Visa Process

A study visa (also known as a study permit) is an endorsement (generally a sticker) placed in your passport by the governing authorities granting you permission to enter and/or reside in the country for a specified period of time and purpose, specifically as a student.

Yes. Students studying in South Africa must obtain a study visa in order to study in Cape Town for longer than 90 days. It is your responsibility to obtain your visa. Note: The South African Consulate may issue you an Exchange visa, rather than a Study visa – both visa types will allow you to study in South Africa with CIEE.

3-4 Months. The South African Consulate is often booked 2-3 months in advance, so you need to make your appointment a priority. Once you have your appointment, It takes approximately 3 to 4 weeks (15 to 20 business days) for the Consulate to process your visa. This does NOT include the time it takes to gather the numerous documents required to submit a complete visa application. All students must ensure that they appear at the Consulate no less than 8 weeks prior to the program start date. Building in extra time is essential in the event your application is rejected by the Consulate and you need to submit additional documents and/or reappear. Failure to apply with adequate time for processing could jeopardize your participation in the program.

Step 1

Schedule an appointment at the South African Consulate in New York City. Be sure to give yourself enough time to gather all your visa materials before your appointment. 

Step 2

Gather all required visa application materials. 

Step 3

Attend your appointment

Documents you need to acquire:  

The Consulate website lists the following application materials as being required:

2 

 Original Passport 

• Passport must be valid at least 6 months after the end of the program and cannot be an  extended passport. 

• Please make sure that your passport has at least two blank pages (for affixing a visa and  administrative purposes) 

 Notarized color copy of the passport bio page 

• This is the page of your passport with your photo and personal information. 

• Arts & Science program only: You will need a copy of your notarized passport bio page to  upload to your UCT portal during pre-registration. If you do not scan or make a copy of this  document prior to your visa appointment, you will need to get another notarized copy of your  passport bio page before the program begins. 

 Visa Application Form (DHA-1738) signed 

• You can find the form here or on the consulate’s website.

• Complete this application in black ink. 

 Two (2) Passport Photos (2 in x 2 in) 

• Photo must be of the applicant's entire face to show a clear and exact likeness of the applicant.  • These photos should be taken and printed at a local USPS, FedEx, Walgreens, CVS, AAA, etc. • Exact specification can be found here. 

 Proof of itinerary/reservation of round-trip air tickets 

• Include a copy of an itinerary or e-ticket that displays entry and exit dates. 

• This must include the traveler's full name (as printed in their passport). 

• This can be two one-way tickets (displaying entry and exit), rather than one round trip ticket. Since the Consulate asks applicants to “not purchase air tickets until you obtain a South African visa,” we recommend purchasing a flight with a flexible change fee/flight insurance or that is refundable. 

 Proof of sufficient financial means in the form of three (3) recent months bank statements stamped by the bank, and a notarized letter from the parents stating financial responsibility  

• Sufficient means is determined by the consulate. The minimum funds required is usually $1500  

• The bank statement must be issued in your name and the name must be clearly visible on the  statement. 

• Statement needs to be either stamped by the bank or signed and dated by a representative of  the bank. 

• If the bank statement is in your parent’s name, or if it is a joint account, students must include a  notarized letter from the parents guaranteeing financial responsibility for the student and a copy  of your parent’s ID (passport or driver’s license). 

• If possible, include this notarized letter regardless of the bank account holder’s information. 

 Proof of hotel accommodation (confirmed hotel reservation) or a letter of invitation from the  host with proof of address in South Africa 

• This is satisfied by the UCT Letter of Undertaking (Arts & Sciences) 

 Proof of host’s legal status in South Africa (copy of I.D. Book/ passport if South African citizen)  or copy of passport and a copy of visa or residence status in South Africa, certified by the  South African Police Service 

• Arts & Sciences: This is satisfied by the UCT Letter of Undertaking

 Non-refundable fee of $36.00 money order for processing 

• The money order should be made out to your Consulate. 

• Money orders can be obtained from USPS, banks and credit unions, convenience stores, and  supermarkets. 

 Medical report: South African Medical Certificate (BI-811) 

• Found here (or on the Consulate’s website). 

• This report must be completed by a medical professional within six (6) months of the visa  appointment date. 

