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South Africa visa · Kochi
South Africa Tourist Visa from Kochi, Kerala
Indian passport holders still need permission to visit South Africa, but there are now two routes: the new online ETA (about ₹2,350, usually approved within 24–48 hours) if you fly into Johannesburg or Cape Town, or the traditional visitor’s visa through VFS Global for everyone else. Visa Xpert in Kochi checks which route fits you and prepares the application.
✓ ETA online · visa via VFS
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South Africa tourist visa at a glance
- Government feeETA: R500 (≈ ₹2,350) · Visitor’s visa: no visa fee for Indians, VFS charge about ₹2,200 plus courier
- Processing timeETA: usually 24–48 hours · Visitor’s visa: about 5–15 working days
- Stay and validityUp to 90 days per visit on either route · ETA holders cannot work
- Apply from KeralaETA: online from home · Visa: in person at VFS Global Chennai or Bengaluru (no Kerala centre)
Quick answer
Indians are not visa-exempt for South Africa. Since 2025–26, holders of ordinary Indian passports can apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on eta.dha.gov.za: R500 (≈ ₹2,350), a decision usually within 24–48 hours, and a stay of up to 90 days, but only for air arrivals at OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town or Lanseria. Anyone else, including children under 18 and travellers entering by land, applies for a visitor’s visa at VFS Global (Chennai or Bengaluru for Kerala) with no visa fee for Indians, a VFS charge of about ₹2,200 and 5–15 working days. Visa Xpert prepares either application; ask us for a quote.
South Africa tourist visa: key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official route | Two options: (1) Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) issued online by the Department of Home Affairs; (2) Visitor’s visa (short-stay sticker visa) applied for through VFS Global and decided by the South African mission in India. |
| Who it is for | ETA: ordinary Indian passport holders aged 18 or over, travelling for tourism, business meetings or a family visit of up to 90 days, arriving by air at OR Tambo, Cape Town International or Lanseria. Visitor’s visa: everyone else, including children, land or sea arrivals, and anyone the portal does not accept. |
| Government fee | ETA: R500 (≈ ₹2,350) processing fee per person, paid online, non-refundable. Visitor’s visa: no visa fee for Indian nationals (gratis). We re-check both before you pay. |
| VFS Global charges | Visitor’s visa only: VFS service fee about ₹2,200 per person plus courier (about ₹500–800) and any optional extras you choose. The ETA has no centre or courier fee. |
| Visa Xpert service charge | Ask us for a quote. We quote in writing before you pay; government and VFS fees are paid separately. Our charge covers the route check, document review, the online application or BI-84 form, cover letter, bookings guidance and follow-up. |
| Total you pay | ETA: R500 (≈ ₹2,350) + our charge. Visitor’s visa: VFS fee and courier (about ₹2,700–₹3,000) + our charge. No published all-in total yet; call or WhatsApp for one. |
| Standard processing time | ETA: most applications are decided automatically within 24–48 hours, some within an hour. Visitor’s visa: about 5–15 working days after VFS submission, longer in December–January. |
| Length of stay / validity | Up to 90 days per visit on both routes. The immigration officer sets the exact days on arrival. An ETA or visitor’s visa does not allow work. |
| Where you apply from Kerala | ETA: ✓ online from home, with a live selfie on your phone. Visitor’s visa: in person at VFS Global South Africa in Chennai or Bengaluru (no centre in Kerala); the file goes to the Consulate General of South Africa in Mumbai, which covers Kerala. |
| Application form / portal | ETA: eta.dha.gov.za only. Visitor’s visa: form BI-84 plus an appointment on VFS Global South Africa. |
| Checked on | 4 November 2026. The ETA is new and its rules (eligible airports, age limits, fee) are still being expanded; we confirm them on the portal the day you apply. |
ZAR converted at about ₹4.7 per rand. If the portal declines your ETA application, the visitor’s visa through VFS remains open to you.
South Africa tourist visa document checklist
The ETA needs only a few digital items. The visitor’s visa follows the Consulate General Mumbai checklist below. We tell you exactly which list applies to you.
For the ETA (online)
- Ordinary Indian passport valid for at least 30 days after you leave South Africa, with 2 blank pages; a passport valid 6 months or more is safest.
- A smartphone to scan the passport chip page and take a live selfie during the application.
- Arrival airport (OR Tambo, Cape Town or Lanseria), travel dates and the address of your hotel or host.
- Return or onward ticket and proof of funds to show on arrival.
- Debit or credit card for the R500 fee.
- Yellow fever certificate only if you travel through a yellow-fever country on the way.
For the visitor’s visa: every traveller
- Passport less than 10 years old, valid for at least 30 days beyond your return, with 2 blank pages. Handwritten or “observation” passports are not accepted.
- Form BI-84 completed in black ink, block letters, signed.
- Two recent passport photos on a white background.
- Signed cover letter to the Visa Officer, Consulate General of South Africa, Mumbai, with your purpose, dates, address and contact details.
