Immigration Services - Visas:

A visa may be issued to foreigners who wish to holiday (tourism), visit family and friends, attend business meetings/negotiations/workshops/seminars/conferences.  A visa may also be issued to attend study courses or attend training for a period less than three months.  Only certain countries require a visa for South Africa.  The countries listed in table A do not need a visa (subject to the conditions indicated) for South Africa.  If a country nationality is not listed in table A then a visa is required.

The prescribed fee is Dhs250-00.  Only cash is acceptable.  All countries listed on page 7, table B must pay a fee.  The fee is non-refundable irrespective if the application is approved, refused or withdrawn.  The visa fee is subject to change in April every year.

v       Passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit.  The passport must have at least two blank visa pages (one to endorse the visa and one for entry stamps).  The original passport + one copy of all relevant pages must be submitted.

v       2 identity photographs.

v       BI-84 form to be fully completed.  Forms can either be collected in person at the Embassy or may be downloaded from our website - www.southafrica.ae

v       A vaccination certificate, if required by the Act.

v       Proof of financial means in the form of - bank statements · salary advices· undertaking(s) by the host(s) in the Republic· bursaries· medical cover, or· cash available, including credit cards statements or travellers' cheques to cover envisaged living expenses during the sojourn in the Republic.

v       Applicants travelling by air must be in possession of a provisional return or onward flight booking.  No fixed travel arrangements must however be made prior to the issuing of the visa.

v       A person who is unable to comply with above requirement, may be required to make a deposit:  Provided that such deposit shall be refunded to the depositor after the final departure of the applicant or after a permit contemplated in section 25 of the Act has been issued to the applicant:  Provided further that the payment of the deposit may be effected by means of a bank guaranteed cheque or cash.

v       If a minor child subject to guardianship or custody is accompanying the applicant or joining the applicant in South Africa, then proof of guardianship and custody is required.

v       In the case of an unaccompanied minor, consent from the guardian is required.

v       Statement and/or documentation confirming purpose and duration of visit.

§         For business visits (meetings, negotiations, workshops, seminars, conferences and training) letters from both the United Arab Emirates and the South African host company/organisation should be submitted.  The letters should confirm the nature and duration of the visit.

§         For tourist visits, a provisional hotel booking or travel itinerary is acceptable.

§         For family visits, an invitation letter from the South African host (with full contact details and South African ID number/residence number) is acceptable.

§         For all other types of visits, adequate documentation must be produced which confirms the nature of the visit and the duration of the visit.

The processing period for all visas is 4 (four) working days.

Where can an application be submitted and how can application be submitted?

Application can either be submitted in person at the Embassy or applications can be mailed/couriered to the Embassy.  See page 1 for our physical, postal and public hours.

v      Only applicants with valid residence in the United Arab Emirates can apply through the South African Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.

v       The visa only enables the holder to proceed to a port of entry before or on the expiry date of the visa, where the holder must comply with the applicable law, regulation and entry requirements.

v       The visa shall upon admission, be considered to be a permit for the purpose of the Act and the period of validity of that permit shall be calculated from the date of admission.

v       The period for which a permit will be valid will be set out under the heading” conditions” on the visa label.

v       Applicants must ensure that they apply for the correct visa/permit as any change in the purpose of stay may be refused if the purpose of the original entry was not correctly stated.

v       The holder of a visitor’s permit may not conduct work unless specifically authorised to do so in terms of Section 11(2) of the Act.

v       The holder of a visitors permit may not establish or operate a business.

v       Visas cannot be applied for at a South African port of entry (for example, an airport).

v       Any applicant allowed entry into South Africa due to misrepresentation, or false declaration on the application form or who stays in South Africa in contravention of his/her visa/permit conditions shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment as an illegal foreigner.

v       After a visa is issued, the passport must contain one unused “visa” page for entry stamps.

Ø        Completed visa application form - IN BLACK INK ONLY.

Ø        Two (2) x passport size photographs.

Ø       Original passport + copy of all relevant pages of the applicants passport.

Ø       Official letter to identify themselves from their work.

Our public hours are from Sundays to Thursdays (closed on Fridays and Saturdays) from 08h30 to 12h30.  During the Holy month of Ramadan the Embassy is open Sunday to Thursday from 09:00 – 12:00 for submissions of visa applications.

If the information provided is unclear, clients are welcome to contact the Embassy.   E-mail:  saemb@emirates.net.ae

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) / travel document of the foreign countries / territories / international organisations listed below are not required to hold a visa when reporting to an immigration officer for an examination at a South African port of entry, subject to the terms and conditions set out in this list, including inter alia the intended period of stay in the Republic.

1. The holder of a national South African passport, travel document and document for travel purposes.
2. The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) / travel document of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic & official visit] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:

3. Citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) / travel document of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic & official visit] for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:

1. Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders.
2. Citizens who are holders of diplomatic and official passports of the following countries do not require visas in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic & official visit] for the period indicated and transit:

3. Notwithstanding this Schedule, a foreigner whose visa exemption has been withdrawn shall comply with the visa requirements until notified by the Department that his or her visa exemption has been re-instated by the Department on petition or of its own accord
4. Visas are not required by passport holders of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi who are entering the Republic as commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers provide their visits do not exceed 15 days and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company on entry.
5. Staff members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on SADC laissez-passers are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide official business visits up to 90 days and transit.
6. Holders of United Nations (UN) laissez-passers, their spouses, dependent relatives and other members of the households of these UN officials are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days for purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued, and for official business purposes and transits and when accredited for placement at a UN mission in the Republic for the duration of their accreditation. Volunteers attached to UN agencies and traveling on ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements, provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of an UN agency. 

Fees for the issuance of a visa shall be collected in respect of passport / travel document holders of the following foreign countries when traveling on an ordinary passport (visa fees are not levied for diplomatic and official/special passport holders).  Please note that countries marked with an asterisk are only subject to visa fees if the intended visit exceeds thirty (30) days:

Country Fee list continued

© Copyright 2007 SA Embassy in the U.A.E. Version 2 (08/08/07)

PLEASE TAKE NOTE: PROCESSING OF VISAS TAKES FOUR (4) WORKING DAYS

Download Application Forms

In this section, you can download and print the application forms available at the South African Embassy for immigration procedures by using Adobe Acrobat Reader, if you do not have it, you can download a free copy by clicking here.

Visa Application