Home › Visa Services › South Africa Visa
South Africa visas · Kochi
South Africa Visa from Kochi, Kerala
Indian passport holders need permission before flying to South Africa. For a holiday, safari, business trip or family visit of up to 90 days you now have two routes: the new online ETA (R500 ≈ ₹2,350, usually approved within 24–48 hours) if you arrive by air at Johannesburg or Cape Town, or the visitor’s visa through VFS Global. Visa Xpert in Kochi picks the right route with you and prepares the file.
✓ ETA online · visa via VFS
Call +91 89211 53604 WhatsApp Us See fees
★ 4.9 · 8,700+ Google reviewsSince 2015Independent consultancy · not VFS Global and not the South African consulate
Which South Africa visa do you need?
Tourism, business meetings and family visits all come under the visitor category. Open the page for the full checklist, fees and steps for both the ETA and the visitor’s visa.
Quick answer
Indians are not visa-exempt for South Africa. Ordinary Indian passport holders aged 18 or over can apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on eta.dha.gov.za for R500 (≈ ₹2,350), usually decided within 24–48 hours, for stays of up to 90 days when arriving by air at OR Tambo, Cape Town or Lanseria. Everyone else, including children, applies for a visitor’s visa at VFS Global in Chennai or Bengaluru: no visa fee for Indians, a VFS charge of about ₹2,200, and about 5–15 working days. Work, study and longer stays need other visa categories. Visa Xpert’s service charge is quoted on request.
South Africa visas compared
| Visa | Government fee | Processing time | Where to apply from Kerala | Visa Xpert charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Tourism, business and family visits up to 90 days, air arrivals, age 18+ | R500 (≈ ₹2,350) processing fee | Usually 24–48 hours | Online at eta.dha.gov.za; no centre visit | Ask us for a quote |
| Visitor’s visa (sticker) Children, land arrivals and anyone the ETA portal does not accept | No visa fee for Indian nationals; VFS fee about ₹2,200 plus courier | About 5–15 working days | In person at VFS Global South Africa, Chennai or Bengaluru (no Kerala centre); decided by the Consulate General in Mumbai | Ask us for a quote |
| Business, work, study or relative’s visa | Set by Home Affairs per category | Several weeks; varies by category | VFS Global Chennai or Bengaluru | Ask us for a quote |
Checked on 4 November 2026. Rand converted at about ₹4.7. The ETA is new and its rules are still expanding; we confirm fees and eligibility on the official portal before you pay.
South Africa visa at a glance
- Government feeETA R500 (≈ ₹2,350) · visitor’s visa free for Indians + VFS about ₹2,200
- Processing timeETA 24–48 hours · visitor’s visa about 5–15 working days
- Stay and validityUp to 90 days per visit on both routes · no work allowed
- Apply from KeralaETA online · visa in person at VFS Chennai or Bengaluru
ETA or visitor’s visa: how to choose
The ETA saves a trip to Chennai or Bengaluru, but it is not open to everyone yet.
Choose the ETA if
- You hold an ordinary Indian passport and are 18 or over.
- You arrive by air at OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town International or Lanseria; more airports are being added.
- Your trip is tourism, business meetings or a family visit of up to 90 days.
- You can complete a passport scan and live selfie on a smartphone.
Choose the visitor’s visa if
- You are travelling with children under 18, who currently cannot use the ETA.
- You enter by land or through an airport not yet on the ETA list.
- The ETA portal declines your application, or you prefer a visa in your passport.
- You need a category the ETA does not cover: work, study, medical treatment, or joining a relative.
Good to know
- There is no visa on arrival for Indians.
- Children must carry an unabridged birth certificate; a parent not travelling must give a notarised consent affidavit.
- Yellow fever certificate is needed only if you pass through a yellow-fever country on the way.
How we help with your South Africa visa
- Route checkYou tell us your arrival airport, dates and travellers. We confirm ETA or visitor’s visa and quote our charge in writing.
- Checklist and reviewA short checklist for your route and profile, and a review of funds, hotel confirmations and host documents.
- FilingETA: completed online with you and paid. Visa: form BI-84, cover letter and your VFS Chennai or Bengaluru appointment.
- Decision and travelWe check the ETA or visa against your passport and tell you what to carry: ticket, hotel, funds and, for children, birth certificates.
South Africa visa: frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for South Africa?
Yes. Indian passport holders need either the online Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), where eligible, or a visitor’s visa from VFS Global. There is no visa on arrival.
Which South Africa visas does Visa Xpert handle from Kochi?
The ETA and the visitor’s visa for tourism, business and family visits, plus work, study and relative’s visas on request.
How much does a South Africa visa cost from Kerala?
The ETA processing fee is R500 (about ₹2,350). The visitor’s visa has no visa fee for Indian nationals; VFS charges about ₹2,200 plus courier. Our service charge is quoted in writing; ask us for a quote.
How long does a South Africa visa take?
ETA: usually within 24–48 hours. Visitor’s visa: about 5–15 working days after your VFS appointment, longer around December.
Is there a South Africa visa centre in Kerala?
No. The ETA is online. Visitor’s visa applications from Kerala are submitted in person at VFS Global South Africa in Chennai or Bengaluru and decided by the Consulate General of South Africa in Mumbai.
Can my children use the South Africa ETA?
Not at present; the portal accepts applicants aged 18 and over. Children apply for a visitor’s visa with an unabridged birth certificate and, where one parent stays behind, a consent affidavit.
Can Visa Xpert guarantee my South Africa visa?
No. The Department of Home Affairs and the consulate decide. We make sure you use the right route with a complete file.
Is Visa Xpert part of VFS Global or the South African consulate?
No. We are an independent consultancy in Kochi, in business since 2015.
Official sources
- South Africa Electronic Travel Authorisation portal (Department of Home Affairs)
- Department of Home Affairs – types of visas
- VFS Global – South Africa visa application centres in India
Last checked: 4 November 2026. Government fees, exchange rates and processing times change; we re-check them before you pay.
Ready to apply for your South Africa visa?
Send us your arrival airport, travel dates and who is travelling. We will confirm the route, quote our charge and send the exact checklist.
Call +91 89211 53604 WhatsApp Us
Visa Xpert · North Mulloth House, Ravipuram Junction (opposite HDFC House), MG Road, Kochi 682016 · Mon–Fri 9:30 am–6:30 pm · Sat 9:30 am–3:00 pm