This Immigration Directive serves to standardize the submission and processing of Port of Entry Visas at Diplomatic Missions abroad and online.
Section 11.1 of the Immigration Regulations provides the prescribed requirements for a visitors visa to visit the Republic of South Africa for a period not exceeding 90 days. These regulations apply to physical applications processed at South African Missions abroad as wel as applications submitted on the e-Visa platform. In addition to the Passport of the applicant, the following are the prescribed documents required:
- A statement or documentation detailing the purpose and duration of the visit;
- A valid return airline ticket or proof of the reservation thereof; and
- proof of suficient financial by means of three months bank certified statements
It has come to our attention that officials and e-Visa managers have added unauthorized requirements including but not limited to:
- Death certificates of applicant's parents
- Applicant's marriage certificates
- Applicant's Divorce certificates
- Proof of specified bank balances in the applicants account
- Consent from Applicant's employer/ educational institution
- Minimum bank balances
Officials are instructed to kindly adhere to the prescribed requirements only. No additional documents may be requested from applicants applying via the e-visa platform or at a mission abroad. Officials are also not authorised to request applicants to notarise their documentation.
Officials are hereby instructed to exclude such requirements and to remove such requirements from lists, websites and other forms of communication and to instruct intermediaries such as visa documentation management agencies to remove such requirements, and to advise their clients that such documents are no longer required.
This notice must be brought to the attention of all staff at Head Office and Missions abroad.
This Immigration Directive follows Immigration Directive 8 of 2024 which deals with the introduction of Trusted Employer Scheme