United Kingdom visa requirements for South Africans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for South Africans visiting United Kingdom

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

  • A duly completed UK visa application form. This should be filled online.
  • An original passport with a validity of more than 6 months.
  • Two blank pages of the passport for stamps.
  • A colored passport photograph with a white background.
  • A medical report.
  • Confirmation of accommodation and flight bookings.
  • Original travel insurance.
  • Identification documents(e.g.birth certificate, marriage certificate, I.D. card etc).
  • Proof of finances (an original bank statement dating back to 3 months of use ).
  • Police clearance certificate showing the visitor does not have a criminal record.

United Kingdom Visa for South Africans

Facts about United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of four countries which are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
London, the capital of the United Kingdom is a great location for tourist and it's also its largest city.

The United Kingdom is one of the largest economy based on nominal GDP and is a very popular choice destination among business people. A lot of tourists also visit the country because of the wonderful sites to visit and the rich history of the country. Tourists who visit can easily bask in the gorgeous view of many of the city’s landmarks from the Coca-cola London Eye as well as many historical sites.

London is home to a wide range of attractions: art at galleries such as the National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Tate, and the Tate Modern, amongst others. There are cultural treats in the theatres and cinema of the West End and South Bank, and the recreated home of Shakespeare in the capital, the Globe. 

The Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge. The Georgian architecture, Roman Baths, York Minister, Canterbury Cathedral and Shakespeare's Birthplace are some interesting landmarks to visit in the UK.

With 36.115 million people visiting in 2015, The United Kingdom is the sixth top destination for tourists. This number has steadily been on the rise since 2015.

Types of United Kingdom Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Visitor Visa 7 - 40 working days 6 months
Work visa 32 - 90 days 6 months
Student visa 32 - 90 working days 6 months
Transit visa 7 - 15 working days 48 hours

General Requirements for United Kingdom Visa

  • A duly completed UK visa application form. This should be filled online.
  • An original passport with a validity of more than 6 months.
  • Two blank pages of the passport for stamps.
  • A colored passport photograph with a white background.
  • A medical report.
  • Confirmation of accommodation and flight bookings.
  • Original travel insurance.
  • Identification documents(e.g.birth certificate, marriage certificate, I.D. card etc).
  • Proof of finances (an original bank statement dating back to 3 months of use ).
  • Police clearance certificate showing the visitor does not have a criminal record.
United Kingdom Visitor Visa United Kingdom Work visa United Kingdom Student visa United Kingdom Transit visa

United Kingdom Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to those who intend to travel to the UK for visiting, tourism, business & medical purposes.
  • The standard visitor visa replaced the family visitor visa, general visitor visa, child visitor visa, business visitor visa, sports visitor visa, entertainer visitor visa, prospective entrepreneur visa and approved destination status (ADS) visa.
  • This visa application is averagely processed within 15 days. Sometimes, it takes as long as 40 days for it to be ready.
  • Business men and women with this visa can attend meetings, conferences & trainings.
  • Visitors can study for up to 30 days with this visa, as long as it is not the main purpose of your visit.
  • This visa allows  you to take part in sports or creative events.
  • If you are visiting anyone in the UK, a letter of invitation is required from your host. The name, address and passport number of your host is required.
  • If you are under the age of 18, a consent letter signed by both your parents should be provided.
  • Minors should have the original copy of their birth certificate.
  • The standard visitor visa costs £95.
  • This visa usually allows a stay in the UK for up to 6 months unless you’re coming to the UK for private medical treatment which then allows you stay up to 11 months at a cost of £190.
  • You cannot do paid or unpaid work, neither can you get public funds with this visa type.
  • You are expected to leave the UK  before the expiry of your visa.

United Kingdom Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is given to people who visit the UK for paid employment.
  • The visa can either be a work visa (critical skills), work visa (intra-country transfer) or a general work visa.
  • Work visas take between 32 to 90 days to process. 
  • Applicants of this visa are required to have a valid medical insurance.
  • Apart from the general required documents, you would also need a letter from your employer outlining the reason for your visit, who you will be meeting and details of any payment/expenses.
  • With this visa, you can give lectures at higher education institutions as long as it’s not a part-time or full-time role. This visa also allows you to take part in entertainment and sporting activities.
  • You cannot study for more than 30 days with this visa.
  • You cannot bring family members with you on your visa application, they must apply separately.
  • You cannot get married or register a civil partnership during your stay.
  • You are not allowed to extend or switch to another visa type.
  • You can only do the specific job you applied for in the UK.
  • This visa costs £95 and allows a stay of up to 1 month.

