Visa for South Africa
Do you want to emigrate to South Africa and are wondering which visa is right for you? We have all the important information for you: What types of visas are there? What documents do you need and what is the procedure for applying? Learn all about your visa for South Africa in this article.
Visitor Visa
As a German citizen, you do not need to arrange a visa in advance for a normal trip to South Africa. You will receive a Visitor Visa directly upon entry – uncomplicated and with little effort. This visa is suitable for tourist or business purposes, as well as for transit travel. The Visitor Visa allows you to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days and explore the country. Should you decide to stay longer, there is an option for extending the visa. However, this must be applied for in good time.
Documents for the Visitor Visa
- Passport (valid for at least 30 days beyond the planned departure date)
- Proof of outward journey
- Sufficient financial resources for your stay
- Proof of accommodation
Please note that all documents must be in English and you can have them translated and certified if necessary.
General Work Visa
The General Work Visa is for people who want to work in South Africa but do not fall into the Critical Skills Visa category. This visa allows for a long-term stay and offers immigrants the opportunity to establish themselves professionally in South Africa. Prerequisite for the visa is a confirmed job offer. However, the employer is obliged to prove that no local applicants are available for the position. You will also have to have your professional qualifications recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The visa remains valid for the term of the employment contract or a maximum of five years. After five years, you will qualify for permanent residency. Life partners and children can accompany the applicant, but must apply for separate visas.
Applying for the visa
The visa application must be submitted in person at the South African Embassy in Berlin or at the South African Consulate General in Munich. All necessary documents must be submitted in full and in English, as incomplete applications may be rejected. Under certain circumstances, the documents may also have to be translated and certified. The visa fee (118 euros) must be transferred at least five days before the application.
- Passport (valid for at least 30 days beyond the planned departure date)
- Photocopy of passport
- Application Form (DHA-1738)
- Two biometric passport photos
- Employer’s certificate
- Written undertaking by the employer
- Proof of the employer’s business registration (CIPC)
- Proof of qualifications (SAQA certification)
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical report
- Proof of payment of the visa fee (118 euros)
- Stamped A4 envelope (for the return of your passport)
- Copy of marriage certificate or proof of long-term relationship
- Parental letter of consent if you are accompanying a child
118 euros
up to eight weeks
Critical Skills Work Visa
The Critical Skills Work Visa is for highly skilled professionals whose qualifications and skills are on the official Critical Skills List. This visa facilitates access to the South African labour market. A job offer is helpful, but not mandatory for the visa and entry into the country. However, applicants must have their professional qualifications recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The visa is valid for a maximum of five years and can lead to a permanent residence permit under certain conditions. Life partners and children will have to apply for separate visas.
Applying for the visa
The application for a visa must be submitted in person to the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate General in Munich. You must transfer the visa fee of 118 euros at least five days before submitting your application. Please note that all documents are required in English. You may therefore have to have some translated and certified.
- Passport (valid for at least 30 days beyond the planned departure date)
- Photocopy of passport
- Application Form (DHA-1738)
- Two biometric passport photos
- Proof of qualifications (SAQA certification)
- Proof that your skills are on the Critical Skills List
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical report
- Proof of payment of the visa fee (118 euros)
- Stamped A4 envelope (for the return of your passport)
- Copy of marriage certificate or proof of long-term relationship
- Parental letter of consent if you are accompanying a child
- If you already have a job offer: employer’s certificate and written undertaking by the employer
118 euros
up to eight weeks
Options for family members
The decision to emigrate to South Africa often affects not only a single person, but also their family or life partner. Many want to take their relatives with them to build a new life together. But what options are there if life partners or children want to accompany a person with a General Work Visa or Critical Skills Visa?
Luckily, South Africa offers options for dependents that make it possible to move to South Africa together. However, it should be noted that these accompanying visas do not automatically include a work permit.
Life partner
Life partners who want to move to South Africa with someone on a General Work Visa or Critical Skills Visa have the option of applying for a Relative’s Visa. This visa allows residency but is not an automatic work permit – you will have to apply for a separate work visa if you want to take up employment.
Both married and unmarried couples can apply for this visa as long as they can prove that their relationship is long-term. For spouses, a marriage certificate is sufficient, while unmarried partners must provide additional proof of a relationship of at least two years.
Required documents
- Passport (valid for at least 30 days beyond the planned departure date)
- Photocopy of passport
- Application Form (DHA-1738)
- Two biometric passport photos
- Proof of travel planning (reservation of a round-trip ticket – a one-way ticket should only be purchased after obtaining the visa)
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical report
- Sufficient financial resources for your stay
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of the relative’s legal residence status in South Africa
- Marriage certificate or proof of a relationship of at least two years, such as proof of joint residence or financial obligations
- Notarised declaration of both partners about the existence of the relationship
- Affidavit (Form DHA-1712A) confirming the continuation of the relationship, signed before a notary public or official certification body
- If previously married, proof of the end of this marriage (divorce certificate, death certificate, etc.)
All documents must be translated and certified. In addition, both partners can be invited separately for an interview to confirm the authenticity of the relationship.
The Relative’s Visa is valid for a maximum of two years and must be extended in good time if the relationship continues. If the relationship is dissolved, this must be reported immediately to the South African immigration authorities.
Children
South Africa allows children of visa holders to accompany their parents, but they need their own visa. For the purposes of the visa, children are considered to be minors, the biological or the adopted children of the main applicants. Children over the age of 18 usually need their own visa that corresponds to their individual purpose of stay (for example, a study visa). Again, all documents must be submitted in English and, if necessary certified and translated.
Required documents
- Passport (valid for at least 30 days beyond the planned departure date)
- Photocopy of passport
- Application Form (DHA-1738)
- Two biometric passport photos
- Proof of travel planning (reservation of a round-trip ticket – a one-way ticket should only be purchased after obtaining the visa)
- Medical report
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of the relative’s legal residence status in South Africa
- Written consent from both parents and full parental responsibility, if applicable
- Court order for transfer of custody or special parental rights, if applicable
- Proof of adoption, if applicable
free of charge for life partners and children
up to eight weeks
Translation of your documents
If you need to submit documents for your visa that are not in English, you will need to have them translated and certified.
More information about South Africa
In Germany, you can apply for a visa for South Africa at the South African Embassy in Berlin or at the South African Consulate General in Munich.
Nationals of many countries, including Germany, do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. For longer stays or for the purposes of work, study or accompanying family members, a corresponding visa is required.
No, German citizens do not need a visa to enter South Africa, as long as the stay does not exceed 90 days and is for tourism or business purposes.
Yes. For an internship in South Africa, you will need a volunteer work visa or a special internship visa. A regular visitor visa does not allow paid or unpaid work, including internships.
Author
Jasmine Chegaing, Content Writer
Jasmine joined lingoking as a working student in November of 2024. She supports the content marketing team with its SEO strategy and writes for the lingoking guide and other media. Her motto: “The most radical thing you can do is be yourself.”
Translation
Dr. Tracey Kimmeskamp
A native of Northern Ireland, Tracey has lived in Germany’s Ruhrgebiet for over 20 years. She has been working with lingoking as a translator since 2016, all the while diligently training for her dream career in mochi quality control.
