A study visa is issued under section 13 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 to a foreign national who has been accepted at a South African learning institution. The core requirements are set out in regulation 12 of the Immigration Regulations: an acceptance letter from the institution, proof of medical cover, proof of sufficient financial means and a police clearance certificate.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) does not publish a fixed minimum amount of funds. From 17 August 2026 the DHA fee for a study visa, including renewals, is R425, according to the gazetted fee regulations, and VFS charges a separate service fee that you should confirm with VFS Global. Treat the list below as the regulatory baseline and confirm the detail with VFS Global or the South African mission that will receive your application.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
To qualify for a study visa to South Africa, the regulations require you to submit:
- An official letter confirming provisional acceptance or acceptance at the learning institution, stating the duration of the course.
- Proof of medical cover with a medical scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act, renewed annually for the period of study.
- Proof of sufficient financial means while you are in South Africa.
- A police clearance certificate.
The institution’s Registrar or Principal must also give undertakings to DHA. These include proof of your registration within 60 days, notice within seven days of the closing date if you fail to register, and notice within 30 days if you de-register or complete your studies.
The visa lasts for the course you registered for. For school study, the regulations cap it at eight years for primary school and six years for secondary school. It lapses automatically if you fail to register or are de-registered.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
You apply with a valid passport. The Canberra mission’s checklist for family visas asks for validity of 30 days beyond the intended stay and three blank pages, and DHA’s work visa checklists use the same 30-day rule. We did not find a study-visa-specific passport rule, so confirm the validity and blank-page requirement with VFS or your mission.
The regulations also require a yellow fever vaccination certificate where it applies to you, which depends on the countries you have travelled from or are travelling through.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
The regulations set out these documents. Your VFS centre or mission may ask for more.
- The visa application form with supporting documents. The regulations refer to Form 8 (Annexure A); confirm the current form with VFS or your mission.
- The official acceptance letter from the institution.
- Proof of medical cover with a South African registered medical scheme, renewed annually.
- A medical report. A blanket waiver signed on 8 July 2026 (gazetted on 17 July 2026) removed the requirement to submit a medical report for temporary residence visa and permanent residence permit applications. DHA’s own web pages still list it, and it is not confirmed whether the radiological report is also waived, so check the current VFS checklist before you apply. Earlier regulations also required a radiological report, but DHA’s 2024/25 annual report indicates that requirement was removed in 2024. Confirm whether it applies to you.
- A police clearance certificate. The regulations do not state the period or age threshold for study visas, so ask which countries it must cover.
- Proof of sufficient financial means.
- The institution’s undertakings, described above.
If you are under 18
A learner under 18 also submits an unabridged birth certificate, a copy of an ID where applicable, proof of address and a confirmatory letter from the guardian in South Africa. Consent for the stay from both parents (or a court order) and a parental undertaking of medical cover for the full period are also required.
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
Medical cover must be with a scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act. Universities can set stricter medical-cover rules, so check your institution’s own requirements. DHA says children under 18 studying under the Department of Basic Education do not need cover in their own name; a parental undertaking is acceptable.
The regulations ask only for “sufficient” financial means. No official figure is published that we could find, so ask your institution’s international office and your VFS centre or mission what proof they accept.
Study visa holders at a higher education institution or TVET college may work part-time for up to 20 hours a week. DHA repeats this on its types of visas page.
How to Prepare or Apply
- Get your acceptance letter from the institution first. You cannot apply without it.
- Arrange medical cover with a South African registered medical scheme.
- Collect your police clearance certificate, financial proof and passport photographs.
- Apply through VFS Global or the South African mission in your country. See the DHA page on the different visa types for the current channel.
- Check the final form and document list with VFS or your mission before you submit.
Your institution’s international office handles these applications regularly and can tell you what DHA currently asks for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the study visa requirements for South Africa?
An acceptance letter from a South African learning institution, medical cover with a registered South African scheme, proof of sufficient funds, a police clearance certificate and the institution’s undertakings. Learners under 18 need additional guardian and parental documents.
How do I apply for a study visa for South Africa?
Apply with VFS Global or the South African mission in your country, after the institution has issued your acceptance letter. Confirm the current form and checklist with them first.
Does travel insurance satisfy the medical cover requirement?
The regulations require cover with a medical scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act. We found no DHA statement on travel insurance, so ask VFS or your mission before relying on it.
Can I work while studying?
Study visa holders at a higher education institution or TVET college may work part-time for up to 20 hours a week.
Must proof of financial means be in English?
We found no official rule on the language of financial documents. Ask your VFS centre or mission whether bank statements in another language need a translation.
What happens if I do not register or I de-register?
The visa lapses automatically, and the institution must notify DHA.
Can I change institutions?
The regulations do not describe transfers. Ask DHA or your mission before changing institution or course, because the visa is tied to your registration.
Confirm the current forms, fees and documents with the Department of Home Affairs or your nearest South African mission. See visa requirements and browse all travel and immigration requirements.