🇰🇼→🇿🇦Kuwait→South Africa

Issued to foreign nationals intending to visit South Africa temporarily for tourism, family or friend visits, conferences, or sports events.

• Visa-exempt nationalities do not need this visa for stays up to their permitted period.
• Non-exempt travelers may apply via eVisa (ehome.dha.gov.za) or ETA (eta.dha.gov.za).
• Visitors may not work on this visa.
• Fees updated annually and vary by nationality/currency.

Issued to foreign nationals intending to stay in South Africa for tourism or short-term non-work purposes beyond 90 days.

Application submitted at South African embassy/consulate abroad or via ePermit portal. Specific duration determined on a case-by-case basis.

Issued to foreigners visiting South Africa for business purposes such as meetings, negotiations, or conferences for up to 90 days.

Short-term business visits; holder may not be employed by a South African entity. Separate from the long-term Business Visa (investment/establishment).

Issued to foreign nationals who intend to establish or invest in a business in South Africa as contemplated in Section 15 of the Immigration Act.

• Requires minimum capital investment as determined by the Minister; applicant's business must employ at least 60% South African citizens or permanent residents.
• Renewable.
• Governed by Section 15 of the Immigration Act 2002.

Issued to foreign nationals passing through South Africa en route to a third country, particularly those intending to obtain long-term residence in a neighboring country.

• Required for certain nationalities transiting through South Africa even without leaving the international transit area.
• Pakistan and Bangladesh ordinary passport holders require a transit visa effective 1 August 2022.
• Governed by Section 11(1) of the Immigration Act 2002.

Issued to foreign nationals who have a confirmed offer of employment in South Africa in an occupation where South African citizens or permanent residents are not available.

• Valid for up to 5 years.
• Employer must demonstrate that no suitable South African candidate is available (labour market test).
• Governed by Section 19(2) of the Immigration Act 2002.

Issued to foreign nationals whose occupation appears on the South African Critical Skills List, allowing them to work for a South African employer.

• Valid for up to 5 years; per the official DHA Types of Visas page, this visa cannot be renewed or extended beyond the initial validity period (holder must apply for a new visa category, permanent residence, or depart before expiry).
• Requires confirmation from a professional body/council recognised by SAQA.
• Employment offer required, signed by both employer and applicant.
• Critical Skills List is gazetted periodically.
• Governed by Section 19(4) of the Immigration Act.
• Requirements version effective 9 October 2024.

Issued to employees of multinational corporations being transferred to a South African branch, subsidiary, or affiliate within the same group.

• Valid for up to 4 years.
• Non-renewable and non-extendable.
• Governed by Section 19(7) of the Immigration Act 2002.

Enables corporations to employ a predetermined number of foreign nationals in specific occupations where South African workers are unavailable.

• Valid for up to 3 years.
• Issued to the corporation; employees named under the corporate visa are then authorised to work.
• Governed by Section 21 of the Immigration Act 2002.

Permits foreign nationals to perform short-term work in South Africa as a sub-category of the Visitor's Visa framework.

Governed by Section 11(2) of the Immigration Act 2002. For short-term assignments, filming, performance, etc. not exceeding 90 days.

Issued to foreign nationals working as a crew member of a conveyance (ship or aircraft) calling at or operating within South Africa.

• Governed by Section 16 of the Immigration Act 2002.
• Issued for a maximum of three months at a time, and only for the period the crew member's conveyance remains in South Africa.
• Holder may not conduct work other than duties as a crew member of the conveyance.
• Applies to crew of foreign private, chartered, or commercial ships and aircraft.

Issued to foreign nationals employed by a foreign-based employer who wish to work remotely from South Africa for more than 90 days.

• Minimum gross annual salary of R650,796.00 required.
• Applicant must hold a valid employment contract signed by both parties.
• Must be resident in a country with valid long-term residence status.
• B1/B2 US visa holders must apply from their country of origin.
• Requires FBI background check, medical report, and proof of accommodation.
• SARS registration required if present for more than 183 aggregate days.
• Fee listed is USD $36 from US applications.
• Added to Immigration Regulations effective 28 March 2024.

