Visa information

Canadian citizens who wish to go to South Africa for tourism, business purposes or study for 90 days or less are exempted from visa requirements. The passport holder must be in possession of a return air ticket or onward going ticket. The passport must be valid for a period of at least 30 days after the planned departure from South Africa.  All visitors to South Africa must have at least one full blank page in the passport.  Non compliance will result in refusal of admission to South Africa.

The length of sojourn is determined by Immigration Control on arrival when a temporary residence permit is granted. All visitors to South Africa must hold a return/onward ticket and a valid visa when required.

Visa Exempt Countries

TRANSIT VISAS are required for all non-visa exempt foreigners who proceed to South Africa for transitting purposes enroute to neighbouring countries. The transit visa requirement will come into effect on 1 June 2010.

All applications for visas and temporary residence permits will be accepted by post only.

Your visa/permit application will be processed within 10 business days if all the requirements are met.

Please note that applications from the residents of Ontario (excluding greater Ottawa area), Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories must be mailed to the South African Consulate General in Toronto (www.sacgtoronto.com). The High Commission in Ottawa may return those applications unattended.

Requirements for a visitors visa application:

• Visa application form (BI-84).
• Flight Itinerary
• Two (2) passport photos with white or light background
• A statement or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of the visit e.g. proof of accommodation in South Africa such as hotel booking or invitation from the host and proof of host's legal status in South Africa
• Prescribed fee of CAN $ 79.00 for processing by money order made payable tot he South African High Commission
• Proof of sufficient funds (recent bank statement, credit card, etc).
• Yellow fever certificate if the applicant will be traveling or intends traveling or traveled from or through the yellow fever endemic area. (Click here for list of countries falling within the Yellow Fever Belt)
• Proof of status in Canada such as copy of a permanent resident card, work permitor study permit
• Any other documentation or proof that the visa official may deem necessary
• Original passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit with at least 2 blank visa pages
• Express post Canada Post self-addressed envelope for the retunr of your passport

Visitors visa application for visits exceeding 90 days:

in respect of sabbatical

• All documents listed under Visitors visa application
• A letter from the foreign academic institution, confirming enrolment abroad
• A letter from the host organization or institution in the RSA
• Police clearance certificate in respect of each country he/she lived in for 12 months or longer since the age of 18
• Medical and radiological report

in respect of voluntary or charitable activities:

• All documents listed under Visitors visa application
• A letter from the organization where the services will be rendered, confirming the nar\ture and period of services
• A letter of confirmation that it is not a piad post
• Police clearance certificate in respect of each country he/she lived in for 12 months or longer since the age of 18
• Medical and radiological report

in respect of research:

• All documents listed under Visitors visa application
• A letter from the educational institution concerned, confirming the nature and period of the research
• Police clearance certificate in respect of each country he/she lived in for 12 months or longer since the age of 18
• Medical and radiological report

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMITS

Basic Requirements for all permits:

• Passport requirements when applying for a South African visa or permit

  Note:  Passports/travel documents must be valid for at least 30 days after expiry of visit to South Africa

  For nationals of countries whose citizens require a visa or permit:

  Passports (Including Travel/Emergency Travel Documents) must have:

  • At least two (2) unused (blank) visa pages when presented at the Embassy or Consulate; one page for affixing the visa or permit by the embassy/consulate and the other page for endorsement of entry/departure stamp by the South African Immigration Services. 

  For nationals of countries whose citizens do not require a visa:

  Passports (including travel/emergency travel documents) must have:

  • at least one (1) unused (blank) visa page when presented to the South African Immigration Services upon arrival in South Africa.

    Note:  Visa pages referred above do not include pages reserved for observations, amendments and endorsements.
     

  • Passport valid for 30 more days after the intended return date from South Africa with at least two unused visa pages for endorsement. The unused page needed for endorsement purposes is separate from pages in a passport reserved for observations and amendments. 
     

• Prescribed fee paid by money order
• Prescribed Form 1738
• Medical Report (BI-811)
• Radiological Report (BI-806)
• Police Clearance Certificate from all countries where the applicant resided for 12 months or longer since 18 years.
• A vaccination certificate, if required;
• Proof of financial means in the forms of:· 
  • Bank statements;· 
  • Salary advices;· 
• Undertaking (commitment) by the South African host;
• Bursaries (grant awarded as part of a financial assistance package);· 
• Medical coverage;
• Cash available, including credit cards or travelers' checks to cover expenses related to the visit;
• Deposit
• Marriage and birth certificate
• Applicants traveling by air must be in possession of round trip tickets, or proof of sufficient funds or lodge a cash deposit of equivalent value to such a ticket;
• Statement and/or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of visit.

