Student visa for South Africa, for students from South Korea

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.