You need a visa to South Africa from Nigeria if you are a Nigerian citizen. Visit visas are for Nigerians who wish to travel to South Africa for tourism, visitation to friends and families, or short business trips. This visa class is issued for no more than 90 days or less. We all know that applying for a visa can be stressful, but this article will show you a straightforward application process.
This blog post will walk you through the visa requirements, the visa application form, cost of application, where to apply for your visa, the visa appointment booking procedure, visa processing fees, processing time and duration, how to track your application, and the visa collection procedure. I hope that this post will help you with your visa application. For your flight ticket, search and compare flight cost here.
Visa Application Rule
As a rule, always endeavour to apply for your visit visa at least four weeks before your planned trip to South Africa. Applying on time will enable the South African diplomatic offices in Nigeria to have enough time to process your visa application. You can navigate this article using the table of contents below.
| Table of Content |
| 1. Visa Requirements |
| 2. Visa Application Form |
| 3. Where to Apply |
| 3.1. VFS VIP Service |
| 4. Cost of Application |
| 5. Visa Appointment Booking |
| 6. Visa Processing Time and Duration |
| 7. Tracking Visa |
| 8. Visa Collection Procedure |
| 9. Summary |
| 10. Tips |
South African Visit Visa Requirements For Nigerians
It is important to adhere to the South African Consulate General’s visa documentation requirements in Nigeria. Make sure that all your documents are genuine; never submit falsified documents. To apply for a visit visa to South Africa from Nigeria, you will need to provide some of these set of papers listed below:
| Visa Requirements | Notes | |
| 1. | An international passport | Ensure that your passport will still be valid for at least 30 days after returning from your trip. Also, make sure you have two blank pages on your passport; this is for your visa sticker and your entry and exit endorsements from immigration officials. |
| 2. | Visa Application Form B1-84 | Make sure it is filled in block letters and black ink only. Find a sample here |
| 3. | Visit Visa fee | South African Visit Visa application fee at Lagos and Abuja VFS centres is N7, 071, which is non-refundable [and an additional Service Fee of N25, 200]. In Port Harcourt, expect to pay an estimated N53,000 for both application and service fees. |
| 4. | 2 coloured passport photographs | Your passport photos must be printed with dimensions of 45mm x 45mm. Take the photos against a white background with your full face forward (if uncertain about the specification, you may take the pictures the day you arrive at your VFS centre at the cost of N2,000) |
| 5. | 2 coloured copies of your Nigerian passport biometric data page | |
| 6. | A copy of your e-Yellow fever certificate | Print all pages of your e-Yellow fever card, including the cover page |
| 7. | An introductory letter of yourself addressed to the South African Consulate General. | Make sure your phone number and your address are included. |
| 8. | Coloured copies of all current and old visas | Print current or valid visas and also all your previous permits. |
| 9. | Your employer’s letter of recommendation | |
| 10. | Letter of invitation | If you have a host in South Africa, make sure their personal and official contact details in South Africa are included in the letter. |
| 11. | Provide supporting documents to confirm the purpose of your visit to South Africa | If required |
| 12. | Letter of confirmation of attendance | If you are applying to attend an event, a letter from the organisation under whose control the activity or event is taking place must confirm such attendance and state whether you will be paid. If paid, you should state the amount in the letter. |
| 13. | Medical referral letter and Appointment letter | For a medical trip lasting less than three months, provide a medical referral letter from your Nigerian doctor, who must specify your health condition’s nature and why the referral to South Africa is essential. Do not forget to include the South African medical doctor’s appointment letter and ensure his contact details are listed on the letterhead. |
| 14. | Confirmed receipt of hotel reservation | Book directly with a South African hotel and not through broker websites such as www.hotels.com) |
| 15. | Air-flight booking | This is not compulsory since you will be presenting your personal and or your host’s bank statements, but you may choose to show proof of your confirmed air-flight booking for a return trip back to Nigeria. Click here to search for cheap flights from Lagos to Johannesburg. Compare the prices, and save some cash. |
| 16. | Marriage certificate if you are married | Ensure copies are certified by a Notary Public |
| 17. | Bank statement from 6 months | Your bank statement will represent your proof to cater to yourself while on vacation in South Africa. A Bank balance of at least N1 000 000 is advisable before you apply. A sufficient account balance will increase your chances of been granted a visa. |
| 18. | A financial undertaking by your host in South Africa | If a host in South Africa will sponsor you |
| 19. | Bank statement from your employer if your trip is been sponsored by your place of work | Ensure you attach a reference letter from your company’s bank to state ownership and signatories to the company’s bank account. |
| 20. | Your 6 months payslip | |
| 21. | Birth certificate | If you are travelling with kids under the age of 18 years old |
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South African Visa Application Form In Nigeria
The South African Visit Visa B1-84 application form is straightforward to complete. As a visit visa applicant, you will need to answer several questions on the application form. Information such as your name, date of birth, address, passport details, occupation, and information about your visit to South Africa, such as when you plan to arrive and the duration of your stay, will all be required on the application form. There are also some questions relating to security and finance.
