If you are planning to go to South Africa, one of the documents you need to have is a South African visa.
Your South African visa will not guarantee you to automatically enter South Africa, but only authorises you to go to a South African land border crossing or airport, where an officer will examine your visa to determine if you comply with the country’s entry requirements. The visa also serves the purpose of ensuring the correct selection of applicants, so that unfavourable persons will not be admitted to the country.
Specifically, student visas are valid for the entire duration of study. Visitors’ visas, which are intended for international travellers or residents of other countries who wish to visit South Africa, are issued for a length of 90 days or less, usually for business or tourism purposes. If you wish to stay in South Africa for more than 90 days for employment purposes, you need to secure a work visa instead of a visitor’s visa.
Visitor’s visa requirements include: travel documents or passport valid for a minimum of 30 days after the expiration of the planned visit; payment fee if applicable; vaccination certificate if required; statement and/or documentation stating the duration and purpose of the visit; two identity photos; and proof of financial means, such as salary advances, bank statements, and others. Your passport should also have at least two blank pages for entry/departure endorsements.
The validity period of the visa will be calculated starting from the date of entry to South Africa.
There’s some lovely places to visit in SA, that aren’t very touristy
Comment by Dougie — July 24, 2009 @ 10:27 am