Visa

Visa required

Language

11 official, Afrikaans and English are used for international communication

Minimum passport validity

at least 6 months

Phone code

+27

Currency

Rand (ZAR)

Covid

There are no COVID restrictions

Health

Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required

Insurance policy

Insurance policy recommended

STUDY VISA

EXCHANGE VISAS

If you are an international student and want to study in South Africa, you can apply for a study visa by completing the BI-1738 form. You must apply for a study visa at a VFS center across the country near the institution you will be studying at, or at the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate abroad. Study visas for studying at an educational institution, other than a school, are issued for the duration of the registered course. Study visas for studying at educational institutions defined as school are valid for the entire period of study: provided that the period of study does not exceed 8 years in primary school and 6 years in secondary school.

Along with the BI-1738 questionnaire, the following documents must be submitted:
A passport valid for at least 30 days after the end of the intended visit
Payment of the established fee
Vaccination certificate if required by law
Confirmation of the availability of funds to cover the expected living expenses during the stay in the Republic, as well as to pay for education. This should be done in the form of:

bank account statements
cash
or traveler's checks

Confirmation of medical insurance
A cash deposit equivalent to the cost of the return ticket.
In the case of African students, the obligation of the respective government to assume full responsibility for the student and to pay all costs should it become necessary to deport the student
Medical and X-ray findings
Birth certificate without abbreviations in the case of minors.
In the case of a minor, the details of the person in the Republic of South Africa who will act as the student's guardian and a letter from that person confirming the guardianship.
Consent from both parents for your stay in South Africa or from the custodial parent, together with proof of sole custody.
An official letter from the educational institution in which you intend to study, confirming the previous enrollment and the duration of the course.
Proof of medical insurance, which is renewed annually for the period of study in a medical organization registered under the Medical Schemes Act.
If you are 18 or over, you must provide a police certificate from each country in which you have lived for 12 months or more since you turned 18. It must be submitted together with the application.

The holder of a study visa can work part-time for a period not exceeding 20 hours per week.

When considering applications for a study permit, the following considerations must be taken into account:

No foreigner can replace a citizen/resident of South Africa in a local educational institution.
The student must have proof of sufficient funds to cover daily living expenses, accommodation and tuition fees during his/her stay in South Africa.
The student must have adequate health insurance in a registered South African medical program and proof of this.

Exchange visas may be issued to foreigners under the age of 25 who wish to participate in cultural, economic, or social exchange programs carried out by a state body or a state higher education institution jointly with a foreign state body. Applications are submitted to any regional office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or to the nearest South African embassy, mission, or consulate abroad.

The validity period of the exchange permit depends on the duration of the program for which it is issued and usually does not exceed 12 months. Exchange authorization cannot be renewed or extended.

If you successfully apply for an exchange permit, you will not be able to apply for a temporary residence permit until you have lived outside the Republic of South Africa for at least 12 months.

If you need an exchange visa to participate in a program run or organized by an educational institution in South Africa jointly with a foreign educational institution/authority (Section 22 (a) of the Immigration Act 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002)), the following are required:

Duly completed application BI-1738 form
A passport valid for at least 30 days after the end of the intended visit
Payment of the established fee
Vaccination certificate if required by law
Confirmation of the availability of funds to cover living expenses during the stay in the Republic in the form of:

bank account statements
cash
or traveler's checks

Undertaking of the host party in the Republic of South Africa
Confirmation of medical insurance
A cash deposit equivalent to the cost of the return ticket, or an undertaking by the relevant institution to cover the costs of deportation, if necessary
Medical and radiological findings
A police certificate from each country in which you have lived for 12 months or more since the age of 18
A letter from the Ministry of Education or a South African public higher education institution confirming that it is responsible for the organization/administration of the program, describing the activities and their duration, and confirming that it assumes full responsibility for the student during his/her stay in the country
A letter from a foreign authority confirming the student's data, including confirmation of the student's registration at a higher educational institution abroad, as well as the date of commencement of studies.
A report from a South African public authority or educational institution referred to in regulation 19 (3).

If you need an exchange visa to participate in a program managed or organized by a public authority (Section 22(a) of the Immigration Act 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002)), you must provide the following:

A duly completed BI-1738 application form
A passport valid for at least 30 days after the end of the intended visit
Payment of the established fee
Vaccination certificate if required by law
Confirmation of the availability of funds to cover living expenses during your stay in the Republic in the form of:

bank account statements
cash
or traveler's checks

Undertaking of the receiving party in the Republic of South Africa
Confirmation of medical coverage
Medical and radiological findings
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of the return ticket or an undertaking by the relevant institution to cover the costs of deportation, if necessary, together with proof of the return ticket
A letter from a government agency confirming the status/existence of the exchange program
A letter from an educational institution abroad confirming your enrollment, or a letter from a government agency in a foreign country confirming your participation in the program and their awareness of the exchange program
Annual reports from the sponsoring body describing the progress of program implementation. In the absence of a sponsoring body, reports must be provided by the educational institution or a government body.
A police certificate from each country in which you have lived for 12 months or more since the age of 18.

To apply for an exchange visa issued under section 22 (b) of the Immigration Act 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002), you must submit the following documentation to the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate in your country of origin:

A duly completed application BI-1738 form
A passport valid for at least 30 days after the end of the intended visit
Payment of the established fee
Vaccination certificate if required by law
Confirmation of the availability of funds to cover living expenses during the stay in the Republic in the form of:

bank account statements
cash
or traveler's checks

Undertaking of the receiving party in the Republic of South Africa
Confirmation of medical insurance
Medical and radiological findings
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of the return ticket or an undertaking by the relevant institution to cover the costs of deportation, if necessary, together with proof of the return ticket
Police certificate from each country in which you have lived for 12 months or more since the age of 18
A statement from a potential employer confirming that:

the position for which the exchange permit will be issued exists
that your remuneration meets the work requirements
the employer will provide for your welfare and needs while working for his company
the employer will inform the Department if you do not comply with the terms and conditions of your permit
you will leave the country after your permit expires.

You will not be able to apply for a permanent residence permit for 2 years after the exchange permit expires.

Buy an insurance policy Order legal advice

All materials and articles are owned by VisitWorld.Today and are protected by international intellectual property regulations. When using materials, approval from VisitWorld.Today is required.