What are the requirements for a South African visa?

To apply for a South African visa, you must have a valid residence certificate in my country. Only with a valid residence certificate in China can it be recognized by the South African Embassy and can you apply at the South African Embassy or the South African Consulate General in Shanghai. When applying, if you don’t have a residence certificate, you won’t even be eligible to apply. After obtaining the visa, if the entry conditions are met, you must enter the country during the validity period of the visa. If the visa expires or the visa does not meet the standards, you will not be able to enter South Africa. After getting the entry permit, you need to follow the provisions of the immigration law. The visa is a stay permit and you can stay in South Africa temporarily. However, the stay time needs to be calculated from the date of entry. You can stay in South Africa within the specified number of days. Before the due date, you must make preparations to leave South Africa.

South Africa recognizes dual nationality but encourages the use of its own passport. Foreigners who have permanent residence in South Africa and have lived in South Africa continuously for more than five years can apply for South African citizenship; foreign spouses of South African citizens can apply for South African citizenship after holding permanent residence in South Africa for two years. A newborn born in South Africa will have South African nationality at birth if one of his parents is a South African citizen or has permanent residence in South Africa. If your parents hold temporary residence permits such as work permits or student visas, they do not have the right to apply for South African citizenship. Visas are divided into tourist visas or business visas, for one or multiple entries and exits. If you have a local residence permit, you can apply for a visa. Different countries have different requirements for visa application materials. You can log on to the embassy website of that country to check and send the visa yourself or ask a travel agency to apply for a paper visa on your behalf.

To apply for a South Africa tourist visa, you need to prepare the following materials:

1. Original valid passport and 4 recent one-inch photos;

2. Application Copies of personal ID card, household register (including each family member), and marriage certificate (if any);

3. Proof of all assets: all bank deposit certificates (deposit records three months ago) , copies of real estate certificates, securities, etc.;

4. Invitation letter and a copy of the business registration certificate of the inviting company, documents related to the relationship between the inviting and invited companies, such as contracts, import and export documents, etc. ;

5. Company business license and work certificate, including: position, working years, monthly income, reason for visit, purpose, etc.; two business cards;

6. Work unit Holiday letter (in English), or provide two blank letterheads with official seals; if you are traveling with a tour group, you can apply for a group tourist visa. Required information: original passport, 2 recent one-inch photos; travel agency guarantee letter; South African ground pick-up agency Invitation letter, itinerary and air ticket order; overseas travel application form.

Legal Basis

Article 9 of the "Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China" Chinese citizens shall apply for a passport or other travel documents in accordance with the law when entering or exiting the country. Chinese citizens traveling to other countries or regions also need to obtain a visa or other entry permit from the country of destination. However, this does not apply unless the Chinese government has signed a mutual visa exemption agreement with the governments of other countries or if the Ministry of Public Security or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides otherwise. Chinese citizens who enter or exit the country as seafarers or work on foreign ships must apply for a seafarer's certificate in accordance with the law.

Article 11 of the "Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China" When Chinese citizens exit or enter the country, they shall submit their passports or other travel documents and other exit and entry documents to the entry-exit border inspection agency for inspection. Only after completing the prescribed procedures and subject to inspection and approval can you leave or enter the country. At qualified ports, entry-exit border inspection agencies should provide special channels and other convenient measures for Chinese citizens to exit and enter the country.