# South Africa visa for Indian citizens

> Indian citizens apply for a South Africa visa through VFS Global. The published fee for Short term visas (all short-term categories incl. Transit) is Gratis for Indian Nationals. Processing time (Short term visas (New Delhi, Mumbai)): Minimum 05 working days. Application locations listed include New Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata and Mumbai (4 more listed below). Sources checked on October 10, 2026.

Canonical page: https://yatraforfun.com/visa/india/south-africa
Sources checked on: 2026-10-10
Applies via: VFS Global
VFS Global: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/zaf/

## Overview

Applications are submitted at VFS Global visa application centres on behalf of the South African High Commission, New Delhi (North & East India) and the Consulate General, Mumbai (West & South India). Per instructions of the Consulate in Mumbai, only applications fulfilling all checklist documents are accepted at VFS; incomplete applicants must complete missing documents and resubmit during operational hours. All decisions on issuance, entries and duration are at the sole discretion of the mission.

## Visa fees

- **Short term visas (all short-term categories incl. Transit):** Gratis for Indian Nationals — Foreign Nationals INR 2342/-
- **Study / Treaty / Medical Treatment / Relative / Exchange / Retired Person / Remote Work / Volunteer-Charity Work Visa:** INR 2342/- — VFS page for Study Visa also states 'Visa Fee would be gratis for all the Indian Nationals'
- **Research Work:** Indian Nationals: Gratis (Under Short-term Category) / INR 2342/- (Under Long-term Category)
- **Business Visa/Permit, General Work, Critical Skill, Intra Company Transfer, Corporate Work (incl. TES TRV categories):** INR 8375/-
- **Dependant Visa:** Gratis for Indian Nationals — VFS shows the same fee table as short-term visas

**Service fee:** VFS Logistic Fee per applicant: New Delhi and Mumbai INR 2040; Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru INR 2301 (inclusive all taxes). Convenience fee INR 160 for all payment modes (including cash). Optional: SMS INR 55, Courier Assurance INR 885, Premium Lounge INR 2000. Non-refundable.

## Documents required

### All applicants

- Passport valid for at least 30 days after intended departure from South Africa, with at least two unused/blank visa pages (old/previous passport mandatory in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Bengaluru)
- Fully completed visa application form 11 (DHA-84), in black ink and block letters, signed (signature matching passport); parents sign for minors
- Proof of funds: last 3 months' original bank statement on bank letterhead, stamped and signed, with balance of R 3000 or equivalent in INR (no passbook/e-statements/net banking copies)
- Verifiable hotel booking stating name, passport number, duration, hotel address and contact details
- NOC for leave from employer/school/university with name, passport number and duration
- Day-to-day itinerary covering stay in South Africa
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate if travelling through/staying in the yellow fever belt
- Valid flight ticket or proof of reservation
- Two recent passport size photographs (35mm x 45mm), not older than 30 days
- Notarised marriage certificate where applicable (original to be carried for verification)
- Copies of passport bio-data pages (photo page and address/parents page)
- Original covering letter signed by applicant stating name, passport number, duration and who bears expenses (on letterhead if self-employed)
- Minors: notarised birth certificate, parental consent affidavit (less than 3 months old), parents' passport copies
- Documents in a regional language must be officially translated to English; Government documents must be notary attested

### Holiday / Visiting Family-Friends / Sports Events

- Separate document lists published for North & East India and South & West India
- South & West group submission: letter from South African tour handling company listing tourists, and signed tour itinerary

## Photo specifications

- **Size:** 3.5 cm X 4.5 cm
- **Background:** white background only
- colour, without border
- face takes up 70-80% of the photograph
- not more than 1 month old
- without headgear (religious headgear considered case by case)
- looking directly at the camera

## Travel medical insurance

Not stated as a South Africa requirement; VFS document tab carries a generic travel insurance promo line

## Processing time

- **Short term visas (New Delhi, Mumbai):** Minimum 05 working days
- **Short term visas (Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru):** Minimum 07 working days
- **Long term visas (Study, Treaty, Medical Treatment, Relative, Exchange, Business, Work, Retired Person):** minimum 90 days from submission
- **Research Work / Remote Work:** Minimum 60 working days (New Delhi, Mumbai); 62 working days other centres
- **Trusted Employer Scheme:** minimum 15-20 days from submission