Failure to complete the form in full or correctly may lead to your visa been denied or delayed.
Where To Apply For South African Visa In Nigeria?
Application for a visit visa to South Africa from Nigeria can only be made in person at any Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) centres across Nigeria. There are 3 VFS offices in Nigeria, and they are located in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja. Find their addresses below:
The physical address for South Africa Visa Application Centre in Lagos is at;
Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way (Opposite Treasure Garden Estate)
Third Roundabout,
Lekki Phase I,
Lagos,
Nigeria.
Physical address for South Africa Visa Application Centre in Abuja can be found at;
Sterling Bank Plaza, 3rd Floor, Plot 1083 Mohammadu Buhari Way,
Central Business District
Abuja
Nigeria
Some call it the South African Embassy in Port Harcourt, but it is the VFS address for South African Visa Application Centre in Port Harcourt;
Vineyard Shopping Centre,
88 Woji Road,
GRA,
Port Harcourt,
Nigeria
Bear in mind that VFS has a daily limit to the number of applications they receive, which means that the first to arrive is dealt with first! And according to the Foreign Missions Observation Report of South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in 2018, DHA reported that Abuja receives about 100 applications daily; Lagos gets 200, while Port Harcourt accepts roughly 20 visa applications daily.
VFS Global Operating Hours
Monday — Friday
08hr00 to 15hr00
VFS Passport Collection Hours
Monday — Friday
10hr00 — 16hr00
VFS VIP Service
The VIP service offered by VFS at their application centres in Nigeria comes with personalised facilities such as a dedicated lounge for you. The offer also comes with a speedy application process, refreshment, photocopy of your documents, and a courier return of your passport. The service cost N10, 000.
What Is The Visa Fee For South Africa In Nigeria?
The cost of applying for the South African Visit Visa in Nigeria is determined by the current foreign exchange and your application centre’s location. Visa application fees are either paid online or paid at your VFS application office. There are three VFS offices in Nigeria. One is in Lagos, another in Abuja, and the third in Port Harcourt. Currently, the visa application cost in Lagos and Abuja is the same, which comes at the expense of N32, 271. Port Harcourt visa application fee is estimated at N53 000. Always familiarise yourself with the current visa fees on the VFS website. You can also pay your visa fees online on the VFS website. Bear in mind that the VFS offices do not accept cash or international bank cards. All payments at VFS centres are only made using bank cards issued by Nigerian banks.
South African Visa Appointment Booking
To submit your documents for the visa application, you will need to book an appointment with VFS Global on their website. Once you book an appointment, ensure you arrive at your VFS application centre at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
For a list of the things to bring with you on your appointment date, information about compliance, safety, and general information from VFS about your visa application appointment, see here.
South African Visitor Visa Processing Time
DIRCO and the Department of Home Affairs consider the South African diplomatic mission in Nigeria as a high volume mission. Still, the VFS Global office in Nigeria says it takes approximately 6 days for a South African visa application to be processed.
Based on the reality of the high volume of applications received and the need for each application to be individually evaluated, it is safe to say that DHA may process your application entirely after 2 – 3 weeks of submission of documents. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you apply for your South African Visit Visa well in advance of at least four weeks before your plan to fly to South Africa.
How Do I Track My South African Visa Application?
To track and trace your visit visa application, you will need to enter your visa application reference number and your birth date on the VFS Global website. Click here to go to the VFS track and trace webpage.
South African Visa Collection
You will most likely receive an SMS after a decision has been made on your visit visa application. To pick up your visa, go to your VFS application centre along with the receipt of your visa application. The South African Visa Collection time is from 11 am – 3 pm from Monday to Friday.
If this guide has been of help to you, please share with your friends.
NOTE: For up-to-date information, always check with the South African government’s Department of Home Affairs official website.
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