South Africa visa requirements for Filipinos

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Filipinos visiting South Africa

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

  • A statement or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit
  • Two coloured passport photographs (45 mm x 35 mm)
  • A passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of your intended visit
  • A return or onward ticket if you are travelling by air.
  • A proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa.
  • Yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
  • Your passport must have at least two unused pages for entry and departure endorsements.
  • If you have children (minors) travelling with you or joining in South Africa, you will need to provide a proof or consent of guardianship in the case of an unaccompanied minor.
  • Medical insurance is required.
  • If you have a host(s) in South Africa, a proof of his/her undertakings is required.
  • A completed visa application form BI-84 .
  • Payment of the prescribed visa fee.

South Africa Visa for Filipinos

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
Business visa 4-6 weeks 90 days
Tourist visa 5-10 days 90 days
Student visa 4-6 weeks Depends on the course of study
Medical visa 4-6 weeks 6 months

General Requirements for South Africa Visa

  • A statement or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit
  • Two coloured passport photographs (45 mm x 35 mm)
  • A passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of your intended visit
  • A return or onward ticket if you are travelling by air.
  • A proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa.
  • Yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
  • Your passport must have at least two unused pages for entry and departure endorsements.
  • If you have children (minors) travelling with you or joining in South Africa, you will need to provide a proof or consent of guardianship in the case of an unaccompanied minor.
  • Medical insurance is required.
  • If you have a host(s) in South Africa, a proof of his/her undertakings is required.
  • A completed visa application form BI-84 .
  • Payment of the prescribed visa fee.
South Africa Business visa South Africa Tourist visa South Africa Student visa South Africa Medical visa

South Africa Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements


  • A tourist visa is given to the Philippines for visitation and tourism.
  • A passport or travel document valid for nothing less than 30 days after the expiry of your intended visit
  • Your passport must have at least two unused pages for entry and departure endorsements.
  • A completed Form BI-84 (application for a visa).
  • Payment of the prescribed fee
  • A yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required.
  • Statement or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit.
  • Two colored passport photographs (35mm x 45mm)
  • A return or onward ticket if you are travelling by air
  • If you have children (minors) travelling with you or joining in South Africa, you will need to provide an additional document which is a proof from the guardian in the case of an unaccompanied minor.
  • Proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa in the form of bank statements, salary advances, undertakings by the host(s) in South Africa.
  • Medical insurance is required.
  • Cash available (including credit cards and travellers’ cheques)
  • A valid and acceptable passport or travel document for your intended stay.
  • Sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses during your stay.
  • A tourist visa is valid for a duration of 90 days.

South Africa Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Business visa is issued to Philippines for the purpose of signing a contract, conference, seminars or any related business activity in South Africa.
  • A completely filled business visa application form DS160. 
  • Pay the business visa application fee.
  • Original passport with a minimum validity of six months as on the date of submission of application for the visa.
  • One recent passport-size colored photograph depicting full face (35mm x 45mm).
  • A business visa is valid for 90 days.
  • All business visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
  • The business visa collection time is from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Mondays - Fridays). 
  • A statement or documentation detailing the purpose and duration of the visit.
  • A proof of funds to support visit or support from sponsoring company.

South Africa Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • A signed letter of acceptance as a student from the institution.
  • A completely filled temporary residence permit application form B1-1738
  • A passport valid for at least 30 days after the end of your course, with two consecutive, clear pages left for entry and departure stamps.
  • Payment for the South African student visa application.
  • Two colored passport-sized photographs (35mm x 45mm)
  • An official letter from the South African educational institution confirming the duration of your course.
  • Proof of necessary finances to cover tuition fees and living costs for the duration of your stay.
  • Certificate of medical aid cover or health insurance recognised by the South African authorities, plus a letter confirming that it will be renewed every year for the duration of your stay. 
  • In some cases, a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
  • Medical and radiological reports from within the last six month.
  • Information about where you will be living in South Africa.
  • A police clearance certificate for every country you’ve lived in for more than 12 months since the age of 18.
  • Birth certificates of dependent children.
  • Relevant certificates if married, widowed, divorced.

South Africa Medical Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • A medical visa is issued to the citizen of Philippines only for treatments in South African private hospitals.
  • A letter from a medical practitioner or medical institution, indicating the nature of the ailment, the reason for treatment, the period of treatment and particulars of the appointment made in South Africa.
  • The full details of the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees. If the medical scheme or employer will be liable for the expenses incurred, proof of medical cover must be submitted.
  • A medical treatment longer than three months must apply for a temporary residency permit.
  • Emergency patients transported by emergency flights or vehicles will be allowed entry if they do not have a visa. 
  • If the patient does not have a valid passport, she/he will be issued with a permit to legalise his or her stay for the duration of his or her hospitalisation. 
  • Patients travelling for over 90 days are to present their application to the South African High Commission and it will be treated as a permit and not a visa.
  • An immigration officer will visit the patient and if necessary, will issue the necessary medical permit. If the patient does not have a valid passport, they will be issued with a permit to legalize his or her stay for the duration of his or her hospitalization.
  • A medical visa is normally valid for 90 days but can be extended to a maximum period of 180 days.

South Africa Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Business visa

2040.00 (ZAR)

Tourist visa

2040.00 (ZAR)

Student visa

1350.00 (ZAR)

Medical visa

1350.00 (ZAR)

South Africa Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Philippines

Location

Address

Makati

29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue Makati City Philippines.

http://www.southafricamanila.com/

manila@dirco.gov.za

(+63) 2 8889 9383

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the country dialing code of South Africa?

The South Africa country dialing code is +27. Long-distance calls can be made in South Africa using the correct country code. Many hotels, lodges and guest houses offer direct dialing facilities. If you are not able to connect, a staff member will surely be available to help.

Is there any limit on the amount of currency I can bring to South Africa?

There are limits on the amount of currency you can bring into South Africa. For cash in South African Rand (ZAR), the limit is 25,000ZAR. For combinations of cash in other currencies, the limit is US$10,000 (or equivalent). You should declare any amount higher than this on entry to South Africa.

Which language is mostly spoken in South Africa??
The most common language spoken as a first language by South Africans is Zulu (23 per cent), followed by Xhosa (16 per cent), and Afrikaans (14 per cent). English is the fourth most common first language in the country (9.6%), but is understood in most urban areas and is the dominant language in government and the media.

Where is the most dangerous place in South Africa??

Nyanga is one of the most dangerous places in South Africa and it has the highest number of murders in South Africa.