United Kingdom visa for South African citizens
South African citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom.
Visa required Confidence: medium — Likely current — confirm details with the official source Last verified: (3 days ago)
- Status
- Visa required
- Max stay
- Set by visa
- Official cost
- 135 GBP
- Before departure
- Apply for a visa before you travel
Cost note
Standard Visitor visa fee for up to 6 months.
What you need
- valid passport
- completed online application
- visa application centre appointment
- proof of funds and ties to South Africa
- return or onward ticket
Official source
https://www.gov.uk/world/coming-to-the-uk-south-africaUse the government route and fee only. Avoid lookalike agent sites that add markups or mimic official portals.
Why this verdict
South African citizens need a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK. South Africa is not in the current ETA-eligible nationality list, so pre-travel visitor-visa approval remains the conservative headline.
Frequently asked questions
- Do South African citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?
- South African citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom. (Visa required.)
- How long can South African passport holders stay in United Kingdom?
- The length of stay is set by the visa you are issued.
- How much does the United Kingdom entry cost for South African citizens?
- The official fee is 135 GBP. This page tracks the official government fee only, not agent markup.