South African Visa in Nigeria: Cost, Application & Requirements (August, 2020)

South Africa is a country located in the southern region of Africa, with Pretoria as its capital. It is also the dream place of visit for holidaymakers, rubberneckers, etc. Travelling to this country can only be possible if you have a guarantee permitting your visit to the country, which is your visa.

There are several reasons for which Nigerians visit the country, and some of these reasons include study, work, vacation, tourism, and business, etc. Whatever your reasons of travelling to the country may be, this article by ekomiami will inform you on the visa requirements for Nigerians visiting South Africa.

This article will also help you with the procedures involved in successfully getting a Visa to South Africa.

South Africa Visa Fee in Nigeria (2020)

The actual cost of the South African Visa depends on the type of visa you are acquiring. This is due to the various price range of the fees. In this article, we have listed the various Visas and their costs.

Short Term: Holiday Visa | ₦8,600 | ₦25,470

Long Term: Business Visa |₦30,600 |₦25,470

Requirements for South Africa Visa

Just like other countries, before you application for Visa gets accepted, there are a lot of requirements to be met. One of the major requirements for the South African Visa is your possession of an International Passport, as well as eligibility for the application of the Visa.

Eligibility

For your application to be accepted, make a checklist and ensure that you don’t fall in these categories:

When applying for a Visa, having a South African passport will allow you to only apply once. In simpler terms, when applying with the passport, you don’t need to apply for Visas again.

Also, an exemption is made for visitors having passports from the UK and Northern Ireland, etc. to get a South African Visa. Visitors from other countries are exempted from getting South African Visas under certain conditions. A documentation of countries exempted from obtaining a South African Visa has been made by the Home Affairs Department, of the Republic of South Africa.

Required Documents

Here are a list of documents required to get a South African Visa:

• Two colored passport photograph
• International passport valid for at least 30 days after the expiry of your visa.
• A completed visa application form BI-84.
• A receipt of payment of the visa application fee.
• Purpose and duration of visit.
• Travel itinerary with return ticket.
• Yellow fever vaccination card.
• Financial statements which will ascertain you can afford to care for yourself during your stay in South Africa.
• Medical cover
• An Undertaking by host in South Africa.
• Salary advance(s)
• Bank statement
• Copy of passport data page as well as copies of existing visa and previously issued visas
• Introduction/Recommendation letter from an employer, where applicable, signed with contact details.
• Marriage certificate (if married) and if the couple will be staying for more than 90 days
• Non-refundable visa fee of ₦8,600 which excludes service fee charges.

Dependent on the type of Visa you’re applying for, all these documents are required.

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Types of South African Visas

The different classes of South African Visa, which travellers can apply for include:

• Work Visa (the duration of the visa is dependent on the type of work)
• Visitor Visa (which has a duration of 3 months)
• Corporate Visa (this is a kind of Visa for a corporate organizations, and has a duration of not more than 3 years)
• Business Visa (this Visa is granted to entrepreneurs and investors who plan on starting up a business in South Africa, and has an unspecified duration)
• Medical Treatment Visa (this visa is for medical patients and has a duration of 6 months)
• Study Visa (this Visa is for students who apply to study in the country, and has a duration stated by the student’s school of choice)

Where to Apply For South African Visa in Nigeria

The visas are available for application at VFS Global offices in Lagos, P/Harcourt and Abuja.

VFS Application Centre – Lagos

Address: Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way, 3rd Roundabout, Lekki Phase I, Lagos

Contact: +234 815 018 8800

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 15:00

VFS Application Centre – Abuja

Address: No. 38, Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja

Contact: +234 81 5018 8800

Submission Timings: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00

VFS Application Centre – Port Harcourt

Address: Vineyard Shopping Centre, 88 Woji Road, GRA, Port Harcourt

Contact: +234 81 5018 8800

Submission Times: Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 15:00

Processing could take up to six (6) working days and the applicant would be notified of his/her status via SMS alerts.

South African Visa Requirements for Nigerians

1. Applicants would have to submit their application to the South African Embassy in Nigeria or at any accredited visa application centers in Nigeria.
2. Photocopies of original documents will be submitted along with the South African visa application form. Also, visas to other countries you visited should also be photocopied and submitted together with the application.

Documents for Visa Application for South Africa in Nigeria includes:

• Valid International Passport.
• Two passport photos with white background.
• Data page of your international passport (photocopy).
• International vaccination card (photocopy).
• Proof of financial status, i.e, bank statement.
• Self introduction letter bearing phone number and your address.
• A recommendation letter from employee if stated.
• Verifiable hotel bookings without the use of third party.

3. You would have to download the South African application from the South African embassy website and fill in your information as required of you.
4. Next is to pay the service fee as well as the visa application fee which should be done online, through accredited centres or at any of the accredited banks for South Africa visa in Nigeria. The account number to pay for the visa is provided at the South African embassy website.
5. Submit all documents listed together at the embassy or visa accredited centres after which you track your application online.

How to Track Your Visa Application Online

After applying for a Visa, the next thing you would want to do is to track your Visa application online immediately. The tracking ID will be given to you immediately after you apply for the Visa, and it contains your date of birth and passport number enabling you track your application progress on the website.