Moving to the UK for work, study or family? Ask us on WhatsApp which visa you need →
Not sure your bank statements are strong enough? Send them over. We’ll check them free.
A short letter explaining who you are, why you're visiting, who pays and when you'll return. We help you write it.
Top refusal causes: unexplained deposits · too little in the bank · weak ties to South Africa · dates that don’t match
PLEASE NOTE: We at Global Visa Services, strive to provide the best and most efficient services to meet your needs and deadlines. We carry out all queries and processes as soon as possible, but we cannot be held liable if third parties or issuing authorities delay the process or if they do not issue your documents before the intended date. We cannot be held liable for any losses or refunds incurred with regard to documents.
Yes. South African passport holders need a visa for every UK trip, including short holidays. South Africa is not part of the UK’s ETA scheme, so you apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel. Dual citizens travelling on a visa-free passport follow that passport’s rules.
UK visa costs for South Africans start with the Home Office fee. From 8 April 2026 it is £135 for a Standard Visitor visa of up to 6 months, £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years and £1,128 for 10 years. You pay online in rand at the Home Office’s exchange rate, so the rand amount moves with the pound. Priority and super priority processing, optional VFS services and our service fee are extra. We give you one fixed quote before we start.
You need a South African passport valid for your whole stay, proof you can pay for the trip without working in the UK, proof of ties that bring you back to South Africa (a job, studies, property or family), clear trip details, and biometrics taken at a VFS Global centre. Everything in your form must match your documents.
Your current and previous passports, 3 to 6 months of bank statements, recent payslips or proof of income, a leave letter from your employer, accommodation details, a travel itinerary and, if you are visiting someone, an invitation letter with a copy of their UK status. A short cover letter helps tie it all together.
The standard decision time is about 3 weeks after your biometrics appointment. Priority (about 5 working days, £500 extra) and super priority (next working day, £1,000 extra) are offered when available. You can apply up to 3 months before you travel, so we recommend starting 6 to 8 weeks ahead.
Yes. In South Africa people search for a UK tourist visa, but the visa is officially called the Standard Visitor visa. It covers holidays, visiting family and friends, business meetings and conferences, and some short courses.
There is no fixed minimum. You need to show enough money to cover your flights, accommodation and spending, alongside your normal bills at home. Steady income and no large unexplained deposits matter more than the balance on one day.
No. A visitor visa does not allow paid or unpaid work for a UK company. To work, study long term or join family in the UK you need a different visa, such as a Skilled Worker, Student or Family visa. We help with those too.
You apply online on GOV.UK, then give your fingerprints and photo at a VFS Global centre in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban or Gqeberha. Our offices in Sandton and Cape Town prepare and check your file before your appointment.
No. New UK visas are issued as eVisas. You create a UKVI account, link your passport to it and use it to prove your status to airlines and UK Border Force.
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