Do you need a visa to study in SOUTH AFRICA?

For the Semester in South Africa program, you WILL need to obtain a long-term Study Visa, as the program is longer than 90 days. Please be advised that you will need to show proof that you’ve obtained a Study Visa when entering the country and when registering at Stellenbosch University. You cannot be officially enrolled in any South African study institution without first acquiring a Study Visa.

It’s extremely important that you continue to check your email regularly, as your Program Coordinator will be emailing you a  visa instructions packet, which contains important information regarding how and when to apply for your South African Study Visa.

Please read through this information carefully, as visa instructions can be complicated, and materials can take weeks or months to obtain.

IMPORTANT: CISabroad will only advise students on visa procedures for travel requirements for your CISabroad program only. CISabroad is not responsible for advising students on visa issues if they plan to travel internationally before or after the program dates. Please see the South Africa Visa Guidelines for more information.

These instructions are intended for US passport holders. International students must also be aware of additional documentation and/or processing time needed for their visas. Please contact your Program Coordinator to discuss your visa.

Please note that all consulates have varying visa processing times and/or requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their assigned consulate’s visa processing period and to visit their local consulate well enough in advance to allow adequate time for processing. Each consulate lists the visa processing period on their website. Note: Required documents for your visa are always subject to change at the discretion of the consulate.

Important Information on Applying for South African Visas: Effective 10 May 2015, applicants for visas will be required to apply in person at the South African mission. No appointment necessary.

Don’t underestimate how long it will take to collect all of your application materials! Leave yourself plenty of time to make sure you have all the documents you need.