Have you ever longed to explore the many iconic castles situated around Swansea or the scenic highlands of Inverness? The United Kingdom is filled with many treasures like this! The sovereign nation includes four distinct countries, offering you a diverse cultural experience. Whether it’s London, England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you’ll have plenty to discover! With this guide on the UK visa application process, you’ll soon be on your way to enjoying an adventure through this incredible nation.
South African passport holders will need a visa for the UK. Fortunately, the entire UK visa application process is explained in this detailed guide. You will need to apply online with gov.uk or visa4uk.fco.gov.uk, and finish off your UK visa application at the various UK visa application centres in South Africa. Always apply for your visa at least 1 month before you travel to allow for the processing time (and to save yourself from any stress!).
Please note this process is applicable to South African passport holders.
Types of Visas to Apply for:
There are different UK visas depending on what your holiday plans are:
Apply for the Standard Visitor Visa if you’re visiting the UK as a tourist or for business. You may extend the Standard Visitor Visa as long as the total time you spend in the UK is less than six months. If you’re receiving private medical treatment in the UK during your stay, you can apply to extend your visa for a further six months. This is only possible if you have already paid for the treatment, that you can and will pay the remaining costs of your treatment, and that you continue to meet the requirements*.
If you wish to go to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership and then head back to South Africa, you should apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa.
If you have been invited to the UK by a UK-based organisation to do specific paid work, you should apply for the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa. Take note this type of work would be without being sponsored under the points-based visa system, which is part of the 5-tier visa system (see Working in the UK).
If your child attends an independent fee-paying day school in the UK (see Studying in the UK), you can apply for the Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa. You may extend the Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa provided you and your child continue to meet the requirements*. You can extend this visa for 12 months at a time until your child reaches the age of 12.
If you are passing through the United Kingdom on your way to another destination, you will need a Transit Visa. There are two types:
- Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV)
- Visa in Transit
Apply for a DATV if you’re not leaving the airport and not going through the UK border control when changing flights.
Apply for a Visa in Transit if you need to leave the UK airport. You will also need to apply for this visa if you need to go through Immigration, such as when checking in your luggage with a connecting flight.
Studying in the UK
Should you be doing a short course of study in the UK, apply for a Short-Term Study Visa. Take note that this does not apply to academic visitors (those employed by academic or higher education institutions), who would need to apply for the Standard Visitor Visa.
If you’re 16 years of age and older and a licensed Tier 4 sponsor has offered you a place on a course, you can apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa.
If your child (between the ages of 4 and 17) has a place on a course at an independent school in the UK, he/she can apply for the Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa.
Working in the UK
If you’d like to work in the UK, its government uses a 5-tier visa system. The system is designed for various types of professions and numerous levels of experience. Find out which work visa is suitable for you.
* See UK Visa Requirements.
Validity
- Standard Visitor Visa – 6 months
- Marriage Visitor Visa – 6 months
- Permitted Paid Engagement Visa – 1 month
- Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa – 6-12 Months
- Direct Airside Transit Visa – 24 hours
- Visa in Transit – 48 hours
- Short-Term Study Visa – 6 months (for any short course, or short period of research if you’re 16 and over) or 11 months (if you’re 16 and over and taking an English language course)
- Tier 4 (General) Student Visa – 6 months or less (course dependent); more than 6 months (course dependent)
- Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa – 6 years, 4 months (under 16); 3 years, 4 months (16 or 17)
Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months after your return to South Africa.
Due to the potential increase in the volume of applications, processing can take up to 30 days.
Visa Costs:
The costs for these various UK visa types are as follows:
| Standard Visitor Visa | R 1530.00 |
| Marriage Visitor Visa | R 1530.00 |
| Permitted Paid Engagement Visa | R 1530.00 |
| Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa | R 8515.00 |
| Short-Term Study Visa | R 1600.00 (up to 6 months) or R 3075.00 (to study English) |
| Direct Airside Transit Visa | R 585.00 |
| Visa in Transit | R 1065.00 |
Please note that prices are subject to change.
Both gov.uk and visa4uk.fco.gov.uk offer online payment platforms.
