Applying for a South African Visa in Nigeria

[Update: 21 May 2021]

Dreaming of journeying to South Africa to experience its incredible nightlife, wine farms and game parks? Now you can make this dream possible with informed guidance on how to obtain your South African visa. Nigerian passport holders require a visitor visa to enter South Africa. You will need to apply at a VFS Global Centre branch in Abuja, Lagos or Port Harcourt. Always apply for your South African visitor visa at least four weeks before you travel to allow for ample processing time. Please check your eligibility before beginning the application process. Once you have your visa, all that’s left to do is pack your bags!

Please note this process is applicable to Nigerian passport holders.

South African visa application

Types of Visas

  • Visitors Visa – The visitors’ visa is primarily used for visiting family or vacationing for a short period of time. It is valid for temporary stays of up to 90 days.
  • Long Stay Visitor Visa – Best suited for foreign nationals to stay in South Africa for a period between 3 months and 3 years.

Processing Time

Processing a South African visa can take a minimum of six working days. The time may vary as each application has to undergo an individual assessment.

Collection

You can collect your visa at the respective VFS Global Centre. The visa application centre is open from Monday to Friday, except on public holidays and over weekends. Bring along the receipt which you received on the day you submitted your application. You will be notified via SMS when your application has been sent to the South African Embassy on the submission day. You can track your South African visa application online.

Visa Costs

South African visa fee

Visa Fee in Naira (Inclusive of VAT) Service Fee in Naira (Inclusive of VAT)
Short Term: Holiday Visa ₦8,600 ₦25,470
Long Term: Business Visa ₦30,600 ₦25,470

Stay updated with the courier service fees on the VFS website.

The South African visa fee is subject to change without notice. It is based on the current exchange rate.

Applicants are to pay in cash at Bank Implant inside VFS Centre. Be sure to have a copy of the first page of your passport when paying the service and visa fee at the bank.

Visa Requirements

You will require the following documents for a visitor visa:

  • A valid passport (validity of at least 30 days after the intended stay).
  • Two identical passport size (45x45mm) photographs on white background showing your complete face.
  • Application Form (BI84), fully completed in black ink only.
  • Copy of passport data page as well as copies of existing visa and previously issued visas.
  • Self-introduction letter with a physical address and phone number.
  • Introduction/Recommendation letter from an employer, where applicable, signed with contact details.
  • Verifiable hotel reservation/bookings – must be done directly with the hotels and not through third parties.
  • Copy of international vaccination card (yellow fever card), fully completed by a health practitioner.
  • Proof of financial status (six months recent bank statements) or financial support letter from employer with six months bank statements in a case where the employer is sponsoring the trip.
  • Birth certificate for minors/children travelling with parents. 
  • Marriage certificate where applicable and if the intended stay will be for more than 90 days.
  • Flight booking.
  • Non-refundable visa fee of ₦8,600, excluding service fee.
  • See the full checklist to ensure you have all the required documents. 

Documents required for a business visa can be viewed on the VFS website.

Where to Apply

You can apply for your South African visa at VFS Global in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt. All applicants must submit their applications in person at the application centres.

VFS Application Centre – Lagos

Address: Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way, Opposite Treasure Garden Estate

Third 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

How to Book an Appointment

South African visa application

Each application centre accepts a set amount of application entries per day.. It is advised to get to the application centre as early as 7 am in order to hand in your application in good time and avoid long queues.

To be sure you got everything you need, take advantage of the South African visa requirement checklist.

All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart is not affiliated with immigration authorities or their application centres and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this volatile information.

Travelstart does not provide advice or assist with processing visas. The content of this article is listed as recommended by research and the South African embassy. Kindly check the embassy’s website BEFORE applying for your visa.

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506 thoughts on “Applying for a South African Visa in Nigeria

  1. how much is south afircan visa and how can i apply for it

  2. Do I need an introduction letter from my employer;
    Do I need to attach 3 months Bank’s statement of account;
    Do I need Yellow fever certificate if am traveling from Abuja Nigeria,and how much is the visa fee from Nigeria.

    • Hi Shorlana,

      Yes to all your questions. Visa Fee is N18, 000

  3. i have been invited to south africa by my girlfriend how do i process the visa? and what document will be required of me in the process? pls reply soon.
    thanks,
    Lennon

    • Hi Lennon,

      All the required documents are here. If you have gotten all your documents, you can proceed to VFS Global at Oregun to submit your application. Visa fee is N18, 000.

  4. I need you to assist me enlist the required documents to me because my spouse applied for 6 months visa on my behalf,
    Please advise….

  5. Hi,
    I need to know the following
    I am an expatriate who work in Nigeria. In visa application form page one the information for
    Permanent residential address
    Should be my address in the country of origin or residence address here in Nigeria

    Thank you
    Tilak

    • Hi Tilak, Are you living in Nigeria already or you are yet to arrive in Nigeria. If you are living in Nigeria at the moment, please fill in your Nigeria residential address on the form, unless you are asked for your country of origin address. But if you are still in your country, please fill in your country’s residential address.

