List of Documents Required for South Africa Visa

South Africa, as its name implies, is the southernmost country on the African continent. There is a substantial Indian presence in the African country. Many Indians travel to South Africa for work and tourism regularly. Indian citizens must apply for a visa to visit South Africa for any purpose. Based on the purpose of travel, the South African government issues a variety of visas. If you also want to migrate to South Africa, here s the list of documents required for a South Africa visa.

[Read More: Why immigrate to South Africa?]

Documents Required for South African Immigration

There are multiple paths of immigration to South Africa and each visa needs a different set of documents required. Check out the document checklist for each kind of South Africa visa.

South African Tourist Visa Document Checklist:

An Indian citizen can apply for a tourist visa if he or she is visiting South Africa for tourism. The following documents are necessary to obtain a tourist visa:

• A passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the visa's expiration date. If the applicant has an old passport that was issued less than ten years ago, it must also be presented.
• A copy of the applicant's existing passport's first and last pages is also requested. The passport should include at least two blank pages.
• Visa application forms. Fill out the forms with a black pen and only capital letters.
• Two 35X44mm images of the applicant with a white background and a matt finish. The images must be less than 6 months old and have never been used in any other visa application.
• A document proving residency in South Africa. The following information should also be included in the document:
• The applicant's name.
• The applicant's passport number.
• Time spent in the country.
• The location's contact information.
• Tickets for flights.
• The applicant's bank statement for the previous six months, signed by the concerned bank.
• The applicant's tax returns for the previous three years.
• If the applicant's passport was issued before marriage, the marriage certificate must be provided.
• Covering letter addressed to the Visa Officer at the South African Consulate General in Mumbai.
• A student ID is required if the applicant is a student.
• If the applicant is retired, he or she must submit a pension order or other form of proof of retirement.
• Any other monetary investments, such as stocks, bonds, PF, and so on.
• If the visa applicant is working, payslips from the past three months as well as the employment contract must be provided.
• A letter of authorization from the employer/school/college is also necessary, which must include the applicant's passport number, name, and length of stay in South Africa.
• If the candidate is self-employed, he or she must submit the company's registration letter as well as two letterheads.

If you're Visiting South Africa to see a family member or acquaintance, you'll need the following documents:

• Copies of the candidate's passport and visa that have been attested by local authorities.
• Local authorities attest to the letter of invitation.
• Local government-attested proof of address.
• Local authorities attested salary slips and bank statements from the previous six months.

[Read More: Dependent Visa For Spouse, Parents, Children & Students]

The tourist visa for South Africa takes around 12 working days to process.

South African Business Visa Document Checklist:

If the candidate is visiting South Africa for business purposes, he or she will need to apply for a business visa. The following documents are necessary to obtain a business visa approval:

• A passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the visa's expiration date. If the immigrant has an old passport that was issued less than ten years ago, it must also be presented.
• A copy of the applicant's existing passport's first and last pages is also requested. The passport should include at least two blank pages.
• Forms for visa applications. Fill out the forms with a black pen and only capital letters.
• Two 35X44mm images of the applicant with a white background and a matt finish. The images must be less than 6 months old and have never been used in any other visa application.
• A document proving residency in South Africa. The following information should also be included in the document:
• The applicant's name.
• The applicant's passport number.
• Time spent in the country.
• The location's contact information.
• Tickets for flights.
• The applicant's bank statement for the previous six months, signed by the concerned bank.
• The applicant's tax returns for the previous three years.
• A cover letter addressed to the Visa Officer of the South African Consulate General in Mumbai.
• A letter of invitation from the employer encouraging the candidate to work in South Africa. In the letter, include the following information:
• Candidate's name for a visa
• The candidate's passport number
• The host company's address and contact information in South Africa
• On the letter, the authorized person's signature should be included, along with their name and designation.
• The invitation letter must be on the applicant's letterhead and validated with the corporate seal if the form is presented at the visa application centers in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Goa, Pune, and Bangalore.
• The visa application must be certified or attested by the Commissioner of Oaths or the South African police for the same visa application centers.
• If the visa applicant is working, payslips from the past three months as well as the employment contract must be provided.
• If the candidate is self-employed, he or she must submit the company's registration letter as well as two letterheads.

The processing time for a South African business visa is around 12 working days.

South African Work Visa document checklist:

If a person is coming to South Africa for work, he or she must apply for an employment visa. The following are the documents needed to obtain a work visa approval:

• After leaving South Africa, the applicant's passport should not expire for at least 30 days.
• The applicant must also submit a copy of the passport's first and last pages.
• If the applicant has previously visited South Africa, he or she must also produce the visa approval before the visit.
• Form 8 must be filled out in capital characters with a black ink pen.
• A 'power of attorney ’ document must also be completed and stamped by the visa applicant.
• Two 35X44mm images of the applicant that is no more than a month old. The background should be white with a matt finish and should reveal 70-80% of the face size.
• If the invitation letter requires that the candidate enter South Africa many times, the candidate must explain why in a separate letter.
• If any changes are made to the visa application form, the applicant's signature is required as verification that the changes were made by the applicant. This is required because the form would not be accepted otherwise.
• The applicant's signature on the covering letter.
• Sufficient bank balance in the bank account, which is equivalent to Rs. 60000 for those applying to the visa center in Delhi and Rs. 20000 for people applying to the visa center in Mumbai.
• The applicant's host company in South Africa should additionally offer a paper stating why a foreign professional is required for the job.
• The host company in South Africa must submit documentation demonstrating that a thorough search for the best candidate for the job was done.
• A repatriation draft of Rs.40, 000 in the name of the South African High Commission may also be required. Within two months of his or her return from South Africa, the applicant can collect the funds.
• The nominee must additionally deposit a bank draught for Rs. 11,402 in the name of the South African High Commission.

Other Certificates Required for a South African Work Visa Acceptance Include:

• A certificate of yellow fever clearance must be provided by the candidate.
• The police department's clearance certificate should be received from the MEA.
• If the applicant is married, the marriage certificate must be shown.
• If the applicant is widowed, the death certificate must be presented.
• Certificates of the applicant's qualifications
• A certificate issued by the Labor Department.

Top FAQs Asked by Professionals Migrating to,South Africa.