UK Visa Requirements:
For the Standard Visitor Visa, you will need the following documents when visiting the UK visa application centres:
- Downloaded and completed application form
- Current passport or other valid travel identification
- Your passport will need a page that’s blank on both sides for visa stamps
- Evidence that you can support yourself financially during your trip, such as bank statements or payslips for the last six months
- Certified translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh
- The dates you are planning to travel to the UK
For the Marriage Visitor Visa, you will need the same documents as you would for the Standard Visitor Visa, as well as the following:
- Proof of your future plans for the relationship, e.g. documents to show where you’ll live
- Details of your accommodation and your travel plans (make sure you get the visa before paying for accommodation and travel)
For the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa, besides the documents mentioned under the Standard Visitor Visa, you will need:
- Details on where you will stay and your travel plans (make sure to get your visa before you pay for accommodation and travel)
- A formal invitation from the UK-based organisation or authority you’ll be paid by
- Proof that the paid engagement relates to your expertise, qualifications and job in South Africa, such as a letter from your employer
If you’re established in the arts, entertainment or sports industry, you will additionally need to supply the following:
- Publications
- Publicity material
- Proof of awards
- Media coverage and reviews
- Proof of recent performances
For the Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa, besides your valid passport, you will need:
- Tuberculosis test results
- Proof of permanent home outside the UK
- Proof that you can support you and your children or have relatives or friends that will support you in the UK
- Proof that you have booked and can afford to travel to and leave the UK at the end of your stay
For the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa and Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa, besides your current passport, you will need to provide the following:
- Proof that you can support yourself financially and pay for your course
- Proof of parental or legal guardian consent
- Proof of relationship with parent or guardian
- Tuberculosis test results
For the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, you will also need to prove your knowledge of the English language, by taking and passing a secure English language test. The British Council South Africa offers approved tests in the following cities in the country:
| Cape Town | Upper East Side, 31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock |
| Johannesburg | 275 Jan Smuts Avenue, Dunkeld West |
| Pretoria | Tshwane Events Centre, Soutter Street, Pretoria |
| Durban | Richfield Institute of Technology, 9 Palm Blvd, Umhlanga |
| Port Elizabeth | B & E Conference, Kempston Road, Korsten |
For Direct Airside Transit Visas and Visas in Transit, you will need:
- Current passport
- Travel booking confirmation (email or copy of tickets)
- Valid visa for the country for which you are departing the UK
Immigrating to the UK
Getting indefinite leave to remain in the UK involves varying requirements, according to certain conditions. Learn what you will need to immigrate to the UK.
Where to Apply:
Online
The earliest you can make your UK visa application is 3 months before your date of departure.
You can apply online for a UK visa.
How to book an appointment
- Visit gov.uk’s application page to start your application.
- Confirm the type of visa you are applying for (see below)
- If you are applying for a Standard Visitor Visa, Marriage Visitor Visa, or Permitted Paid Engagement Visa, complete the following steps:
- Fill in the application form.
- Confirm that you have a valid passport.
- Fill in the declaration form.
- Confirm the information you have supplied and the supporting documents you will supply (see below).
- Confirm the duration of your visa.
- Follow the online prompts to make your payment via credit/debit card.
- Once you are finished, you will need to download and print out your form (this should be taken to a UK visa application centre).
- Visit and register on TLScontact’s website to further ensure your application goes smoothly.
- Make an appointment and visit one of the UK visa application centres (see below) to finalise your application. Make sure to have the original versions and copies of the relevant documents when doing so.
For the other types of visas, register on the Visa4UK service to complete your application. You will need to confirm whether you are employed, whether you have funds for your trip, and what your travel plans are. Once you have completed the application, have the application form printed to take to your nearest UK visa application centre.
Children under the age of 5 need to apply for their UK visa in person at an application centre in order to attend a biometric enrolment appointment. All applicants will need to provide a live-capture digital photograph. This is due to the current rules that govern the collection of biometric data. Parents additionally need to book an appointment at the UK visa application centre for children when applying for their UK visa. Children under the age of 5 do not need to provide fingerprints.
UK visa application centres
After applying online, you will need to register on TLScontact’s website, then make an appointment with the UK visa application centre that’s nearest to you. There are 5 in South Africa. See below for more information.
Visa Application Centre – Cape Town
| Address: | 2 De Smit Street, Green Point |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday: 08h30 – 15h30 |
Visa Application Centre at The Atrium – Durban
| Address: | 430 Peter Mokaba Ridge, 3rd Floor, The Atrium |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday: 08h30 – 15h30 |
This visa application centre is easily reached with the MyCiTi bus service. Off-street parking is available should you visit by car. Metred taxis are also available to get you to the application centre.
