PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: United Kingdom

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans need to apply for a visa before travel to the United Kingdom.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 180 days per visit.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    Tourism, visiting family and friends, permitted business activities (meetings, conferences, negotiating contracts, trade fairs without selling, training) as long as you are not paid by a UK-based organisation, short courses, some medical treatment. No work.

  • Passport validity

    Must be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK. No additional 6-month rule on gov.uk.

  • How to apply

    Apply online via gov.uk (Standard Visitor visa), then attend a VFS Global visa application centre in South Africa for fingerprints and photo. Fees from 8 April 2026 (unchanged in the 8 October 2026 table): GBP 135 (up to 6 months), GBP 506 (2-year), GBP 903 (5-year), GBP 1,128 (10-year). Decision usually within 3 weeks of the appointment; Priority (GBP 500) and Super Priority (GBP 1,000) services may be available. Earliest you can apply: 3 months before travel. Passport returned same day at the appointment.

  • Where South Africans apply

    VFS Global UK visa application centres (operator since 22 October 2024, replacing TLScontact): Johannesburg (Rivonia Village, Sandton), Pretoria (The Podium at Menlyn, Lynnwood Glen), Cape Town (2 Long Street), Durban (Glass House, 309 Umhlanga Rocks Drive, Umhlanga), Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth (Greyville House, Greenacres).

  • Return or onward ticket

    You must show you can pay for your return or onward journey (or have someone else fund it). A booked ticket is not formally required at application.

  • Proof of funds

    You must show you can support yourself (and dependants) for the trip without working or public funds, or have funding from someone else. No fixed minimum amount; bank statements are typically submitted.

  • Accommodation or invitation

    Accommodation details and travel dates are asked for in the application. No formal invitation letter is required; a letter from a host is useful supporting evidence when staying with family/friends.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    No vaccinations required by the UK. UK is not a yellow-fever-risk country, so no SA yellow fever certificate issue on return.

  • Arrival forms

    No landing card. Present passport with visa at the border (South African visa holders generally use staffed desks, not eGates).

  • Extending your stay and overstaying

    Extension possible only if you were given less than 6 months and the total stays within 6 months (exceptions for medical treatment, academics, PLAB). Extension fee GBP 1,172 (GBP 2,172 with super priority). Overstaying can lead to removal and re-entry bans of 1 to 10 years.

  • Transit

    South Africa is on the Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) list. Changing flights airside in the UK requires a DATV (GBP 41.50) unless you hold a qualifying document, e.g. a valid visa for the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand (or one expired less than 6 months since last entry), a US green card, Canadian PR card, a valid Irish biometric visa, an EEA/Swiss long-stay (Category D) visa or EEA/Swiss residence permit. A Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa does NOT exempt. Passing through UK border control and leaving within 48 hours needs a Visitor in Transit visa (GBP 74.50), unless you qualify for landside Transit Without Visa (same document list, onward flight before 23:59 the day after arrival). Holders of a valid Standard Visitor visa do not need a transit visa.

  • Travelling with children

    Children under 18 need written consent from a parent/guardian if travelling alone, with the parents' contact details and details/consent for the person they will stay with. Accompanied children apply with up to 2 adults identified. South Africa's own exit rules for minors (birth certificate etc.) apply separately.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. UK Home Office (gov.uk) (Official, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-visa-national-list
  2. 2. UK Home Office (gov.uk) (Official, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor
  3. 3. UK Home Office, UK visa requirements table (Official, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69a836bedcb774b43556050c/UK_Visa_requirements_March_2026.pdf
  4. 4. UK Home Office (gov.uk) (Official, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa
  5. 5. UK Home Office fees table (Official, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026
  6. 6. UK Home Office (gov.uk) (Official, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/documents-youll-need
  7. 7. UK Home Office (gov.uk) (Official, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/extend-your-stay
  8. 8. UK Home Office, Transit guidance v9 (25 March 2026) (Official, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c4144a23fcbcd838a6f6be/Transit-v9.pdf
  9. 9. UK Home Office (gov.uk) (Official, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/if-youre-under-18
  10. 10. VFS Global (Commercial, x.com) https://x.com/VFSGlobal/status/1848711301167722744
  11. 11. VFS Global press release via Zawya (Commercial, zawya.com) https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/africa-press-releases/united-kingdom-uk-visa-services-in-south-africa-are-now-available-through-vfs-global-tebuqki7

From doineedavisa.co.za/united-kingdom. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.