  6. The truth is nothing will ever make me apply for a south african visa ever again after am out of this mess.

  7. Do knw wat †̥Ơ̴̴̴̴̴̴͡ do ……..ma client in dubia is helpin †̥Ơ̴̴̴̴̴̴͡ process a working visa in dubia F̶̲̥̅̊o̶̲̥̅̊я̣̣̥ gud 3 to 4 weeks nw ……plz frnd how can I knw he is processin it

    • Hi Kehinde,

      It doesn’t take up to that to process a tourist Visa to Dubai. If you are interested in Dubai Visa, send an email to info@travelstart.com.ng. We will respond to your mail and take it from there.

  8. How much will cost me 3month dubai visa. Or SA visa if u won’t to do it for me

    • Hi Steven, Dubai Visa fee for 3 months is $150.

  9. please help me out.i have a friend of mine in nigeria who want me to send him my six months bank statement,copy of identity book,proof of residents,invitation letter to visit south africa,my employment letter.he say thats what the south african embassy in lagos require me to send him in oder for him to be able to process his visa. i’m i being robbed by this my so-called friend or is this all that is required of me to send him in order to travel to south africa.note i’m a permanant south african residents

    • Hi Khosi,
      All they need from you is an invitation letter inviting your friend over and proof of residents – your resident card – photocopied one.

      Its your friend that would have to provide his own financial statement (six months).

  10. I have all the requirements for applying for the study visa/permit and I need to get this visa as quick as possible as my course will be starting August, this year. Pls, any help on how to apply for the visa and get it in the mean time. Thanks

    • Hi Neye,

      If you have all teh requirements, then you can go and submit your application at VFS Global so that you can be granted Visa before August.

    • Hi Neye,

      If you have all the requirements, then you can go and submit your application at VFS Global so that you can be granted Visa before August.

  11. (Copy of passport data page as well as
    copies of existing visa and previously
    issued visas).

    One of the requirement listed on this site for SA visa is in bracket above.

    I have seen the same thing on many sites. And now, my question is what should be done if applicant has not been issued any previous visa, I mean if the applicant is a first timer?.

    • Hi Ola, You don’t need to do anything. Just submit all your documents if you don’t have existing or previously issued visas.

  12. price list for obtaining visa to south african soil

  13. Dear Oluwakemi,

    I recently heard from a friend who resides in SA that permits are no longer issued to foreigners in SA, that it has to be applied for and attained before leaving home country.

    Is this true?

    And how can one go about attaining a SA permit in Nigeria?.

    Thanks.

  14. Dear Oluwakemi,

    I recently heard from a friend who resides in SA that permits (residence or work) are no longer issued to foreigners in SA, that it has to be applied for and attained before leaving home country.

    Is this true?

    And how can one go about attaining a SA permit in Nigeria?.

    Thanks.

  15. Aunty kemi#i just want to know all the amount of processing south africa and money for flight#

  16. Pls where is Dubai Embassy in nigeria
    Or can u tell me how to get there visa cos I won’t to go this by next month

  17. How can I apply for usa tourist visa for couple… And canada tourist visa

  18. Can i authorize another person to collect our passports on our behalf when ready? We are based in Port Harcourt and will be travelling to Lagos to apply.

    Thanks.

  19. Please Madam Oluwakemi, I have applied to attend a conference in SA by August 5th, 2014 and have applied since June 27. According to information on their website, they said it doesn’t take more than 6 days to process. Have not receive any info to pick up my passport. Though have tracked it online, the response was under assessment @ high commission. Hope I can start preparing for my trip? Or is this type of delay abnormal.hope to hear from you soonest. Thank you

  20. Do the required documents listed above apply to all South African visas, particularly the student visa?

    …also, concerning the student visa…one other requirement listed on a number of sites is a letter from the school you intend to visit.
    I ask because no mention of this was made in the article above.

    Thanks!

  21. I recently heard from a friend who resides in SA
    that permits (residence or work) are no longer
    issued to foreigners in SA, that it has to be applied
    for and attained before leaving home country.
    Is this true?
    And how can one go about attaining a SA permit in
    Nigeria?.
    Thanks.

  22. What are d requirement in obtaining and cost to obtain an employment visa to Dubai. Plz enlighting me more cus i need an employment visa to dubai nd d cost wif requirment to obtain the visa, as soon as possible. Thankz

  23. Kindly assist with the documents require from my host in South Africa as am likely to visit my brother who has been in South Africa for years.
    what do i need from him to apply for visa in Nigeria?

  24. Thanks.quite informative

  25. Hi places I jst need to ask you something I lost my passport here in south africa where am staying and I go to nigeria embassy than said I have to go back home to get it back and the new law of south africa home affairs said now you have to apply for your prmait before cuming to south africa and I have company reget and a friend that I want to use for my life patient what I want to know is that what I am going need again to apply for Long Term Visa places reply.

