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Student visa for South Africa
Money to show for the visa: No single national figure: 'sufficient financial means' to cover fees and living costs. Work while you study: Up to 20 hours a week. Checked against the official pages on 24 September 2026.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- No single national figure: 'sufficient financial means' to cover fees and living costs
- Visa fee
- R425 Home Affairs fee inside South Africa, plus R1,750 VFS service fee
- Work while you study
- Up to 20 hours a week
- Stay after you graduate
- No dedicated post-study visa
Some missions set their own minimum. The High Commission in Canberra asks for at least ZAR 3,000 a month shown on three months of certified bank statements.
DIRCO: South African High Commission, Canberra, checked 2026-09-24
VFS fee effective from 22 June 2026. Abroad, missions charge in local currency, for example AUD 37 in Canberra.
University of Cape Town, Visas and immigration, checked 2026-09-24
You need a job offer and a letter from your institution. Practical training that is part of your qualification is allowed separately.
DIRCO: South African High Commission, Canberra, checked 2026-09-24
You must qualify for a work visa, such as the critical skills work visa, which now requires a signed employment contract.
Department of Home Affairs, critical skills work visa requirements, checked 2026-09-24
Worth knowing: Tuition depends on whether you are from SADC, elsewhere in Africa or the rest of the world, and compulsory medical aid is an extra monthly cost.
The visa
You need a study visa under section 13 of the Immigration Act. It is issued for the length of your course.
Where you apply. From abroad, you apply at the South African mission or its VFS centre in your country. Inside South Africa (to renew or change), you apply through VFS on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs. UCT lists the Home Affairs fee as R425, the VFS service fee as R1,750 (effective from 22 June 2026) and police clearance through VFS as an extra R185. Abroad, missions charge their own fee in local currency: the High Commission in Canberra charges AUD 37; the Embassy in Washington charges USD 36.
The money. The Home Affairs checklist asks for "proof of sufficient financial means available to the learner" and does not set an amount. Individual missions may. The High Commission in Canberra, for example, asks for three months of certified bank statements showing at least ZAR 3,000 a month, or a bursary letter, or a parent's support letter with their statements. Check your own mission's list, not another country's.
Other documents you should expect:
- An acceptance or provisional acceptance letter stating the length of the course
- Proof of medical cover with a scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act, renewed annually for the length of your studies
- A police clearance certificate from every country where you lived for more than 12 months in the last five years, no older than six months
Processing time. The missions we checked quote three to four weeks (Washington) or 21 working days for a complete application (Canberra). UCT warns that applications can take 8-12 weeks or longer at busy times. Plan on the longer figure.
Renewals. UCT tells students to apply to renew at least 60 days before the visa expires.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of South Africa that covers your country, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: dirco.gov.za · uct.ac.za · dha.gov.za · visa.vfsglobal.com · saembassy.org · uct.ac.za. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
By nationality
From Algeria
From Armenia
From Azerbaijan
From Bangladesh
From Brazil
From Cameroon
From Canada
From China
From Colombia
From Egypt
From Ethiopia
From Georgia
From Ghana
From India
From Indonesia
From Iran
From Iraq
From Japan
From Jordan
From Kazakhstan
From Kenya
From Lebanon
From Malaysia
From Mexico
From Morocco
From Nepal
From Nigeria
From Pakistan
From Philippines
From Russia
From Saudi Arabia
From Senegal
From South Korea
From Sri Lanka
From Syria
From Tanzania
From Tunisia
From Türkiye
From Uganda
From Ukraine
From United Arab Emirates
From United States
From Uzbekistan
From Vietnam
From ZimbabweQuestions students ask
How much money do I need to show for a South Africa student visa?
No single national figure: 'sufficient financial means' to cover fees and living costs. Some missions set their own minimum. The High Commission in Canberra asks for at least ZAR 3,000 a month shown on three months of certified bank statements. (DIRCO: South African High Commission, Canberra, checked 2026-09-24).
How much is the student visa fee for South Africa?
R425 Home Affairs fee inside South Africa, plus R1,750 VFS service fee.
Can international students work in South Africa?
Up to 20 hours a week.
Can I stay in South Africa after I graduate?
No dedicated post-study visa.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.