STUDY PERMIT REQUIREMENTS/STUDY EXCHANGE PERMITS

The following documents must be submitted with your completed application:

. BI 1738 form
. valid original passport
. full birth certificate of applicant (minors under 18 years of age) which reflect the names of both parents
. passport photograph
. flight intinerary
 . fee of $79 CDN payable by money order or bank draft only to the SA High Commission/ SA Consulate-General dependent on where application is submitted
. police clearance certificate (criminal records check for applicants 18 and older.)
. medical certificate (downloadable form (BI 811) to be completed by your general practitioner and applicable to all applicants)
. Radiological Report (downloadable from (BI 806 and applicable to all applicants over 12 years of age)
. letter of acceptance from the SA university/educational institution
. letter from Canadian university/education institution confirming official exchange ( if applicable)
. notorised letter of consent signed by both parents for applicants under 18 years of age
. proof of accommodation whilst in South Africa
. proof of sufficient funds
. proof of medical coverage for period in South Africa
. return prepaid Xpress Post envelope for the return of your passport

A deposit in the amount of $1000 CDN (money order or bank draft only) will be payable to the South African High Commission for all periods of study exceeding twelve months.  This amount will be refunded on the applicant’s permanent return to Canada as long as the conditions of the permit, or subsequent permits are not violated.

Relatives permit

This is a permit that will be issued to relatives to South African citizens or residents intending to visit the Republic. It will be issued for the period not exceeding 24 months at a time. In a case where it is issued to spouse, it will lapse upon the dissolution of the relationship and the Department may at any time satisfy itself that a good faith spousal relationship exists and or continues to exist.

Documents to be submitted:

• See basic requirements
• Financial assurance in the form of certification by a chartered accountant confirming the sponsor's and or the joint means of support of the applicant and the sponsor for the requested duration of the permit. The financial assurance in question shall be an amount of R5,000.00 per person per month and will not be applicable in the case of a spouse or a dependent minor child.

Note: The period of validity of the permit shall be determined by the financial assurance provided, but will not exceed a period of 24 months at a time. A relative permit issued to a spouse shall lapse upon the dissolution of the spousal relationship and the Department may at any time satisfy itself that a good faith spousal relationship exists and or continues to exist.

Work Permits

Work permits are issued to all foreigners intending to take up employment in South Africa. The following are the kinds of work permits issued on application.

General Work Permit

Documents to be submitted:

Original advertisement of the job in the national media. The advertisement should comply with the following:

• See basic requirements
• Contract of employment signed by both applicant and employer.
• Original proof of qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
• Proof of experience and skills in line with the job offer.
• The employer to submit a certificate from the Department of Labor or extract from the database of a salary benchmarking organization detailing the average salary earned by employees occupying similar positions in the Republic of South Africa.
• Submission of the original advertisement in the national printed media.
  • The specimen must reflect the full particulars of the relevant newspaper/specialized magazine, as well as the dates on which the advertisement was published;
  • Such advertisement must stipulate the minimum qualifications and experience required to fill the position as well as the remuneration and benefits offered;
  • The position offered and the duties to be performed must be clearly defined;
  • Such advertisement should measure at least 150 millimeters by 90 millimeters;
  • The closing date for the application must be stated in the advertisement;
  • The advertisement may not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
• A letter of motivation from the employer detailing the efforts he or she made to obtain the services of a citizen or resident;
• Proof that all short - listed candidates have been interviewed;
• In the case of senior positions, reasons for not filling the position through the promotion of existing personnel; 
• Undertaking to register with professional body, board or council in SA, where applicable; 
• Letter of approval, where required by a law from:
  • Relevant professional body, board, council;
  • Department of labor;
  • Relevant organ of state
• Fee is CAN $ 283 paid by money order to the South African High Commission

Work Permit (General Quota)