Parking is available at The Atrium should you be coming by car. Taxi services are available as well.
Visa Application Centre – Port Elizabeth
| Address: | Ground Floor, Fairview Office Park, 66 Ring Road, Greenacres |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday: 08h30 – 15h30 |
Parking is available at the Fairview Office Park and the Greenacres Shopping Centre. Taxis and Uber are all available in Port Elizabeth to get you to this application centre.
Visa Application Centre – Johannesburg
| Address: | 2nd – 3rd Floor, 24 Central Building, 8 Gwen Lane and Fredman Drive, Sandton |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday: 08h30 – 15h30 |
The building in which the visa application centre is based offers paid underground parking.
In Johannesburg, taxis and Uber are available to get you to the visa application centre.
Visa Application Centre – Pretoria
| Address: | 1st Floor, Menlyn Corner, 87 Frikkie De Beer Street, Menlyn |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday: 08h30 – 15h30 |
Parking is available in the Menlyn Corner complex. Taxis and Uber are available to transport you to this visa application centre.
The UK visa application centres are closed during the weekend, during South African public holidays and during the Queen’s Birthday Privilege Holiday and Spring Bank Holiday.
Collecting Your Passport
You will receive an email that will state your passport is ready for collection at the relevant UK visa application centre. When collecting your passport, provide the following documents:
- TLScontact checklist
- Copy and Original of your photo ID document
- If collected by a representative, an original authorisation form and representative’s valid photo ID document (copy & original) should be added to above documents.
Where to Print Your Documents
All documents for your UK visa application must be original. You can have them printed at the following places. Each shop ranges from within walking distance to a few minutes’ drive from the UK visa application centres:
In Cape Town:
Jetline
| Address: | Shop 2, Sovereign Quay, 40 Somerset Road, Greenpoint |
| Contact: | + 27 (0) 21 421 2122 / greenpoint@jetline.co.za |
In Durban:
PostNet – Cowey Park
| Address: | 91 Problem Mkhize Road, Essenwood, Berea |
| Contact: | + 27 (0) 31 208 0166 / musgravep@intekom.co.za |
In Port Elizabeth:
PostNet Greenacres (The Bridge)
| Address: | Fair View, Shop G14 The Bridge Mall, Ring Road, Newton Park |
| Contact: | + 27 (0) 41 363 3606 / thebridge@postnet.co.za |
In Johannesburg:
Jetline
| Address: | Shop G06, 2 Merchant Place, 1 Fredman Drive, Sandown |
| Contact: | + 27 (0) 11 784 2095 / sandown@jetline.co.za |
In Pretoria:
Jetline Menlyn
| Address: | Shop 301, Menlyn Main Central Square, Corner of Aramist and Dallas Avenue |
| Contact: | +27 (0) 12 348 7560 / menlyn@jetline.co.za |
Frequently Asked Questions
What if your passport has expired?
If your South African passport is no longer valid, follow this guide on getting it renewed.
What if you’re just going on a short holiday?
Of course, if it’s simply a holiday you’re after, follow these steps:
- Apply online with gov.uk and select the Standard Visitor Visa
- Register on the TLScontact website
- Make an appointment with a UK visa application centre and visit the centre to finalise your application
- Check your email for the confirmation of your visa
- Collect your passport with your required documents (mentioned above)
What constitutes a business visit?
The following business activities are allowed after a successful application for a Standard Visitor Visa:
- Attending a meeting or conference
- Negotiating or signing trade agreements
- Undertaking fact-finding missions
- Checking details or goods
- Conducting site visits
- Promotional acitivities
Do you have an emergency and need to get to the UK immediately?
Should you find yourself in a situation where you need your visa within the minimal time possible, there are added value services provided by UKVI, but they come at an extra cost:
- 5 Day turnaround time for a visa – Priority fee of R 3007.90 over and above your visa fee
- 24 hour turnaround time – Super Priority fee of R 15023.16 over and above your visa fee
What happens if you miss your VAC appointment?
You can apply for a priority appointment if you miss your appointment, but that will cost you R 1460.00.
*Disclaimer!
All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart is not affiliated with immigration authorities or their application centres and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this volatile information.
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