Processing times and decisions
Visa Processing Times
The processing times below reflect the expected number of working days from date of receipt in the South Africa Visa Desk to date of decision.
The stated times do not include both-way document transit times, between regional VFS offices. Applicants should add this time to the visa processing times in order to get a more accurate estimate of when your finalised documents will be received. Please note, “working days” exclude Saturdays, Sundays and all office closure dates; Visa Desk Closure Dates.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to apply on time and under the correct category. Except in the case of serious travel emergencies, requests to expedite the processing time will not be entertained.
Visa decisions are uploaded on a routine basis, as per the Visa Decisions tab below. Once a decision is made, your documents will be returned via VFS.
The current target processing times in working days (unless otherwise stated) for complete visa applications submitted to the South Africa Visa Desk are as follows:
| Visa Category (Processed by South Africa Visa Desk) | Target Processing Time (From date of receipt of the application in our offices) |
|---|---|
| Visit Family/Friend | 6 – 8 Weeks |
| Tourist* | Approx. 12 Weeks |
| Business / Conference / Event | 6 – 8 Weeks |
| Employment | 6 – 8 Weeks |
| Study | Approx. 12 Weeks |
| Other Short Stay Categories e.g. Exam, Training | 6 – 8 Weeks |
| Join Family | |
| Join Family** (Sponsor is an Irish citizen or is in Category A) | Approx. 6 Months |
| Join Family** (Sponsor is in Category B) | Approx. 12 Months |
*Tourist / Performance group applications are not included in target processing times.
** See here for eligibility requirements & further information on target processing times. Excludes “De Facto (unmarried) Partner applications which are shown separately.
Dublin-based processing
Those applying under the following categories will have their application transferred to our head office in Dublin for processing:
Applications to reside in Ireland under the EU Free Movement Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC):
Applications to reside in Ireland under preclearance categories (which apply to travellers from visa-required and non visa-required countries):
Processing times for these applications will differ from the processing times listed above. If your application falls into one of these categories you should visit the Irish Immigration Service website. Any queries relating to these applications must be addressed to Visa Division in Dublin our desk has no role in processing these applications.
*Tourist / Performance Group Applications
Applications part of tour groups / rugby tournaments should be applied for under the relevant category, e.g tourism, performance / tournament and the details of the tour should be provided in the “reason for travel” section of the application.
Submitting applications under the category “other” may cause unnecessary delays to processing times. Once the application has been submitted, the tour organiser should contact [email protected] with the group details.
If the group includes people under 18, please refer to our website for the additional requirements.
South Africa Visa Desk Decisions
Decisions will be made on applications in date order from the date received in the South Africa Visa Desk. Due to the volume of applications received it is not possible to provide an update on individual applications.
Please use your unique online application number to search these reports for your decision:
My application has gone over the stated processing time, what does this mean?
Applicants are advised that unforeseen delays can arise, which are outside the control of the Visa Desk. With this in mind, we recommend that for short stay visas you apply up to 90 days in advance of your travel dates. We advise all applicants not to book flights until you have received and validated your visa. Our office bears no responsibility for missed travel.
In the event that your application has significantly exceeded the above times, it is likely that – on initial assessment – the application has not met the criteria, and further assessment/verification is required. In such instances, processing times will be longer than those stated above.
The speed at which your application will be processed is largely dictated by the quality of your supporting documentation, and your adherence to the applicable immigration policies. The volume of applications on hand will also impact decision times.
Appeal a negative decision
With effect from Monday 31 March 2025 residents of South Africa must submit visa appeals at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). Please read these instructions on how to submit an appeal.