South Africa Student Visa For Indians: The Ultimate Guide

Indians can use this visa to stay and study in the beautiful country of South Africa at a higher educational institute or a school.

If you're going to a school, like a primary or high school, you can even use this visa to stay for a long time – up to 8 years for primary school and 6 years for high school.

Study visas are only given when you get accepted at a specific school or institute. The government website offers a list of institutes approved for foreign learners to study.

Passport: You must have a passport that is still valid for at least 30 days after the day you plan to leave South Africa.

Application form: You must download the BI-1738 application form. Once it gets downloaded, print it and complete it fully.

Photo: 1 x passport-sized photo will be required when applying for your visa. This photo must meet the correct requirements.

Proof of finance: You must show proof of sufficient funds to cover your daily expenses. It can be shown as bank statements, cash, or traveller's cheques.

Cash deposit: Provide a cash deposit that is enough to cover a return ticket.

Proof of stay: You must provide proof of where you will stay for the time you are in South Africa.

Medical form: You must use the Bl-811 form to get a medical check from a registered medical practitioner.

Medical insurance: Proof of medical coverage is required when applying for a study visa. The medical cover needs to be renewed annually at a medical schema registered with in terms of the Medical Schema Act.

Radiology report: You must undergo a radiology check from a registered radiologist while using the Bl-806 form.

Invitation letter: An official letter from the educational institute where you will study is required. The letter needs to state confirmation of acceptance and the course duration.

Police clearance: If you are 18 years or older, a police clearance is required from every country you have stayed in for over 12 months.

The processing of the South Africa study visa takes around 90 days. However, it can take longer, depending on the individual application.

Factors that can affect this processing time include incorrect documents and the number of applications submitted.

The South Africa student visa fee is approximately ₹2210.

The fees will vary based on where you apply for your visa and can change with the currency exchange rate.