## Do I Need a Visa When Traveling to South Africa?
Whether or not you require a visa to enter South Africa depends on your nationality and the purpose and duration of your trip.
### Visa-Exempt Countries
Citizens of the following countries are exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 90 days:
African Union Member States: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Other Countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam
### Visa Requirements
Citizens of all other countries not listed above require a visa to enter South Africa. The type of visa required depends on the purpose and duration of your stay:
Visitor’s Visa: Issued for tourism, business, or social visits of up to 90 days.
Study Visa: Issued to foreign students who have been accepted into a South African educational institution.
Work Visa: Issued to foreign workers who have been offered employment in South Africa.
Permanent Residence Visa: Issued to foreigners who wish to reside permanently in South Africa.
### Application Process
To apply for a visa, you will need to:
1. Collect the necessary documents: This includes your passport, visa application form, passport-sized photos, and supporting documents depending on the visa type you are applying for.
2. Submit your application: You can submit your application in person at a South African embassy or consulate, or through a registered visa application center.
3. Pay the visa fee: The visa fee varies depending on the visa type and your nationality.
4. Wait for a decision: The processing time for visa applications varies, so it’s important to apply well in advance of your intended travel date.
### Visa Extensions
If you need to extend your stay in South Africa beyond the validity of your visa, you can apply for a visa extension at the nearest Department of Home Affairs office.
Note: It’s strongly recommended that you check with the South African embassy or consulate in your home country for the most up-to-date visa requirements and application procedures.