- Hotel confirmation issued by the hotel in South Africa (not just an Indian agent’s voucher) and a return flight booking.
- Personal bank statements for the last 3–6 months, stamped by the bank, plus salary slips or ITR.
- Travel insurance for the trip is strongly recommended.
If employed, in business or retired
- Employed: leave letter on letterhead with your dates and designation, and 3 months’ salary slips.
- Business owners: letter on company letterhead, GST or registration certificate (notarised), and company bank statements.
- Retired: pension proof or retirement order.
Visiting family or friends
- Invitation letter from your host in South Africa with their address, phone and signature, addressed to the Consulate General in Mumbai.
- Copy of the host’s South African ID or passport and residence permit, certified by a Commissioner of Oaths.
- Proof of your relationship (marriage or birth certificate) where relevant.
Children under 18
- Children use the visitor’s visa route; the ETA portal currently accepts applicants aged 18 and over.
- Unabridged (full) birth certificate showing both parents.
- If one parent is not travelling: that parent’s notarised consent affidavit and ID copy. South Africa enforces this strictly at the border.
How the application works from Kochi
Your route decides the steps. Both are listed here so there are no surprises.
- Route checkTell us your airport of arrival, dates and who is travelling. We confirm whether the ETA is open to you or whether you need the visitor’s visa.
- DocumentsYou send scans on WhatsApp. For the ETA we check your passport and photo; for the visa we review the full file against the consulate checklist.
- ETA: we file onlineWe complete the application on eta.dha.gov.za with you, you take the live selfie on your phone, and we pay the R500 fee. The result normally arrives within 24–48 hours.
- Visa: VFS appointment in Chennai or BengaluruWe complete form BI-84, write the cover letter and book your VFS slot. You attend in person with originals; VFS takes your biometrics and your passport.
- DecisionETA: a PDF with a QR code by email. Visa: VFS couriers your passport back in about 5–15 working days. We check the visa or ETA against your passport.
- TravelCarry the ETA printout or visa, your return ticket, hotel booking and proof of funds. Immigration decides your exact days of stay on arrival.
How Visa Xpert helps
We are an independent visa consultancy in Kochi, in business since 2015. We are not VFS Global and not the Department of Home Affairs; they decide your application, and no consultant can guarantee the outcome.
What we do for you
- Honest route check: ETA or visitor’s visa, and what each will cost you in total.
- Document review focused on common refusal reasons: weak funds, hotel vouchers not issued by the hotel, missing host documents.
- ETA application completed with you and paid for; visa form BI-84 and cover letter prepared.
- VFS Chennai or Bengaluru appointment booked, with a travel plan for the day.
- Follow-up until your ETA or passport is back.
- Advice on children’s birth certificates and consent affidavits, which catch many families out.
2026 notes to know
- ETA is new: it opened to Indian tourists after a 2025 pilot and costs R500 (≈ ₹2,350) since 17 August 2026. Eligible airports and age rules may expand; we check the portal when you apply.
- Not visa-free: Indians still need an ETA or visa. There is no visa on arrival.
- Durban: King Shaka airport has been announced for the ETA but check it is live before booking a direct flight; otherwise enter via Johannesburg or Cape Town.
- No Kerala centre: visitor’s visa applicants travel to VFS Chennai or Bengaluru once; the ETA needs no travel at all.
South Africa tourist visa: frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for South Africa?
Yes. Indian passport holders are not visa-exempt. You need either the online Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), if you qualify, or a visitor’s visa through VFS Global.
What is the South Africa ETA and who can use it?
The ETA is an online travel authorisation from the Department of Home Affairs. Ordinary Indian passport holders aged 18 or over can apply for tourism, business or family visits of up to 90 days when arriving by air at OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town or Lanseria.
How much does the 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, but VFS charges about ₹2,200 plus courier. Visa Xpert’s service charge is quoted in writing; ask us for a quote.
How long does the South Africa visa take?
ETA: usually within 24–48 hours, often faster. Visitor’s visa: about 5–15 working days after your VFS appointment, longer in the December peak.
Where do I apply for a South Africa visa from Kerala?
The ETA is online from home. The visitor’s visa is submitted in person at VFS Global South Africa in Chennai or Bengaluru; there is no centre in Kerala. Kerala falls under the Consulate General of South Africa in Mumbai.
Can children get the South Africa ETA?
At present the ETA portal accepts applicants aged 18 and over, so children apply for a visitor’s visa through VFS with an unabridged birth certificate and, if one parent stays behind, a notarised consent affidavit.
Can Visa Xpert guarantee my South Africa visa?
No. The Department of Home Affairs and the consulate decide. We make sure you apply on the right route with a complete, consistent file.
Is Visa Xpert part of VFS Global or the South African consulate?
No. We are an independent consultancy in Kochi. VFS Global only collects visa applications for the consulate; the ETA portal is run by Home Affairs.
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?
Tell us your arrival airport, travel dates and who is travelling. We will confirm ETA or visitor’s visa, quote our charge and send you 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