 Original FBI certificate (full criminal background check report) 

• This check must be completed and issued within sixty (60) days of the visa appointment date. In addition, if you have lived in any country for 12 months or longer since you were 18 years of  age, you are required to submit a criminal background check report issued by that country.  

 Notarized copy of birth certificate 

• Obtain your original birth certificate, make a copy, and get the copy notarized. 

 Proof of medical cover renewed annually for the period of study with a medical scheme  registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act 

• As a condition of your student visa, you must enroll in Momentum Insurance (registered in terms  of the South African Medical Schemes Act). 

• Medical Insurance purchased from a provider outside of South Africa will not satisfy this  requirement 

• Do this sooner rather than later because payment sometimes takes longer than expected.

 • Once registered, be sure to save and print a copy. You will need this when you pre-register for  classes at UCT. 

• The dates of your medical coverage with Momentum must be identical to the dates of the  letter offering you a study place at UCT (if you are an Arts and Sciences student). This may be LONGER than the program duration. UCT will not allow you to register unless your  Momentum insurance dates are equal to or longer than the visa dates. This is very important.  

• Please note that your visa duration may extend longer than the CIEE program end date. In this  instance, Momentum Insurance will require you to pay up front for coverage lasting the  entire duration of your visa, not your CIEE program. If you plan to leave earlier than the end  of your visa duration, you will need to contact Momentum Insurance customer service to request  a refund for coverage that falls after the CIEE program end date but before the end of your visa  duration. 

• You can request that your study visa expiry date falls shortly after your CIEE program end date.  Please inform the consular staff during your appointment of when you would like your visa to  expire. This could prevent you from having to pay for excess Momentum Insurance coverage. 

 An official letter from the institution in South Africa confirming acceptance and duration of the  course with a school/varsity seal or college official stamp 

• This is satisfied by the UCT Letter of Undertaking (Arts & Sciences) 

 A stamped official letter of enrollment from the institution of learning concerned in the U.S. if  applicable. 

• This will be sent via email from your home school study abroad advisor. Your CIEE Study  Abroad Advisor will email your advisor with a template for this letter 

 Proof of payment of the applicable fee 

• This is satisfied by the CIEE Letter of Support 

 Pre-Paid, Pre-Addressed, Overnight Envelope  

• This is the envelope that the Consulate will use to return your passport (with your visa inside),  so make sure to use the U.S. address where you want your passport and visa sent after  processing (don’t forget to save your tracking number!)  

• Most Consulates require that you use a USPS Express Flat Rate Envelope (example below),  but please check your respective Consulate website for further details. Some Consulates may  provide you with a pre-purchased envelope (contact your Consulate/Embassy for further  information). 

▪ Attention New York Applicants: The South African Consulate General in New York will  no longer accept prepaid envelope/labels from FedEx and UPS with immediate effect.  Applicants are welcome to enclose only US Postal Service self-addressed, pre-paid  courier envelope for this office to facilitate return services. 

▪ Attention Washington, DC Applicants: With immediate effect, the South African Embassy  in Washington, DC will no longer accept a $16.00 fee to facilitate return services, but will  accept a prepaid envelope with a tracking number from either FedEx or US Postal  

Service. 

• OR you can pick up your passport (with your visa inside) at the Consulate once it has been  issued. Be sure to communicate this to the Consulate and determine how they will inform you  that your visa has been issued. 

You will receive 3 documents via email from UCT, CIEE, and your home institution as soon as they are  available, approximately 2-3 months before the program start date.  

 University of Cape Town Letter of Undertaking (Arts & Sciences) OR UCT Letter of Support (Open  Campus) 

o Arts & Sciences: this is sent directly from UCT (check your spam folder).  

o Open Campus: this is sent from your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor. 

o This document satisfies the “official letter from institution in South Africa confirming  acceptance and duration of stay” requirement.  

 CIEE Letter of Support 

o Sent from your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor through personal email or the email  

“applications@ciee.org.” 

o This document will satisfy the “proof of physical address and contact number in South  Africa” and “proof of payment of the applicable fee” requirement. 

 Letter of Enrollment  

o This will be sent via email from your home school study abroad advisor. Your CIEE Study  Abroad Advisor will email your advisor with a template for this letter.  

o This letter will satisfy the “official letter of enrollment from the institution of learning  concerned in the US”. 

Do not wait for these documents to get started on the visa process. These should be the last  documents you receive before appearing at the consulate to apply for your visa.