South Africa flag → United Kingdom flag
South Africa → United Kingdom

How to get a United Kingdom visa from South Africa

Visa types, fees, processing times and application requirements for South African passport holders travelling to United Kingdom.

Visa types & fees

4 visa options for travelling to United Kingdom.

Student visa

CategoryGeneral student Visa (Tier 4)
Processing time32 - 90 working days
Validity6 months

Transit visa

Processing time7 - 15 working days
Validity48 hours

Visitor Visa

Processing time7 - 40 working days
Validity6 months

Work visa

CategoryWork Visa General (Tier 2)
Processing time32 - 90 days
Validity6 months

Application requirements

Documents South African applicants need to provide.

  • 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.

Visa type details

Visitor Visa
  • 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.

Work visa
  • 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.

Student visa
  • 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.

General student Visa (Tier 4)
  • 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.

Child Student visa
  • 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.

Transit visa
  • 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.

Where to apply

United Kingdom embassy & visa application centers in South Africa.

Pretoria

AddressBritish High Commission 255 Hill Street Arcadia Pretoria Gauteng 0002 South Africa
Phone00 44 203 481 1736
Email[email protected]
Websitehttps://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-pretoria/office/british-high-commission-pretoria

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.
United Kingdom embassy in South Africa All South Africa visa requirements
Visa fees and rules change often. Confirm the latest United Kingdom visa requirements with an official embassy or consulate before booking travel.