United Kingdom Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • You can apply for a short-term study visa if you intend to do a short course of study in the UK.
  • With this visa type, you are allowed to do a short period of research as part of a degree course.
  • This visa allows a stay of 6 months and 11 months if you're 16 and above or taking an English language course.
  • This visa costs £97 for the 6 month visa and £186 for 11 month.
  • You'll be required to present a letter of admission at the embassy before the visa is granted to show you've been offered admission from a learning institution in the UK.
  • You'll need to show prove that you can cater for yourself in the UK without having to work or sourcing for public funds. This proof could come in the form of your bank statements or that of a financial sponsor.
  • You're not allowed to study at state-funded school or get public funds.
  • You cannot bring your family members on your visa application.
  • You cannot work or carry out any business activity with this visa type.
  • You're not allowed to extend this visa.
  • Applicants must be willing to abide by the rules and regulations in the country.
  • If you are traveling alone, a letter of consent from your parents is needed.
  • Study visas take about 15 to 21 days to be processed.

United Kingdom General Student Visa (Tier 4) Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for applicants over 16 years that have been offered a course in a UK learning institution.
  • A letter of acceptance to study in the UK will be required to process this visa.
  • You'll be required to prove your knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test.
  • You'll be required to prove you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your courses. This proof could be in the form of bank statements and valid scholarship offers.
  • This visa is usually processed within 3 weeks but you're advised to apply 3 months before your course starts.
  • You can arrive in the UK 1 week before your course starts if the course duration is 6 months or less and up to one month if it's more.
  • The visa is valid for the duration of your course.
  • You can work at most jobs in the UK with this visa.
  • You're not allowed to seek public funds.
  • This visa costs £348.

United Kingdom Child Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for students who are between the ages of 4 and 17 who want to study at an independent school in the UK.
  • A letter of consent signed by both parents is required for the visa application.
  • You're not allowed to take jobs with this visa.
  • You cannot be accompanied by family members if you are applying for this visa. They have to apply for their own visas.
  • Holders of this visa cannot take up permanent residence in the UK.
  • To extend your visa, you must be sponsored by an independent school.
  • A letter of acceptance to study in the UK will be required to process this visa.
  • You'll be required to pass a secure English language test.
  • You'll be required to prove you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your courses. This proof could be in the form of bank statements and valid scholarship offers.
  • This visa is usually processed within 3 weeks but you're advised to apply 3 months before your course starts.
  • You can arrive in the UK 1 week before your course starts if the course duration is 6 months or less and up to one month if it's more.
  • For 16 years and above, the visa is valid for up to 3 years and can be extended for 4 months afterwards. For applicants under 16 years, you can stay  up to 6 years with an option of 4 month extension.
  • You're not allowed to seek public funds.
  • This visa costs £348.

United Kingdom Transit Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • A transit visa allows its holder to stay get off his/her flight, stay in the airport for some time (not more than 24 hours) and take another flight to his/her destination country.
  • There are two types of Transit visa. The UK border control transit visa allows you go through UK border and it's valid for 48 hours. This visa type costs £64.
  • The other transit visa type is Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) which allows you change flights without going through border control or leaving the airport. This visa type costs £35.
  • The holders of these visa types cannot stay in the country for more than 48 hours.
  • Flight ticket and visa of the destination country are required.
  • The visa takes about 7 - 15 days to be processed.
  • You are required to exit the country before the expiry of the visa.
  • This visa type permits only a single entry into the country.

United Kingdom Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Visitor Visa

95.00 (GBP)

Work visa

Work Visa General (Tier 2)

Volunteer Visa

Intra-company Visa (Tier 2)

95.00 (GBP)

125.00 (GBP)

125.00 (GBP)

Student visa

General student Visa (Tier 4)

Child Student visa

348.00 (GBP)

35.00 (GBP)

Transit visa

64.00 (GBP)

United Kingdom Visa Application Centres & Embassies in South Africa

Location

Address

Pretoria

British High Commission 255 Hill Street Arcadia Pretoria Gauteng 0002 South Africa

https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-pretoria/office/british-high-commission-pretoria

visaenquiries@fco.gov.uk

00 44 203 481 1736

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my passport has expired?

Make sure you get it renewed before applying for a UK visa.

What happens if I miss my VAC appointment?

If you miss your VAC meeting, you can reschedule a priority meeting for an extra charge.

Do I need a visa to travel to the UK?

Yes, you do. Without a visa, you will not be allowed entry into the UK.

Can the South Africa Visa Application Center prepare my application for me?

The South Africa Visa Application Center does not prepare visa applications, but accepts and processes complete applications in accordance with the South African High Commission’s instructions.

How do I submit my application at the Application Center?

You must book an appointment to submit your application.