• See basic requirements
• An offer of employment;
• Certification by a chartered accountant detailing the following:
• Describing the job description;
• Certifying that the job position falls within a relevant category;
• Certifying that the position exists and is intended to be filled by such foreigner;
• Certifying that such foreigner possess the legal qualifications required for the performance of the tasks called for by the job position, taking into account any applicable requirement of the South African Qualification Authority.
• Commitment by the employer to pay training fee in respect of each employee, amounting to 2%of such foreigner's taxable remuneration to be paid quarterly and in advance.
• Certification by the chartered accountant detailing the fact that no South African can fill the post in question
• Fee is CAN $ 283 paid by money order to the South African High Commission

Work Permits (Exceptional Skills)

• See basic requirements
• A letter from a foreign or South African organ of state, from an established South African academic, cultural or business body, confirming the applicant's exceptional skills or qualifications;
• Testimonials from previous employers, if applicable, and a comprehensive curriculum vitae;
• Other proof to substantiate exceptional skills or qualifications such as publications and testimonials
• Fee is CAN $ 283 paid by money order to the South African High Commission

Work Permit (Intra Company Transfer)

• See basic requirements
• The foreigner's contract of employment with the company abroad
• A letter from the international concern confirming that the foreigner will be transferred to a branch/affiliated South African company;
• A letter from the South African company confirming the transfer of such foreigner from the parent/affiliated company abroad, as well as specifying the occupation and capacity in which the foreigner will be employed, and that maximum duration will not exceed two years;
• An undertaking from the employer to defray deportation and other costs should such foreigner fail to depart when no longer allowed to sojourn SA
• Fee is CAN $ 283 paid by money order to the South African High Commission

Corporate Permit

This is a permit issued by the Department to a corporate applicant. A corporate applicant is defined as a juristic person established under the laws of SA or foreign country as a corporation to employ foreigners to conduct work for such an applicant. The following will be employed under corporate permit: seasonal workers and workers on foreign state labor agreement. The following documents must be submitted before a corporate permit can be issued:

• See basic requirements
• A certification by a chartered accountant specifying conditions of employment of the foreigners;
• An undertaking by the corporate applicant to:
  • Ensure that a foreigner's passport is valid for no less that 30 days after expiry of stay;
  • Ensure that foreigners are employed in the specific positions authorized by the corporate permit;
  • Ensure the departure of foreigners on completion of service.
• Motivation letter for the need to employ foreigners, specifying a job description and the organogram;
• An undertaking to comply with provisions/conditions of a corporate permit;
• Training fee and/or training program for the citizens and residents that may reduce for foreign labor
• Fee is CAN $ 283 paid by money order to the South African High Commission

Corporate Worker (General Categories)

• See basic requirements
• Acceptance letter of offer of employment;
• Certificate detailing terms and conditions of employment.

Corporate Worker (Agreements with Foreign States)

• See basic requirements
• Valid employment contract entered into for a period not exceeding 18 months;
• No objection letter from the Department of labor or an exemption letter;
• An undertaking by the employer to remove the employee on expiry of contract;
• Certificate detailing terms and conditions of employment.

Corporate Worker (Seasonal Workers/Farm Workers)

• See basic requirements
• Valid employment contract entered into for a period not exceeding six months;
• An undertaking by the employer to repatriate the employee on the expiry of the contract;
• No objection letter from the Department of labor or an exemption letter;
• Certificate detailing terms and conditions of employment.

Retired Person's Permit

This is a kind of a permit issued to retirees intending to live in SA only for limited or seasonal periods during the validity of the permit. It can be issued for a period not exceeding four years and on its expiry, it may be renewed for one or more time.

Retired Person's Permit (Non Worker)

Documents to be submitted:

• See list of basic requirements
• A pension with a minimum value of R20,000 per month or an irrevocable retirement annuity or retirement account to the equivalent amount;
• A net worth of no less than R12 million providing an income of at least R15,000 per month
• Fee is CAN $ 79 paid by money order to the South African High Commission

Retired Person's Permit (Worker)

Documents to be submitted:

• See list of basic requirements
• All the requirements listed under retired persons' permit above;
• Proof that a citizen or resident is not ready and willing to take up relevant employment.

Treaty Permit

This is a kind of a permit issued to a foreigner conducting activities in South Africa in terms of an international agreement to which South Africa is a party.

Documents to be submitted:

• See list of basic requirements
• Letter from the relevant organ of state attesting to:
  • The nature of the programme and the treaty under which it is conducted;
  • The fact that the relevant foreigner participates in such programme;
  • The type of activities that the foreigner is expected to perform under such programme and the duration thereof and whether he or she is expected to conduct work
• Fee is CAN $ 283 paid by money order to the South African High Commission