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South Africa visa for UK residents — prepared, checked and booked for you. Planning a safari in Kruger, a Cape Town holiday, a family visit or a business trip? British passport holders can visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days, but many non-British UK residents — including Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian and Bangladeshi passport holders — need a visa before they fly.
GoSchengen checks whether you need a visa, prepares your DHA-84 form and supporting documents, books your VFS Global appointment in London, Manchester or Edinburgh, and reviews everything before you attend — so you avoid the bank-statement and form errors that cause most delays.
South Africa's entry rules depend on the passport you hold, not on where you live. Your UK status matters because VFS Global UK only accepts applications from people living lawfully in the UK.
British passport holders can enter South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days. Many other passports are also visa-exempt — including Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ghana — so UK residents holding them usually do not need a visa for a short visit.
UK residents with a visa-required passport (for example Pakistani, Nigerian or Bangladeshi) must get a South Africa visitor visa before travel, applied for in person through VFS Global UK. Indian passport holders may be able to use the new online ETA instead.
| Traveller Category | Entry Requirement | Maximum Stay | Processing Channel | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British passport holders | Visa-exempt | Up to 90 days | Direct border entry | On arrival |
| Zimbabwean, Kenyan, Ghanaian & other visa-exempt passports | Visa-exempt | Usually up to 90 days | Direct border entry | On arrival |
| Indian passport holders (BRP / UK eVisa) | ETA (online) or visitor visa | Up to 90 days | ETA portal or VFS Global UK | ETA often within 24 hours · VFS min. 14 working days |
| Pakistani, Nigerian, Bangladeshi & other visa-required passports | Visitor visa (DHA-84) | Up to 90 days | VFS Global UK, in person | Minimum 14 working days |
Planning more trips this year? See our Morocco visa for UK residents and Dubai visa for UK residents services — a popular stopover on the way to South Africa.
When applying for a South Africa visa in the UK, document accuracy decides whether your file is accepted. VFS Global UK asks short-stay visitors for the following:
Want a second pair of eyes before your appointment? Our document checking service reviews every page. Managing several applications at once? See our Canada visa for UK residents checklist too.
Here is what a South Africa visitor visa costs when you apply in the UK, and how long it usually takes. Our service fee is quoted separately and confirmed before you pay.
| Item | Cost | When Paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa fee (under 3 months) | £35 | At the VFS centre | Set by the South African High Commission |
| VFS Global service fee | Around £40 | Online, when booking | Per application |
| Courier return | Around £21 | At booking / centre | Mandatory for Manchester and Edinburgh |
| Processing time | — | — | Minimum 14 working days; apply no more than 5 weeks before travel |
| ETA (Indian & other eligible passports) | Fee being finalised | Online | Often decided within 24 hours; valid for entry via OR Tambo, Cape Town and Lanseria airports |
Fees are reviewed every April and can change without notice. Visa fees are non-refundable, so getting the file right the first time matters.
We check your passport validity, blank pages and issue date, plus your BRP or UK eVisa share code, before you book.
We confirm your statements meet the £600 closing balance, stamping and 7-day freshness rules — the most common reason files are returned.
Help preparing flight details and hotel bookings or host invitations that match your DHA-84 form exactly.
We book your VFS Global UK appointment in London, Manchester or Edinburgh and tell you exactly what to bring on the day.
These are the UK residents we help most often. Rules depend on your passport, so check yours before booking flights.
Indian nationals living in the UK can apply for South Africa's new online ETA, often decided within 24 hours, or a visitor visa through VFS Global UK. We confirm which route suits your trip and airports.
Pakistani nationals with a BRP or UK eVisa need a South Africa visitor visa, applied for in person at VFS Global UK. Strong bank statements and a clear itinerary are essential.
Nigerian and Bangladeshi nationals living in the UK need a visitor visa through VFS Global UK. Travellers coming from Nigeria may also need a yellow fever certificate.
Hold a Zimbabwean, Kenyan or Ghanaian passport? You are usually visa-exempt for short visits — but check your passport validity and onward travel before you fly.
