A South Africa visa application process ensures that you have already been thoroughly checked before travelling into South Africa. A visa gives the immigration officials the information they may need to ensure you are admitted to South Africa for the right purpose and duration. This is why you have to undergo a thorough screening process when making a visa application. A visa does not guarantee a person entry to South Africa. A visa allows you to proceed to the port of entry, where an immigration officer checks if you have all the basic requirements to enter the South Africa. You can make enquires about visas on the visa information page at the Department of Home Affairs website for information on where to apply in your own country. In addition, you can download a visa application form on the internet.

The South Africa visa application process seeks to establish your nationality; the purpose and the duration of the visit which will determine whether you to need a visa to enter South Africa. Requirements for entering South Africa are a valid passport; two pages that are not filled in your passport, a return ticket and yellow fever certificates which are required if the journey is passing through the areas of Africa at risk from yellow fever.

The difference between a visa and a temporary residence permit is that a visa only allows you to proceed to the South African port of entry while a temporary residence permit is issued to you at the port of entry. It replaces your visa and it regulates the purpose of your stay in South Africa and the duration of your stay. If you wish to extend your stay, you must keep your residence permit valid by going to apply for an extension at the nearest Department of Home Affairs office in South Africa. You should do this before the permit expires.