South Africa Visa RequirementsFor Malta passport holders
Malta passport holders need a South African visa in advance. The tourist visa costs approximately USD 60 and is applied for through the South African Embassy or VFS Global.
Malta passport holders require a visa to enter South Africa.
Visa required for Malta passport holders. Apply at the South African Embassy or High Commission accredited for Malta (typically Rome or London). Alternatively through VFS Global. Tourist visa: approximately USD 60. Documents: passport (at least 30 days validity beyond return date plus 2 blank pages), application form, photos, bank statement (3 months), return ticket, hotel bookings, yellow fever certificate if arriving from endemic zones. Processing: 5-10 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
Required Documents
For Your Visa Application
Valid Malta Passport
At least 30 days validity beyond return date, plus at least 2 blank pages.
Completed Visa Application Form (BI-84)
From South African Embassy or VFS Global.
2 Passport-sized Photographs
Recent color photographs.
Bank Statement (3 months)
Demonstrating sufficient funds.
Return or Onward Flight
Proof of departure from South Africa.
Hotel Booking or Accommodation Proof
Accommodation reservations.
Visa Fee: approx USD 60
Payable at VFS Global or the Embassy.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate Recommended
Required if arriving from a yellow fever endemic country.
Required at Entry
Valid Malta Passport with South Africa Visa
Present at immigration.
Return or Onward Ticket
Confirm at immigration.
Current Travel Situation
Malta to South Africa: What You Need to Know
South Africa is Africa's most visited destination by European tourists, offering the Big Five safari experience, Cape Town's Table Mountain and winelands, the Garden Route, and Kruger National Park. Malta and South Africa have connections through the British colonial network: both were British territories, and significant Maltese migration to South Africa occurred in the early 20th century, particularly to the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg mining area). South Africa has 11 official languages (the world's most for any country) and a complex, fascinating history from Khoisan hunter-gatherers to Zulu kingdoms, Dutch and British colonialism, and the apartheid era.
How to Get There
Johannesburg and Cape Town connect from Malta via Frankfurt, London, or Amsterdam. South African Airways, Lufthansa, and British Airways offer options. Total journey approximately 13-16 hours.
Money & Banking
South Africa uses the rand (ZAR). South Africa offers exceptional value for Europeans: restaurant meal ZAR 150-350 (EUR 7-16), Cape Winelands tasting from ZAR 100, Kruger self-drive hire affordable. Game lodge stays ZAR 5,000-25,000/night represent the premium experience.
Practical Tips
Cape Town: Table Mountain (cable car, or hike the Platteklip Gorge route), the V&A Waterfront (Two Oceans Aquarium, Robben Island ferry, Cape Malay food), the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (southwesternmost point of Africa, colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach), and the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek). Kruger National Park: 4-5 nights minimum self-drive safari for reliable Big Five sightings (lions, elephants, buffalo, leopard, rhino). The Garden Route: Knysna Lagoon, Tsitsikamma National Park, and the iconic Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Malta citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Yes. A tourist visa is required, costing approximately USD 60. Apply at the South African Embassy or High Commission (or VFS Global) before travel.
Is there a Maltese community in South Africa?
Yes. Significant Maltese emigration to South Africa occurred in the early 20th century, particularly to the Transvaal (Johannesburg and surroundings). The Maltese-South African community maintains cultural associations and has historically been connected to the mining industry.
What is the Big Five?
The Big Five refers to the five animals historically considered the most dangerous to hunt on foot in Africa: lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros (both white and black). They are now the most sought-after animals on a safari. Kruger National Park and the private reserves bordering it (Sabi Sands, Timbavati) offer the best Big Five sightings in South Africa. Seeing all five in a single day is possible but not guaranteed.
What is apartheid and where can I learn about it?
Apartheid (meaning "apartness" in Afrikaans) was the South African system of institutionalized racial segregation enforced by the National Party government from 1948 to the democratic elections of 1994. The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg is the world's premier museum on the subject. Robben Island (Cape Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site) is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years. Soweto (Southwest Township) offers community tours and the Mandela House Museum.
What is South African wine?
South Africa is the world's 9th largest wine producer and the only major wine country in the Southern Hemisphere with a centuries-old wine tradition (first wines produced in the Cape 1659). The Cape Winelands: Stellenbosch (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage), Franschhoek (French Huguenot heritage, Chardonnay, Semillon), Paarl, and Constantia (where Napoleon's favorite dessert wine, Vin de Constance, is still made). Wine tastings from ZAR 100-200 (EUR 5-10) are excellent value.
What is the Garden Route?
The Garden Route is a 300km coastal route along South Africa's Eastern Cape and Western Cape, named for its lush vegetation and natural scenery. Key stops: Knysna (oyster capital, beautiful lagoon, Featherbed Nature Reserve), Plettenberg Bay (whale watching June-December, dolphin sightings year-round), Tsitsikamma National Park (ancient forest, the Storms River suspension bridge, and the Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump at 216m, the world's highest commercial bungee).