Visa Travel

Check these requirements and procedure of visa to South Africa before you planning to travel to South Africa from Dubai in 2025.

South Africa is one of UAE resident choices to go travel in this 2025. According to Wegro, South Africa has welcomed 6,717 tourists from the UAE in 2024. The number of UAE residents visiting South Africa is predicted to increase in 2025. From Dubai alone, 3245 tourists visited South Africa in the first quarter of 2024.

UAE residents are enthusiastic to visit South Africa not only because of its natural beauty and unique culture, but also because UAE passport holders do not need a tourist visa for more than 90 days. However, the passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay in South Africa. 

Meanwhile, most of the other nationalities or not UAE passport holders still need a visa to enter South Africa as tourists. Knowing all of South Africa’s visit requirements will dodge us from getting visa applications denied. Here’s the requirements and step by step you need to know to apply for your South Africa tourist visa.

Documents Required 

Before applying for South African Tourist Visa, you need to prepare the following documents:

1. Visa Application Form 

Fill out the South Africa visa application form using black ink only.

2. Passport & Residence Visa

Passports and residency permits must be valid for at least six months. It should also include at least two blank pages for visas and entry/exit stamps.

3. Passport Copies

Submit the original passport alongside a copy of all required pages.

4. Photos

Two passport-sized photos (35x45mm) with a white background and the photos should be within the last 6 months.

5. Proof of Financial Means 

You need to submit salary advances, an authenticated copy of your bank statement for the last three months, and proof of sponsorship by the host in South Africa.

6. Proof of Insurance

You need to submit the copies of your travel insurance policy are required as proof of coverage. You may also include a letter of certification from the service's supplier.

7.  Flight Itinerary

You must submit your trip itinerary, which includes the dates you will travel to and return from South Africa. You can use copies of your Round trip flight tickets.

8. Hotel Bookings 

Copies of you hotel bookings during the stay in South Africa

9. Apply as UAE Residence

You must provide a valid UAE or Dubai residency visa for at least three months from the date you leave South Africa.

10. Yellow Fever Certificate 

Yellow Fever Certificate needed if coming from or passing through a yellow fever zone. But you are not required if travelling directly from Dubai and recently not in a yellow fever area.

How to apply for a South African Tourist Visa from Dubai, UAE :

1. Prepare Documents

Collect the relevant documents and the South Africa Visa Application Fee.

2. Application Payment

Pay the consolation and visa fees

3. Submission

Input the visa application, then print and complete the visa application form, and prepare any other extra documents in case it is needed. Applicant must submit the application in person at the VFS visa application centre. Applications Submission will be accepted and proceed only after verifying all required documents and receiving full payment.

4. Visa approval

When the visa is approved, you will get notify from the embassy. Then you can collect your South Africa Tourist Visa. , 

Visa applications can be declined. Knowing all you've gone through must be awful. That is why it is essential to review your application before submitting it. However, you can resubmit your visa and start over, adding any prerequisites that are missing.

If you require assistance in applying for a South Africa visa from Dubai or for UAE residents, Arooha Leisure's team has the experience to help you. Please do not hesitate to contact us to ensure your visa application process goes well.