Issued to foreign nationals intending to undertake full-time study at an accredited educational institution in South Africa.

• Valid for the duration of the course.
• Holder may work up to 20 hours per week.
• Must have medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme.
• Governed by Section 18 of the Immigration Act 2002.

Issued to foreign nationals under 25 years of age participating in cultural, economic, or social exchange programmes in South Africa.

• Valid for up to 12 months.
• Non-renewable and non-extendable.
• Applicant must be under 25 years of age.
• Governed by Section 18 of the Immigration Act 2002.

Issued to foreign nationals who wish to retire in South Africa on a temporary basis for limited or seasonal periods.

• Requires proof of minimum monthly income of R37,000 or minimum net worth of R37,000 (note: official website states R37,000; actual threshold may be higher - verify current gazette).
• Holder may not work.
• Governed by Section 17 of the Immigration Act 2002.

Issued to foreign nationals who need to travel to South Africa for life-saving or specialised medical treatment unavailable in their home country.

• Valid for up to 6 months.
• Requires letter from a South African medical practitioner confirming treatment.
• Holder may not work.
• Governed by Section 11(4) of the Immigration Act 2002.

Issued to relatives of South African citizens or permanent residents wishing to live in South Africa for an extended period.

• Valid for up to 2 years.
• The South African relative must provide a financial assurance of at least R8,500 per month per person.
• Governed by Section 18 of the Immigration Act 2002.
• Spouses of South African citizens/permanent residents may apply under Section 11(6) Spousal Visa.

Issued to the spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident who intends to visit or reside in South Africa.

• Governed by Section 11(6) of the Immigration Act 2002.
• Allows the holder to work in South Africa.
• Must demonstrate a bona fide spousal or life partnership relationship.

Issued to accredited diplomatic personnel and their dependents assigned to South Africa in an official diplomatic capacity.

• Issued to diplomats accrediting to South Africa.
• Diplomatic passport holders from certain countries still require a port-of-entry accreditation visa (e.g., USA, Australia, Germany).
• Managed via DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation).

Issued to foreign nationals conducting activities in South Africa under the terms of an international treaty or agreement to which South Africa is a party.

Governed by international agreements to which South Africa is a signatory. Specific terms depend on the relevant treaty.

An online pre-travel authorisation for eligible visa-required nationalities visiting South Africa for tourism or short-term purposes, replacing the traditional paper visa for qualifying travellers.

• Launched September/October 2025.
• Initial eligible nationalities: China, India, Indonesia, Mexico; expanding to all visa-required nationalities.
• Stay extendable once for additional 90 days (max 180 days total).
• Entry initially limited to OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports, expanding to secondary airports.
• Work not permitted.
• Processing within 24 hours per Minister Schreiber.
• Not required for visa-exempt travellers.

An online visa application system allowing visa-required foreign nationals to apply for South African visitor, study, business, and other visa categories digitally.

• Available at ehome.dha.gov.za.
• Eligible applicants must enter through OR Tambo, Cape Town, or Lanseria International Airports.
• The eVisa is a digital form of the paper visa covering all visa categories available under the Immigration Act.
• Replaces traditional embassy paper applications for eligible nationalities.

Grants foreign nationals the right to reside permanently in South Africa without time limitations, available under various categories including retirement, business, critical skills, family, and financial independence.

• Governed by Section 27 of the Immigration Act 2002.
• Categories: (a) spouse/life partner of SA citizen, (b) critical skills, (c) business/investor, (d) refugee, (e) child of SA citizen, (f) financially independent.
• Applicants typically must hold a temporary residence visa for 5 years before qualifying (except certain categories).
• Does not automatically confer citizenship; naturalisation requires additional years of PR.