S A H C :: Home Affairs: Who needs a Visa ::

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Contact Details

Physical address:

15 Whitehall, London,SW1A 2DD.
Click here for directions, bus and tube routes.

Postal address:

South African High Commission,
Home Affairs, Consular Section,
15 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DD.

Telephone No:
0207 925 8900

Fax No:
020 7839 5198

Who needs a Visa?

From 1 September 2009 South Africans will no longer need an appointment to apply for passport and related services rendered by the Consular Section. The Consular Section dealing with South African passport holders have relocated to 15 Whitehall.

APPOINTMENT SYSTEM

The Visa Section is now located at 15 Whitehall and not anymore at South Africa House. The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 08h30 - 10h30. Visitation is by appointment only. Appointment line number is 09065540798.

OPENING & CLOSING OF OFFICE

The office dealing with South African passport holders will be opened from 08:45 AM to 12:45 PM Monday to Friday except on public holidays.

COLLECTION OF ISSUED DOCUMENTS

Collection of issued documents for South African passport holders will be from 08:45 - 12:45 Monday to Friday except on public holidays.

TELEPHONIC ENQUIRIES ON SERVICES RENDERED BY THE OFFICE

Due to refurbishing there is only one telephone line available, the number is 0207 925 8900. We apologize for the inconvenience

Passport & ID Photo Standards Poster

Passport & ID Photo Standards Flyer

Passport / Travel document holders who are exempt from visas for South Africa.

Subject to changewithout notice.

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.

The holder of a national South African passport, travel document and document for travel purposes.

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:

African Union / Unity Laissez Passer Andorra Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Botswana Brazil Canada Chile Czech Republic Denmark Ecuador Finland	France Germany Greece Iceland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Liechtenstein Luxemburg Malta Monaco Netherlands	New Zealand Norway Paraguay PortugAL San Marino Singapore Spain St Vincent & the Grenadines Sweden Switzerland Uruguay Venezuela United States of America Zimbabwe
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man and Virgin Islands and Republic of Ireland.
Note that a national of the following countries do require a visa: British Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, St Helena, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the Turks and Caicos Island.

The 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:

Hong Kong [only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports]

Macau [only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)]

Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders.

Albania (120 days)
Algeria (30 days)
Angola (90 days)
Bulgaria (90 days)
Cyprus (90 days)
Comoros (90 days)
Croatia (90 days)
Egypt (30 days)
Hungary (120 days)
Ivory Coast (30 days)
Kenya (30 days)
Madagascar (30 days)

Mexico (90 days)
Morocco (30 days)
Mozambique (90 days)
Paraguay (120 days)
Poland (90 days)
Romania (90 days)
Rwanda (30 Days)
Slovakia (90 days)
Slovenia (120 days)
Thailand (90 days)
Tunisia (90 days)

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

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.

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.

Holders of United Nations (UN) laissez-passers 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 travelling 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.