South Africa Visa for Bangladesh Passport Holders

Bangladeshpassport South Africadestination

Single entry ApprovalMedium Transit visaNo

Data verified 7 August 2026

At a glance

Bangladesh passport holders: Single entry for South Africa. Fee: ZAR 425 (~USD 25.75). Processing: 5-10 working days. Indicative only — always verify with the official mission before applying.

Overview

CONFIRMED: Bangladesh is NOT eligible for South Africa's eVisa pilot or the newer Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system — the ETA was declared 'fully rolled out' in April 2026 but officially covers only China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico; Bangladeshi passport holders must continue applying for a conventional sticker visa. Standard Tourist visa fee is unchanged at ZAR 425 (~USD 25.75), reconfirmed current as of a late-July-2026 source discussing South Africa's separate new R500 ETA fee (which does not apply to Bangladesh). South Africa maintains a Consulate in Dhaka (Jahangir Tower, 10 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka 1215) offering limited consular services, but the South African High Commission in New Delhi explicitly states that visa applicants from Bangladesh (and Nepal) must lodge through the VFS Global centre in New Delhi, not in Dhaka.

Visa types: Tourist Visa (sticker via embassy, 90-day single/multi-entry); Business Visa; Critical Skills Work Visa; General Work Visa; Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa; Study Visa; Relative's Visa; Retired Person Visa; Visitor Visa for Investment; Transit. eVisa pilot expanded.

Fees & funds

Visa fee (local)ZAR 425 (Tourist single entry, 90-day)

In USDUSD 23

In BDTBDT 2,808

Minimum bank balance~USD 162+ (ZAR 3000)

Stay & validity

Validity: 90 days from issue. Max Stay: 90 days (single entry).

Extension possibleConditional

Overstay penalty: Declared "undesirable" 1-5 years; deportation; bar from re-entry

How to apply

MethodVFS Global (New Delhi), under the jurisdiction of the South African High Commission, New Delhi — not eVisa/ETA (Bangladesh is not eligible for either) and not lodged at the Dhaka consulate

Application centreVFS Global

Processing time5-10 working days

AppointmentConditional · Book

InterviewConditional

Urgent processingNo

Requirements

Bank Statement Yes Yes (3 months, ZAR 3,000+)

Return Ticket Yes

Hotel Booking Yes

Sponsor Doc Conditional

Invitation Letter Conditional Conditional (Business)

Vaccination Conditional Yellow Fever if from endemic country

Travel Insurance Mandatory

Biometrics No

Police Clearance Conditional Conditional (long-stay) + TB screen

Employment Letter Yes

Passport & photo

Passport validity30+ days beyond stay, 2 blank pages

Photo size35 × 45 mm

Required documents: Valid passport (30+ days beyond stay, 2 blank pages); Visa application form; 2 recent photos (35x45mm); Hotel booking OR invitation letter; Return ticket; Bank statement (last 3 months, ZAR 3,000+ recommended); Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if from endemic country; Travel medical insurance (mandatory); Radiological report (TB screen) for long-stay; Police clearance for long-stay; For Business: SARS-registered company invitation.

Visa types (2)

Tourist ★

Single ZAR 425 (~USD 25.53) 5-10 working days

Visitor visa required. Apply via VFS Dhaka. Fee: ZAR 425 (~USD 24) + VFS service fee. Allow 5-10 working days.

Business South Africa Business Visa

Multiple ZAR 425 (~USD 25.53) 4-8 weeks

South Africa Business Visa. South African High Commission in Dhaka is functional. Major sectors: mining (gold, platinum, diamonds), banking, automotive, agriculture, retail. Johannesburg is regional Sub-Saharan business hub.

Common rejection reasons

Common BD rejections: (1) eVisa pilot expanded but Embassy route still common; (2) Travel medical insurance MANDATORY; (3) Yellow Fever vaccination if from endemic country; (4) Radiological report (TB screen) for long-stay 6+ months; (5) Police clearance for long-stay; (6) For Business: SARS-registered company invitation required; (7) Children require unabridged birth certificate.

Embassy / consulate

AddressSouth African Consulate, Jahangir Tower, 10 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka 1215 (limited consular services; visa applications are routed via VFS Global New Delhi, not lodged here)

Phone+91 11 2614 9411

Emaildelhi.general@dirco.gov.za

Open in Maps

Official portal

Apply or confirm the current requirements on the destination government's official site.

Government visa portal ↗

Data quality

ConfidenceHigh

Last verified2026-08-07

Indicative information for reference only — Visandra is not affiliated with any government or embassy. Always verify with the official mission before you travel.

Good to know

South Africa visa FAQ for Bangladesh passport holders

Do I need a visa to visit South Africa with a Bangladesh passport?

Yes — Bangladesh passport holders need a visa for South Africa (Single entry). Apply via VFS Global (New Delhi), under the jurisdiction of the South African High Commission, New Delhi — not eVisa/ETA (Bangladesh is not eligible for either) and not lodged at the Dhaka consulate.

How much does a South Africa visa cost for Bangladesh passport holders?

The South Africa visa fee is USD 23 (about BDT 2,808). Additional service, biometric or courier charges may apply on top.

How long does it take to get a South Africa visa?

Typical processing for a South Africa visa is 5-10 working days. Apply well ahead of your travel date and allow for appointment availability.

How long can I stay in South Africa on this visa?

A South Africa visa for Bangladesh passport holders typically allows a stay of Validity: 90 days from issue. Max Stay: 90 days (single entry).. Extensions may be possible (Conditional).

How do I apply for a South Africa visa from Bangladesh?

Apply for your South Africa visa via VFS Global (New Delhi), under the jurisdiction of the South African High Commission, New Delhi — not eVisa/ETA (Bangladesh is not eligible for either) and not lodged at the Dhaka consulate. Your passport should be valid 30+ days beyond stay, 2 blank pages.