## Visa categories

### SHORT TERM VISA

- Medical (Only Private Hospitals/Clinics)
- Business Meeting
- Training
- Conferences
- Short Term Projects
- Holiday / Visiting Family-Friends / Sports Events
- Academic Sabbatical
- Film Industry Visa (Short Term)
- Transit Visa
- LONG TERM BUSINESS EXECUTIVE PORT OF ENTRY VISA

### LONG TERM VISA

- Study Visa
- Treaty Visa
- Medical Treatment Visa
- Relative Visa
- Exchange Visa
- Business Visa
- General Work
- Critical Skill Visa
- Intra Company Transfer Work Visa
- Corporate Work Visa
- Retired-Person Visa
- Research Work
- REMOTE WORK VISA
- Dependant Visa (Accompanying Foreign Spouse And Dependant Children)
- Volunteer/Charity Work

### TRUSTED EMPLOYER SCHEME (TES)

- TRV Critical Skills Work Visa
- TRV General Work Visa
- TRV Intra Company Transfer

## Where to apply in India

- New Delhi
- Gurugram
- Jaipur
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- Ahmedabad
- Pune
- Goa
- Bengaluru

## How to apply from India

1. **Prepare your documents** — Gather the documents listed in the "Documents required" section — the common list plus the checklist for your visa category.
2. **Submit your application** — Submit at a VFS Global centre or other listed location: New Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and others listed below.
3. **Pay the fees** — Pay the visa fee shown in the "Visa fees" section, plus the service fee.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much is the South Africa visa fee for Indian citizens?

Short term visas (all short-term categories incl. Transit): Gratis for Indian Nationals; Study / Treaty / Medical Treatment / Relative / Exchange / Retired Person / Remote Work / Volunteer-Charity Work Visa: INR 2342/-; Research Work: Indian Nationals: Gratis (Under Short-term Category) / INR 2342/- (Under Long-term Category). 2 more fee rows are listed on this page. Service fee: VFS Logistic Fee per applicant: New Delhi and Mumbai INR 2040; Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru INR 2301 (inclusive all taxes). Convenience fee INR 160 for all payment modes (including cash). Optional: SMS INR 55, Courier Assurance INR 885, Premium Lounge INR 2000. Non-refundable..

### What documents are required for a South Africa visa from India?

Passport valid for at least 30 days after intended departure from South Africa, with at least two unused/blank visa pages (old/previous passport mandatory in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Bengaluru); Fully completed visa application form 11 (DHA-84), in black ink and block letters, signed (signature matching passport); parents sign for minors; Proof of funds: last 3 months' original bank statement on bank letterhead, stamped and signed, with balance of R 3000 or equivalent in INR (no passbook/e-statements/net banking copies); Verifiable hotel booking stating name, passport number, duration, hotel address and contact details; NOC for leave from employer/school/university with name, passport number and duration; Day-to-day itinerary covering stay in South Africa. Plus 8 more items listed on this page. Category-specific checklists are listed for 1 visa category.

### How long does South Africa visa processing take for Indians?

Short term visas (New Delhi, Mumbai): Minimum 05 working days; Short term visas (Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru): Minimum 07 working days; Long term visas (Study, Treaty, Medical Treatment, Relative, Exchange, Business, Work, Retired Person): minimum 90 days from submission.

### Where do Indian citizens apply for a South Africa visa?

Applications go via VFS Global. Locations listed: New Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru.

### What photo size is required for a South Africa visa?

Size: 3.5 cm X 4.5 cm. Background: white background only.

### Is travel medical insurance required for a South Africa visa?

Not stated as a South Africa requirement; VFS document tab carries a generic travel insurance promo line

### Which South Africa visa types can Indian citizens apply for?

SHORT TERM VISA, LONG TERM VISA and TRUSTED EMPLOYER SCHEME (TES). 28 visa types are listed on this page.

## Sources

- [VFS South Africa India - Visa Types (all tabs)](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/zaf/visa-type) — VFS Global, checked on 2026-10-10

### Notes on sources

- Embassy/DHA site not fetched; all data from VFS
- Category-specific document lists other than Holiday not transcribed (available on VFS tabs)
- Travel insurance requirement not published

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