Every country has the sovereign right to decide who may or may not enter its territory. Possession of a visa does not guarantee automatic admission to the Republic. The purpose of a visa on the one hand is to ensure proper screening of applicants so that undesirable persons are not admitted to the Republic and on the other hand to facilitate the entry of approved applicants at South African ports of entry. Visas provide immigration officers with the necessary information to ensure that applicants are admitted for the correct purpose and period into the RSA.

Those applying for a visa should comply with the following requirements:

• The basic requirements:

• Application Form: The English application forms should be completed by the applicant himself and with his signature.

• PHOTO: passport-size photographs. At the back of the photograph, the applicant should write the pinyin of his full name.

• Passport: The passport must be valid for six months and signed by the holder.

• Tickets: round-trip air fare

• Guarantee letter: applicants are required to have a letter from the employers guaranteeing that they are not there to apply for work or for permanent residence permits but that they are going to return back and live in the People's Republic of China in a letter.

• Documents: All application materials must have English translation.

• Visa fees:
  250 yuan (business and tourist visa)
  840 yuan (working visa and student visa)

• Deposit: refundable deposit of 20,000 yuan or provide a bank guarantee of 10,900 deposit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation for you not to pay the bond. Upon your return to the People's Republic of China, within 15 days you can present your original passport and invoices to the immigration chapter for refund. (Subject to two working days).  
  
  Under specific circumstances, the consular officials will decide whether to have an interview.

• Specific requirements for different visa :

• Business Visa

• Formal invitation letter from the company in South Africa. The details of the invitation should be provided and also the list of the Board of Trustees. There should also be a description of the plan, the date of visit, the name of the person invited and also a guarantee that the applicant for the business visa will return to the People's Republic of China.  

• The invitation from the South African company should provide the trade project and the related materials.

• English translation of the registration of the companies involved. (Chinese companies operating license should be notarized)

• Detailed schedule of business meetings

• Tourism and visiting visas

• The applicant should provide detailed travel dates, hotel name and the South African organizers who have arranged the travel.

• In the invitation letter, it should state the time of visit. The relative should be a holder of permanent residence permit. There should also be details of addresses, proof of financial resources and notarized proof of relationship with the person who is giving the invitation.

• Notarized copy of the relative’s permanent residence permit.

• Student visa  

• Visa fees : 840 yuan
  Deposit: 15,000 yuan or bank guarantees

• Other forms: The applicant should complete the application forms. He should also provide radiological examination report and medical certificate. The visa issuance for post graduate applicants will be subject to:  

• Proof of payment of tuition

• A notarized copy of a certificate of qualification

• Filled out application form or a proof that the applicant registered in a tertiary institution and that he will return to China after studies.

• The reasons or motives for studying in South Africa .  

• Admitted students at least at the age of 18 in South Africa ’s private schools also need to provide information to prove their compliance with all the requirements such as :

• Proof of enrollment in the school

• The language requirement

• Report card proving that the student is competent to study in South Africa

• Proof of accommodation in South Africa

• Study plan or reasons for studying in South Africa

• Temporary working visa
  

• Visa fees: 840 yuan
  Deposit: 20,000 yuan

• Fill out the following form :

• Work visa application form BI-159C

• Temporary residence applications

• BI-806 Chest radiology report BI - 806

• BI-811 Indicator BI-811

• 3 Other requirements :

• The letter of appointment that is in accordance with the applicant's qualifications and work experience.

• Notarized certificate of Title and Qualifications

• 南South African newspaper job advertisement clippings about the job of the applicant

• South African companies are required to submit also the necessary requirements depending on the circumstances.
   

• Summary:

• South Africa ’s members of the South African travel agencies or tourist agents must provide a copy of the arrangement or detailed itinerary to the South African Tourism Board (SATOUR), South African Airways (SAA) or South African Society of Travel Agents (SASTA.

• Holders of passport from the People's Republic of China who want to go to South Africa for a specific reason should apply for a visa and must meet the following requirements:

• Valid visa and a guaranteed that the holder of such visa will return to his country.

• If invited by business partners to South Africa, should provide a bank guarantee or a bond.

• Provide 10, 000 bond or bank guarantee

• Guarantee letter from the employers in South Africa that the applicant for a working visa will not stay in the South Africa but is only there for a project.