How to get a South African visa?

How much information do you have about the South African Embassy in Iran? Do you know what documents you need to get a South African visa? How long does it take to issue a South African tourist visa and how long will you be allowed to stay in this country after it is issued? If you are planning to travel to South Africa and want to know everything about how to get a visa for this country, the following article will answer all your questions.

The country of South Africa has become an attractive destination for tourists with its different world. Each city in South Africa has its own unique beauty. The tourist areas of Johannesburg, Table Mountain and other attractions of Cape Town and seeing the wildlife of Sun City along with hundreds of other exciting activities in this city encourage every tourist to travel to this country, but first of all, know that we Iranians need to obtain a visa to tour South Africa. Therefore, it is better to have enough information about the conditions and how to get a visa before proceeding.

Types of South African visas

There are different types of South African visas, including:

• Tourist visa
• work visa
• Business visa
• Study visa
• Visa to visit relatives

In the following, we will explain about the South African tourist visa and mention the procedures for obtaining the visa.

South African tourist visa

This type of South African tourist visa is issued to those who travel to this country with the intention of visiting South African attractions and entertainment. Currently, South African tourist visas are issued to applicants by submitting documents to the embassy only as a single entry and normal.

Documents required to obtain a South African tourist visa

The following documents are required to obtain a South African tourist visa. Therefore, before going to the embassy or any other action, prepare all the following documents first.

• Original signed passport with 7 months validity with at least two blank pages, along with previous passports.
• 2 photos 3.5 x 4.5 in color, full face with white background, full face, no smile, no glasses, the roundness of the face should be clearly defined, maximum for the last 6 months (the photo should not be the same as the passport and previous visas).
• Original and translation of employment documents along with a letter of introduction translated into Latin from the workplace.
• The original bank account certificate with the seal and signature of the bank in English only, the balance of at least 100,000,000 tomans per person, the bank account certificate must be issued at least 5 days before the date of delivery of the documents to the embassy and the bank printout size should be A4 , current accounts: recent quarterly operation in English, certificate of ability in English for bank deposits, along with quarterly interest turnover in English from the bank, along with the bank’s seal and signature.
• Employment letter for students.
• Translation of birth certificate in English in two copies for people under 18 years old. (one copy to present to the embassy and the other copy must be with the passenger at the airport)

Important points regarding South African visa documents

• All documents must be translated into English.
• The applicant must bring all the documents with him on the fingerprinting day.
• Financial availability and account turnover must be issued 3 days before the interview.
• The employment letter must be issued on the company’s official letterhead and the following must be mentioned in it:
• Name and surname, passport number, date of employment, length of employment, position of the applicant, amount of salary, leave period, employer’s signature
• If the child travels with one of the parents, it is mandatory to bring the written and notarized consent of the father or mother who is not traveling.
• If the applicant has already traveled to South Africa, include a copy of his/her previous visa in the documents.

How to get a South African visa?

You can apply for a South African visa in two ways, personally and through airline agencies. But before any action, it is necessary to know that South African visa issuance is not done through the embassy of this country in Iran, but the agency office of the embassy called VFS does all the work related to the visa. Of course, the final decision is the responsibility of the embassy, ​​but the result is through VFS Applicants will be notified.

Procedures for obtaining a South African visa

Pay attention to this point, fingerprinting is done to get a South African tourist visa.

1- Preparation of required documents (documents must be translated into English)

2- Refer to the official website of the embassy to schedule an appointment for fingerprinting and interview

3- Creating a user account

4- Taking an interview time

5-Receive tracking code

6- Going to VFS office for fingerprinting and interview

7- Presenting the documents to the VFS office

8- Refer to VFS to receive the passport at the time announced by this office (passport delivery time will be announced by the brokerage office via email or phone)

Important points about getting a visa

• Be sure to bring 70 euros in cash on the day of fingerprinting, apart from the visa fee. (This amount must be paid separately by the applicant to VFS).
• Your passport will stay with the embassy until the visa result is announced.
• It is mandatory for all applicants to be fingerprinted at VFS.
• The duration of issuing a South African tourist visa is usually 10 to 15 working days, and according to the decision of the embassy, ​​it may take more time to review the documents.
• The South African tourist visa is valid for 2 months from the moment of issuance, which means that the traveler has 2 months to travel to South Africa from the time of receiving the visa.
• South African tourist visas cannot be extended and the traveler must leave South Africa after the visa expires.
• Tourist visa holders are not allowed to work or do business during their stay in this country.

Obtaining a South African visa through travel agencies

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, you can apply for a South African tourist visa through airline agencies.

With years of experience in organizing South African tours and obtaining African visas, Setare Vanak Airline Agency can be a good advice in this field. If you do it this way, the visa experts at Setara Vanak Airline Agency will follow up all the steps to get a South African visa, and you only need to be present at the VFS location for fingerprinting on the desired day.

Actions of the Star Vank Airline Agency to obtain a South African visa

1- Translation of passenger documents in English

2- Scheduling fingerprinting and interview

3- Receiving the passenger’s passport from the embassy, ​​after issuing the visa

final word

A South African tourist visa provides an opportunity to explore the natural beauty, rich history and diverse culture of this country. With careful planning and knowledge of the required conditions and documents, you can have a memorable trip to one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. We hope that the information presented in this article has helped you in the process of obtaining a visa and a pleasant travel experience.

Frequently asked questions

Do Iranians need a tourist visa to travel to South Africa?

Yes, Iranian citizens need a tourist visa to enter South Africa. You must apply for a visa before traveling.