South Africa visa requirements for Malians

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Malians visiting South Africa

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a South African Visa.

  • A passport or travel document that is valid for no less than 30 days after your intended exit from South Africa.
  • Your passport should have at least two unused pages for entry/departure endorsements.
  • Duly completed BI-84 form which serves as the visa application.
  • Proof of payment of the prescribed fee.
  • A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit.
  • Two-colored passport size photographs that meet the visa photo requirements.
  • A return or onward ticket if you are traveling by air
  • For minors, the application must be filled by their parents/legal guardians. 
  • The unabridged birth certificate and letter of consent signed by both parents should also be provided. The contact details of the host in South Africa is needed as well.
  • Proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa.

South Africa Visa for Malians

Facts about South Africa

South Africa is popular for its natural landscape, game reserves, and cultural heritage. Tourists interested in natural history would have a good time visiting the country. A wide range of species can be found in various nature parks around the country. The most popular national parks are the Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, other smaller parks are Addo National Park and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. There are also beaches which offer activities like surfing and kayaking. In addition to its numerous natural attractions, South Africa also boasts a large number of attractions of cultural significance. They include caves forming part of the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng, the ruins of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in northern Limpopo, the wine routes of the Western Cape amongst others.
 
The tourism industry is one of the most important industries of the South African economy. In 2012, the country was responsible for directly contributing ZAR 102 billion of South African GDP and supports 10.3% of jobs in the country. In 2014, over 9 million tourists visited South Africa which was a 0.1% increase from the number of visitors recorded the previous year.
 
Foreigners visiting South Africa are not allowed to enter the country with more than ZAR25,000 but can enter the country with unlimited foreign currency. No Kruger coin is allowed. On exit from the country, you cannot be in possession of more than ZAR25,000 but can leave with unlimited foreign currency if the amount was declared on entry. Foreigners can leave the country with up to 15 Kruger coins if there is proof it was purchased with foreign currency.
 
Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, Portugal, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, etc can gain entry visa-free for a stay of 90 days. Nationals of Angola, Antigua, and Barbuda, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Hungary, Jordan, Poland, South Korea, Thailand, etc do not need a visa for stays of 30 days or less.

Types of South Africa Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Visitor Visa 5 working days 90 days
Student visa 5 working days Duration of study
Work visa 5 working days 5 years

General Requirements for South Africa Visa

  • A passport or travel document that is valid for no less than 30 days after your intended exit from South Africa.
  • Your passport should have at least two unused pages for entry/departure endorsements.
  • Duly completed BI-84 form which serves as the visa application.
  • Proof of payment of the prescribed fee.
  • A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit.
  • Two-colored passport size photographs that meet the visa photo requirements.
  • A return or onward ticket if you are traveling by air
  • For minors, the application must be filled by their parents/legal guardians. 
  • The unabridged birth certificate and letter of consent signed by both parents should also be provided. The contact details of the host in South Africa is needed as well.
  • Proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa.
South Africa Visitor Visa South Africa Student visa South Africa Work visa

South Africa Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The South African visitor visa ensures its holders can visit the country for a host of reasons.
  • Some of these reasons include tourism, sightseeing, vacation, and business-related activities.
  • You can visit friends or relatives residing in South Africa. You can also attend business events, take short term courses and work in entertainment while in the country.
  • You can also take up short term courses with this visa.
  • If you are visiting a friend or relative in South Africa, you must have an invitation letter from your host. The invitation letter should contain details of the trip as well as the full contact details of your host.
  • A valid means of identification of the host is also required.
  • If you will be staying in a hotel, you must show proof of reserved accommodation for the duration of your stay in South Africa.
  • You're to prove you have sufficient funds to cater for your stay in South Africa by providing any relevant document which could be recent bank statements, salary advances, undertakings by your host(s) in South Africa, or cash available in credit cards and traveler's cheques.
  • For business purposes, you are to provide an invitation letter from the inviting company in South Africa.
  • The letter should contain the full details of the applicant as well as that of the trip.
  • An introduction letter from your employer in Mali stating your position and granting approval of the trip is also necessary.
  • The certificate of business registration of the inviting company is required to complete your visa application.
  • It's advisable to show strong home ties to Mali so as to help strengthen your chances of getting the visitor visa. This helps to prove that you have reasons to return to Mali at the expiration fo your visa.
  • You cannot work except in entertainment or take up any long term course of study with this visa.
  • This visa costs R425 and it is usually processed in 5 working days.
  • The visitor visa allows a stay of 90 days and is valid for 90 days from the issue date.
  • The visa can be extended for a further 3 months, as long as the application is made 60 days prior to the expiry of the current visitor visa and as long as there are no restrictions on the current permit.  Restrictions to a visa are endorsed onto the face of the visa and may include “may not change status”, “may not renew”, etc. 
  • If you overstay your visa, you will be determined as "undesirable" and you stand the chance of being banned for up to 5 years.

