TravTalk India Online Magazine
Travelling to South Africa or sending your clients there? Make sure you are armed with these important visa and travel guidelines before you book air tickets and accommodation.
TT Bureau
South Africa is now open to international leisure and business travellers from all over the globe, including India. Given the increase in Indian traveller demand, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have regular flights scheduled from India to South Africa, with layovers at Dubai, Doha and Addis Ababa, respectively. Additionally, Air Seychelles is also scheduled to resume flights from India to South Africa. To facilitate a smooth travel journey for them, South African visas are now being made available within 5-7 working days or less from date of application.
Briefly outlining the strategy for this key market, Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – MEISEA, South African Tourism, says, “As we plan our tourism recovery efforts across the globe, India continues to remain a key focus market for us. The fact that we are seeing a huge uptake for travel with forward bookings showing an upward curve – especially in the FIT segment – is a demonstration of the immense potential that India houses. To tap into the millennial market in India as well as families, we have some high-end activations in the pipeline. We are excited about the endless possibilities in market.”
Here’s what you need to know:
Official website where one can apply: South African visa application forms can be downloaded fromhttps://visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/southafrica/india/english/pdf/VISA-APPLICATION-FORM.pdf.
Travellers are required to submit the completed visa application form in-person at the nearest VFS Visa Application Centre listed on the website.
Fee for tourist single/multiple entry:
There is no visa fee for Indian nationals.
However, the VFS logistics fee to process visas from Mumbai and Delhi is INR 2040, and INR 2301 to process visas from Gurgaon, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, and Goa.
Processing time:
A minimum of five working days in Mumbai and Delhi; a minimum of seven working days at other centers (Gurgaon, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, and Goa)
Required documents:
- Fully completed and signed visa application form-11 (DHA-84)
- Passport (valid for at least 30daysafter the intended stay/departure date from South Africa)
- Proof of funds
- Original Bank Balance certificate on your bank’s letterhead attested by the bank
- Reference/introduction letter from Indian employer (for business trips)
- Valid flight ticket OR proof of reservation
- Accommodation proof / tour itineraries signed by South Africa host tour handling company
- Original covering letter signed by the applicant stating the name, passport number of applicant(s) and duration of visit
- Two recent passport size photographs; 80% face | matt finish
- Copies of passport bio-data pages
Covid-19 Travel Protocols:
Travellers intending to visit the country will be required to produce a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa.
Quarantine Period: None
As South Africa plansits tourism recovery efforts across the globe, India continues to remain a key focus market for the destination. India houses immense potential – especially in the FIT segment. To tap into the millennial market in India as well as families, South African Tourism has some high-end activations in the pipeline, including the three-day virtual roadshow VirtuallyYoursSouthAfricastarting from October 20, 2021.
