South Africa Visa RequirementsFor Afghanistan passport holders
Afghan citizens require a visa to visit South Africa, costing approximately $60. The South African Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations, so Afghan applicants apply at South African missions in Islamabad, Dubai, or Nairobi. Yellow fever vaccination proof is required if transiting through certain countries.
Afghanistan passport holders require a visa to enter South Africa.
Apply at the South African Embassy in Islamabad or the South African Consulate in Dubai. Required documents: completed visa application form (Form BI-84, available on the DIRCO website), valid Afghan passport (at least 30 days beyond the intended stay), two recent passport photos, confirmed return flight bookings, proof of accommodation, 3 months of bank statements, employment letter, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate if transiting through yellow fever zone countries (UAE is not a yellow fever zone, but check if your routing requires it). The $60 fee is paid at the embassy. Processing takes approximately 10 to 15 business days.
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
6 months beyond date of entry
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Current Travel Situation
Afghanistan to South Africa: What You Need to Know
South Africa requires a visa for Afghan passport holders. The South African Embassy or High Commission in Kabul has had suspended or very limited operations since 2021. Afghan nationals apply at the South African Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, the South African Consulate in Dubai, UAE, or another accessible South African mission. South Africa is the most developed and diverse economy in Africa with world-class tourism infrastructure. The visa costs approximately $60 (R1,050) for a 90-day tourist visa.
How to Get There
No direct flights connect Afghan airports to South Africa. Route via Dubai (DXB) with Emirates then Emirates to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT). Via Islamabad through Gulf hubs then onward to South Africa. Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa (ADD) to South Africa is a popular African routing. Total journey time from Kabul to Johannesburg is typically 14 to 20 hours.
Money & Banking
South Africa uses the South African rand (ZAR). Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. South Africa is excellent value for international visitors: budget accommodation from ZAR 200 to 500 ($11 to $27) per night, meals from ZAR 80 to 200 ($4 to $11) in local restaurants. Cape Town and Johannesburg are the most expensive cities. ATMs are available throughout. Notify your bank before travel as South Africa has fraud monitoring. South Africa has a large Muslim community (approximately 2 percent of the population) particularly in Cape Town.
Practical Tips
Cape Town offers Table Mountain (cable car), Boulders Beach penguin colony, the V&A Waterfront, and the Cape Winelands. The Garden Route along the southern coast connects Cape Town to Port Elizabeth through forests, lakes, and scenic coastal towns. Kruger National Park in the northeast is one of Africa's great safari destinations with the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros). The Drakensberg Mountains offer hiking and San rock art (UNESCO). Johannesburg has the Apartheid Museum, which provides essential context for understanding modern South Africa. South Africa has 11 official languages.