  26. please want to know the visa process to Uganda for studies and the flirt fare

  27. Thank u oluwakemi for all the info so far.
    Pls I have a few questions; my mum and I would like to travel to South Africa for tourism in less than 2 weeks. Some1 said we should apply as a family, wonder how that goes.
    1. Do we compose a common letter of self introduction or do we write one each stating we are going with each other or do we just apply as though we are going separately no mentioning it? Can they collect the documents in a single package and process it together?
    2. In this case, can they accept a single hotel booking for both us if we like book a twin double room? Must the booking be equal to the number of days we intend to spend cos we may want to change hotels?
    3. Some1 told me the yello card must be less than 3 month old? Is that true? Cos it is not stated in the requirements as such.
    4. How long does it take on the average to get the visa at the abuja vfs. Is it possible to get the visa in about 4 days or less?

    • Hi Teejay,

      1. Write a self-introductory letter each.
      2. You can book a twin double room and the number of days must be equal to the hotel booking.
      3. Yes and you must get your Yellow Card from the Airport and not from any hospital.
      4. It depends on your departure date at times but shouldn’t be more than 7 days.

  28. I havn’t travel out of the country before so I don’t have any of this document how can I get them and the cost .

  29. Can i have your contact detail in my inbox so i can discuss my requirement with you? thanks.

  30. I have all d documents on the checklist for a study visa and have also submitted the application at the souh african high commission in abuja since may 5th 2014 and up till nw the visa is not yet out. Is that how long it takes or what. I dnt really know because the session is on already. Please I will be glad to receive information from you.

    • For study visa, did you submit all the required document and were you given an admission in any SA University?

  31. My sister tracked it online after 3 weeks of submitting d application and after typing her ref no and date of birth she saw a calendar which highlighted 16 of july what does that mean?

    • When your passport is ready for collection, you will be contacted and if its ready, it would have displayed on the tracking page that your passport is ready for collection.

    • When your passport is ready for collection, you will be contacted via sms and if its ready, it would have displayed on the tracking page that your passport is ready for collection.

  32. What of spain visa how much will it cost

  33. Kindly assist with the documents require from my host in South Africa as am likely to visit my brother who has been in South Africa for years.
    what do i need from him to apply for visa in Nigeria?
    Do i need to send any form online before printing hard copy for vfs?

    • Hi Raji,

      Your host needs to send you a photocopy of his residence ID card and an invitation letter, showing his address, full name, and phone numbers. And no, you don’t need to send any form online before printing the hard copy. The Application form and other documents should be submitted to vfs.

  34. HI I submitted mine on friday 4th july my trip is saturday 19th july , yet no test message yet.

  35. Pls, hw much kan i get a dubai visa of 2yrs wit wrk permit? Wat re d requiremnts?

  36. Hw much is kenyan visa of 2yrs?

  37. Pls sir i have two countries in mind to reside,south africa and uganda, pls i want to know all it will cost for each, how to get the yellow card, do i book for flight before applying for visa, my babes are the one inviting me and i’m going for a long term stay. Pls feed me with all the infor. With your phone number.

  38. Pls also how much will flight ticket cost, they told me i must a BTA fee of 1000dollars with me, that after the visa i’ll have to spend up to 3000dollars. Pls how through is this, pls educate me pls i need all this infor very fast.

    • Hi Henry,

      That’s not true. If you are travelling, make sure you have enough money that will be enough for you during your stay in South Africa. You can take your Credit Card along with you instead of Cash. And you don’t have to spend up to 3000 dollars after getting your visa. All you need is to pay for your flight and get moving.

  39. I want to travel with family to sourth africa for hoilday long hoilday one year’ what do I need

  40. Hi my name is kb,i like to apply for visa so that i can come to nigeria.Can i get help plz.

    • Hi Kb, Where in the world are you located?

  41. please can somebody tell me how to get South Africa Visa in Nigeria? but i leave in France, i well be coming to visit my family this December and i need South Africa Visa, how long does it take before the Visa we be out?

    • You have to come to Nigeria to get SA Visa in Nigeria, otherwise, you can as well get it in France.

  42. Do I require passport for my children travelling with me?

    • Dear Anna, How old are you children?

  43. Hi Kemi,
    I am going to attend an interview in South Africa. The Company sent an invitation letter, Flight ticket, hotel booking and financial support letter for the 2days I will be in SA. Is it compulsory they include a bank statement? (It is a prominent firm in SA).

    • Yes, Bukky, the company can provide their financial statement, however, I doubt if they can do that since its not in Nigeria. But you can submit your own bank statement since you have other documents from the company.

  44. I need to talk to u

  45. Hi Kemi,
    If i am applying for Visit visa form Nigeria to attend a short course in j’berg for four weeks, do i need a travel insurance?

    Thank You

  46. Where would i submit all this documents? But am going in person not by invitation or but like tourism just want to know if its possible for me to apply as well?

  47. pls my visa is being delayed what is d cause of it the two people that I submitted after has collected their onw since four days ago pls I need ur response

  48. Can I apply for a study permit now?
    How many days will it take me to get it?
    How much is the application?
    Where is it more suitable to apply, Abuja or Lagos?

  49. I mean my south African visa is being delayed

  50. I want to blieve dz r all true!plz I wud like to travel down to southafrica to continue my skulin n I also nid a job there!how much do I need to get dz down!n for d residential permit !

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