India visa for South African passport holders
Is there an India visa for South African Passport Holders?
South African passport holders can apply for an India visa if they meet the requirements. To obtain a visa for India, you will need
A completed visa application form
A valid passport
Visa fee
And other documents.
South Africans who wish to visit India anytime soon can apply for an India visa. Continue reading to get all the information you need to make your visa application successful.
Visa Application For South Africans
South Africans who want to apply for a visa can do so in one of two ways.
Through The Indian Embassy
Online Visa Application
Those who wish to travel and stay in India for an extended period of time need to visit the Indian embassy in Johannesburg or any of the consular offices to apply for a visa. Direct applications are a necessity for long stays of one year and above.
Online Visa Application
South Africans who wish to stay in India for only a short period don’t need to approach the Indian embassy for a visa. All they need is to fill out an online e visa form (electronic travel authorization).
Indian E visa scheme was launched in 2014 to make it easier for foreign nationals who wish to visit India. Fortunately for South African passport holders, South Africa is among the 166 countries whose citizens qualify for an e visa.
The e visa application process is easy, and it takes only about 3-5 days for it to be approved. With an e visa, you can make the trip to India at short notice and stay for as long as your visa permits you.
Indian E visa scheme was launched in 2014 to make it easier for foreign nationals who wish to visit India. Fortunately for South African passport holders, South Africa is among the 166 countries whose citizens qualify for an e visa.
Types of E Visa South Africans Can Apply For
There are different types of e visas South Africans qualify for, and we review them below.
E Tourist Visa
The e tourist India visa is a tourism visa you can obtain online. If you want to spend your holidays in India, this is the ideal visa for you. E Tourist visas have different validity of 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years. Holders of e tourist visas can stay in India for 30 days or up to 90 days. One benefit of this visa is that it allows you to enter India multiple times as long as it has not expired.
E Business Visa
The e business visa is for business visits. Are you a professional with a short term contract offer or an investor with business interests in India? This is the visa to apply for. It has a validity of 1 year but note that you cannot apply for it more than twice a year. Holders of e visas can stay in India for up to 180 days.
E Medical Visa
Those seeking medical care in India may apply for an. E Medical visa. This one has a validity of 120 days and grants the holder multiple entries into India. However, the applicant must attach relevant documents to their application form, like an invitation letter issued by the medical facility they will have the treatment. This visa allows the holder to stay in India for up to 60 days and offers multiple entry access.
E Medical Attendant
The e medical attendant visa is for caregivers or relatives accompanying a patient to India for medical treatment. This visa is only issued to applicants who are 18 years and above.
E Conference Visa
Another visa open to South African passport holders is an e-conference visa. This document is for those who wish to attend a conference or seminar in India. To qualify for it, the applicant must attach an invitation letter issued by the organizer and a clearance certificate by the Ministry of External Affairs permitting them to enter India.
Documents For Indian E Visa For South Africans
To apply for an e visa, you will need the following.
Valid Passport
You need a valid passport that has a validity of at least 6 months and 2 blank pages. You must upload the bio page of the passport to the application form.
Photograph
A recent photograph of you in white background showing your face. Don’t wear spectacles or headgear.
Debit/Credit Card
A debit or credit card is what is required to pay the visa fee online.
Other Documents
Applicants for a business e visa must provide a Business card containing the full information of their company or an invitation letter issued to them by a business entity in India
E conference visa applicants must provide a signed invitation letter by the event organizer.
E Medical visa applicants must provide the invitation letter sent to them by the medical facility where they’ll be having their treatment.
After completing and submitting the application online, the visa will be sent to you a few days later via email. Make sure you only provide an email address you have access to.
To apply for an India visa for South African passport holders, visit VisaHQ to fill out and submit the application form.