On arrival visitors are automatically granted a three-month holiday visa, which can then be extended for longer stays.  

Visits longer than three months require a visa extension which can be obtained at an immigration office in Cape Town or the Department of Home Affairs.

If planning a long Southern Africa holiday or business trip, visas can also be arranged at a South African Embassy or Consulate before arriving in Cape Town.

Generally, visa requirements for longer-term visits are simple, and require proof of funds as well as plane tickets as well as small fee.

Visitors planning to work in Cape Town for a certain time-frame will need to apply for work permits, which can be obtained abroad at a South African Embassy, or from the Department of Home Affairs in Cape Town or Wynberg.  

Passport requirements are very straight-forward. All passports must be valid for a minimum of six months, and must also have two consecutive, blank and adjacent passport pages for entry stamps.

Other than visas and passports, no other paperwork is required. However, it is strongly advised to have travel insurance, and if visiting other African countries aside from Cape Town, a vaccination card is essential.

Cape Town International Airport is rated one of the world’s top airports, and airport customs is generally fuss-free and easy to get through if travel documents are in order when visiting the city.