Your South Africa tourist visa application must include the correct visitor visa form, submitted within the right booking window.
The application uses the official DHA-84 form under Section 11(1)(a). Missing signatures, blue ink, incomplete sections or details that don't match your passport are common causes of delays. VFS UK accepts short-stay visitor applications no more than 5 weeks before travel and needs at least 14 working days — so plan your appointment carefully, and always double-check the form before attending.
Applying for a South Africa visa from the UK as an Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian or other visa-required national follows a set process. Here is how we take the work off your hands. Travelling on to the Gulf? We also handle the Saudi visa for UK residents.
We confirm whether you need a visa or an ETA, and check your passport, UK status and bank statements.
We prepare your DHA-84 visitor visa form and cover documents to match your passport and itinerary exactly.
We book your VFS Global UK appointment in London, Manchester or Edinburgh within the 5-week window.
You attend in person with your document pack, ready-checked and in the right order.
We track your application and let you know as soon as your passport and visa are ready.
We check your passport, bank statements and UK status evidence before you book your VFS Global appointment, reducing the risk of avoidable refusals and returned files.
We schedule your biometrics appointment in London, Manchester or Edinburgh at the right point in the 5-week window. Rated 4.7 on Trustpilot.
Know exactly what to expect — official fees, a minimum of 14 working days, and our service fee confirmed upfront.
Combining South Africa with another trip? We also handle the Turkey visa, USA visa and all non-Schengen visa services for UK residents.
It depends on your passport, not your UK status. British passport holders are visa-free for up to 90 days, and some passports such as Zimbabwean, Kenyan and Ghanaian are also visa-exempt. Pakistani, Nigerian, Bangladeshi and many other passport holders living in the UK need a visitor visa through VFS Global UK.
No. Holding a BRP or UK eVisa does not make you visa-exempt. While British passport holders enter South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days, foreign nationals living in the UK need a visa unless their own passport is visa-exempt.
Indian nationals can apply online for South Africa's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is often decided within 24 hours, or for a visitor visa in person at VFS Global UK in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. We help you choose the right route.
Yes. Pakistani passport holders with a BRP or UK eVisa apply for a visitor visa in person at VFS Global UK. You need three months of bank statements with at least £600 closing balance, your DHA-84 form, flights and accommodation.
The visitor visa fee is £35, paid at the VFS centre, plus a VFS service fee of around £40. Courier return, around £21, is mandatory for Manchester and Edinburgh. Fees change each April and are non-refundable.
VFS Global UK asks for three months of bank statements with a closing balance of at least £600. Statements must be bank-stamped or come with a bank letter, and be no more than 7 days old when you apply.
A passport valid for 30 days after your trip with three blank pages, your BRP or UK eVisa valid 30 days beyond your return, three months of bank statements, the DHA-84 form, two photos, flights and accommodation — plus a yellow fever certificate if it applies to you.
Visitor visa applications are made in person at VFS Global centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Only people living lawfully in the UK can apply there. ETA applications for eligible passports are made online.
Short-stay visitor visas take a minimum of 14 working days through VFS Global UK. You can apply no more than 5 weeks before you travel, so book your appointment early within that window.
There is no official priority track for South Africa visitor visas in the UK. The best way to avoid delays is a complete, correct file — which is what GoSchengen's document check and preparation service is built for.
Only if you have travelled to or from a country with yellow fever risk within 14 days of arriving in or leaving South Africa — for example, transiting through some African countries. Travelling directly from the UK, you normally do not need one.
Only travellers whose passport is eligible for the new ETA can apply fully online — currently including India, with more countries being added. Everyone else applies in person at VFS Global UK, although appointments are booked online.
No. GoSchengen is an independent UK visa facilitation service. We are not affiliated with the South African Department of Home Affairs, the High Commission or VFS Global. We charge a service fee for eligibility checks, form preparation, document review and appointment booking.
Avoid returned files, bank statement problems and missed booking windows. GoSchengen prepares, checks and books your South Africa visa application from start to finish.
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