South Africa Visa for Indians: Everything You Need to Know in 2025
                     SOUTH AFRICA VISA 
FOR INDIANS: 
EVERYTHING YOU NEED 
TO KNOW IN 2025
• PLANNING A TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA FROM 
INDIA? WHETHER YOU’RE HEADING THERE FOR 
A VACATION, A BUSINESS MEETING, OR TO VISIT 
FRIENDS AND FAMILY, UNDERSTANDING THE 
SOUTH AFRICA VISA PROCESS IS CRUCIAL. THE 
SOUTH AFRICA VISA FOR INDIANS IS 
RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT KNOWING 
THE TYPES, DOCUMENTS REQUIRED, 
PROCESSING TIME, AND FEES CAN SAVE YOU A 
LOT OF HASSLE.
• DO INDIANS NEED A VISA FOR SOUTH 
AFRICA?
• YES, INDIAN CITIZENS REQUIRE A VISA TO 
ENTER SOUTH AFRICA. YOU MUST APPLY FOR A 
SOUTH AFRICAN VISA BEFORE TRAVELLING 
UNLESS YOU HOLD A DIPLOMATIC OR OFFICIAL 
PASSPORT, IN WHICH CASE, DIFFERENT RULES 
MAY APPLY.
• TYPES OF SOUTH AFRICAN VISAS FOR 
INDIANS
• THE MOST COMMON SOUTH AFRICAN VISA FOR 
INDIANS INCLUDES:
• TOURIST VISA: FOR LEISURE TRAVEL, 
SIGHTSEEING, AND VISITING FRIENDS OR FAMILY.
• BUSINESS VISA: FOR ATTENDING MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, OR SHORT-TERM BUSINESS VISITS.
• TRANSIT VISA: IF YOU ARE PASSING THROUGH SOUTH AFRICA EN ROUTE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.
• STUDENT VISA: FOR THOSE WHO PLAN TO STUDY IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
• WORK VISA: FOR PROFESSIONALS OFFERED EMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.
• FOR MOST INDIAN TRAVELERS, THE TOURIST VISA IS THE MOST RELEVANT.
• SOUTH AFRICA TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIANS
• TO APPLY FOR A SOUTH AFRICAN TOURIST VISA, INDIAN NATIONALS MUST PREPARE THE FOLLOWING 
DOCUMENTS:
• A VALID INDIAN PASSPORT (VALID FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS AFTER YOUR INTENDED DEPARTURE FROM 
SOUTH AFRICA)
• COMPLETED BI-84 VISA APPLICATION FORM
• TWO RECENT PASSPORT-SIZED PHOTOGRAPHS
• FLIGHT TICKETS (CONFIRMED ROUND-TRIP)
• PROOF OF ACCOMMODATION (HOTEL BOOKINGS OR INVITATION FROM HOST)
• BANK STATEMENTS FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS SHOWING SUFFICIENT FUNDS
• A COVER LETTER STATING THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT
• YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE (IF APPLICABLE)
• TRAVEL INSURANCE COVERING THE DURATION OF YOUR STAY
• HOW TO APPLY FOR A SOUTH 
AFRICAN VISA FROM INDIA
• DOWNLOAD AND FILL OUT THE 
FORM: GET THE BI-84 APPLICATION 
FORM ONLINE OR FROM THE VFS 
CENTER.
• BOOK AN APPOINTMENT: VISIT 
THE VFS GLOBAL WEBSITE AND 
SCHEDULE A VISA APPOINTMENT AT 
THE NEAREST SOUTH AFRICA VISA 
APPLICATION CENTRE.
• VISIT THE CENTER: SUBMIT THE 
FORM ALONG WITH YOUR 
DOCUMENTS AND BIOMETRIC DATA.
• TRACK YOUR APPLICATION: USE 
THE VFS TRACKING SYSTEM TO 
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF YOUR 
VISA APPLICATION.
• COLLECT YOUR PASSPORT: ONCE 
YOUR VISA IS PROCESSED, YOU CAN 
COLLECT YOUR PASSPORT OR OPT 
FOR COURIER DELIVERY.
• SOUTH AFRICA VISA FEES FOR INDIANS (2025)
• AS OF 2025, THE SOUTH AFRICAN VISA FEE FOR INDIAN CITIZENS IS APPROXIMATELY:
• TOURIST VISA: ₹2,000 – ₹2,500 (PLUS SERVICE CHARGES BY VFS)
• BUSINESS VISA: ₹2,500 – ₹3,000 (VARIES DEPENDING ON DURATION)
• NOTE: FEES MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE EXCHANGE RATE AND VISA TYPE.
• SOUTH AFRICA VISA PROCESSING TIME
• THE TYPICAL PROCESSING TIME FOR A SOUTH AFRICAN VISA FOR INDIANS IS AROUND 5 TO 7 
WORKING DAYS. HOWEVER, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO APPLY AT LEAST 3 WEEKS IN ADVANCE TO 
ACCOMMODATE ANY DELAYS OR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
• VISA VALIDITY AND STAY DURATION
• A TOURIST VISA IS USUALLY VALID FOR UP TO 90 DAYS. THE ACTUAL DURATION OF STAY IS 
MENTIONED ON THE VISA. OVERSTAYING YOUR VISA CAN LEAD TO FINES OR ENTRY BANS FOR 
FUTURE VISITS.
• TIPS FOR A SMOOTH VISA APPLICATION
• DOUBLE-CHECK ALL DOCUMENTS BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT.
• PROVIDE GENUINE AND CLEAR REASONS FOR TRAVEL IN YOUR COVER LETTER.
• ENSURE YOUR BANK BALANCE REFLECTS THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO SUPPORT YOUR STAY.
• AVOID BOOKING NON-REFUNDABLE TICKETS UNTIL YOUR VISA IS APPROVED.
• FINAL THOUGHTS
• GETTING A SOUTH AFRICAN VISA FOR INDIANS IS A MANAGEABLE PROCESS IF YOU’RE WELL-
PREPARED. SOUTH AFRICA’S DIVERSE WILDLIFE, SCENIC BEAUTY, AND VIBRANT CITIES MAKE IT A 
DREAM DESTINATION FOR MANY INDIAN TRAVELERS. JUST ENSURE YOUR DOCUMENTS ARE 
COMPLETE, YOUR PLANS ARE CLEAR, AND YOU GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME FOR PROCESSING.
• WHETHER YOU'RE PLANNING A THRILLING SAFARI, A ROMANTIC GETAWAY, OR A BUSINESS TRIP, 
HAVING YOUR SOUTH AFRICA VISA SORTED IN ADVANCE WILL ENSURE A STRESS-FREE TRAVEL 
EXPERIENCE.
THANKYOU!