back rather than in parallel.
• Time the Algeria demand draft. It must be issued in the same month as your submission, so get it close to your appointment.
• Match insurance to the strictest rule. Algeria ties insurance validity to entry type, and Equatorial Guinea requires a policy upload.
• Hold off on non-refundable flights. Embassies generally advise against buying non-refundable tickets before the visa decision. A verifiable flight reservation can show your routing in the meantime; requirements vary, so check each official checklist.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for multi-country visa files, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation up to INR 3,000 for reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter together. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the South African visa free for Indians?

Short-term visas, including tourist and transit categories, are gratis for Indian nationals according to VFS Global's South Africa pages for India. Business and work categories cost INR 8375/-, and several long-term categories cost INR 2342/-.

Can I pay the Algeria visa fee by card or UPI?

No. Through VFS the fee is payable in INR only by bank demand draft to the Embassy of Algeria in New Delhi, issued in the same month as submission. At the Embassy, payment is exclusively in INR by bank cheque.

How early should I apply for an Egypt e-Visa?

At least 7 days before departure. No processing time is published for the e-Visa, so applying earlier gives you more room.

How long does a South Africa study or work visa take from India?

Long-term visas, including study, business, work, relative and retired person categories, take a minimum of 90 days from submission. Short-term visas are much quicker, from a minimum of 05 working days in New Delhi and Mumbai.