South Africa Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for Malian applicants that intend to study in South Africa.
  • You must have been offered admission into a South African learning institution before you can apply for this visa.
  • You must also apply for a residence permit that covers the duration of your study in South Africa.
  • When applying for this visa, you are also required to provide your academic transcripts and previous results to prove that you satisfy the conditions for access to higher education in South Africa.
  • Proof that you can cater to your financial needs in South Africa is necessary when applying for this visa. This proof could be in the form of bank statement, bursary or a scholarship offer.
  • If you received a scholarship offer, you are expected to present a letter confirming the scholarship offer and all the expenses it covers.
  • You should note that your student visa can be withdrawn if you do not maintain sufficient progress in regards to your academic performance.
  • The student visa costs R425. The student visa is usually processed in 5 working days but it could take up to a month.
  • The student visa can be renewed as long as you are studying on the same conditions the visa was issued. 

South Africa Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The work visa is for Malians travelling to South Africa for gainful employment, working for a local branch or affiliate of the employer abroad, and those with critical skills.
  • To apply for this visa, you must have been offered employment in South Africa.
  • You will be required to provide a letter of employment or an employment contract from your employer in South Africa. The letter should have the address of the company, the position you have been employed.
  • Your employer must prove that there are no suitable South African citizens for the role you've been offered. This also means the job vacancy must have been advertised within the country.
  • Your employer must apply for a work permit which also serves as a temporary resident permit and allows for your stay in South Africa.
  • You must provide proof that you have the financial means to cover envisaged living expenses in the Republic until you receive a salary. This should be in the form of recent bank statements, available cash or traveller's cheques.
  • A police clearance certificate from Mali and any other country in which you resided for 12 months or longer since the age of 18 years is needed. This police report must clear you of any criminal doings.
  • A written undertaking by your employer accepting responsibility for any costs related to your deportation and that of anyone dependent on you should it become necessary is required for applying for this visa.
  • An application for a general work visa shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Department of Labour.
  • Your employer is to provide proof of your qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and have it translated by a sworn translator, into one of the official languages of the Republic of South Africa.
  • Full particulars of the employer including proof of registration with the Registrar of Companies is needed for this visa type.
  • Your employer must sign an undertaking, pledging to inform the Director-General should you no longer be in the employ fo your employer or when employed in a different capacity or role.
  • The work visa is valid for a period of 5 years as long as you remain in the conditions with which you were employed. It can be extended for another period of three years.
  • The work visa costs R1520. It is usually processed in 5 working days but could take as long as a month.

South Africa Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Visitor Visa

425.00 (ZAR)

Student visa

425.00 (ZAR)

Work visa

1520.00 (ZAR)

South Africa Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Mali

Location

Address

Bamako

Batiment Diarra Hamdallaye, ACI-2000, Bamako, Mali.

bamako@foreignaffairs.gov.bb

(+223) 229 2925

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(+223) 229 2927

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the weather like in South Africa?
South Africa enjoys a high number of clear, sunny day and its climate is largely mild year-round. Snowfall is limited to the highest mountain peaks. South Africa has four seasons, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Summer is usually experienced from October - February, Autumn from February to April, Winter, May to July and Spring, August to October.
What currency is accepted in South Africa?
South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR) denoted by the symbol R placed before the amount. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout South Africa. Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at local banks and Bureaux de Change across the country. There is a great network of ATM’s readily available in major cities.
What is the language spoken in South Africa?
South Africa has 11 officially recognized languages, most of which are indigenous dialects. English is widely spoken and understood all through the country and it is regarded as the primary language in cities, banking, and even government relations.
Can I drink tap water in South Africa?
Tap water in South Africa is fine in most areas for bathing and brushing teeth but it is advisable for travelers to get bottled water instead to always be on the safe side.