Get the India visa for South African citizens
Fast, secure, and expert-led visa processing for South African citizens traveling to India
India visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens must obtain an Indian visa to visit the country for tourism, business, or medical purposes. They are eligible to apply for an India eVisa online. If arriving by air, they must also complete the India e-Arrival Card, a separate immigration and customs form.
The India Tourist eVisa is designed for tourism, visiting family, or leisure travel. It comes in 30-day, 1-year, or 5-year options, with a total stay of 30 days on the 30-day visa, or up to 90 days per visit on the longer options.
India Business eVisa: For business-related activities such as meetings or conferences. It is usually valid for 1 year with multiple entries, allowing stays of up to 180 days per visit.
India Medical eVisa: For travelers seeking medical treatment in India. It is typically valid for 60 days from arrival and allows triple entry for medical-related visits.
India e-Arrival Card: A mandatory digital entry form that collects your personal details, passport information, and travel plans before arrival in India.
South Africans must also file the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form (SDF), a separate online health form required of every air arrival. When applying for an Indian visa or arrival card through iVisa, we submit your health declaration for free, at the same time.
India entry requirements for South African citizens
Requirements verified against official government sources
- India Tourist eVisa
- India Business eVisa
- India Medical eVisa
- India e-Arrival Card
- South Africa passport valid for at least six months from the arrival date
- Passport-style photo and scanned passport bio page
- Travel itinerary and accommodation details
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Other supporting documents, depending on purpose/situation
India visa cost for South African citizens
One all-in price. The checkout total includes our service fee, expert review, and support — no surprises.
India Tourist eVisa — 30 dayseVisa
- When to apply
- It's recommended to apply at least a week in advance.
- Duration and extensions
- The 30-day Tourist eVisa allows a total stay of 30 days from your first arrival; the 1-year and 5-year options allow longer stays per visit (depending on the option you choose and your nationality). All are generally non-extendable.
- Entries
- All three options (30-day, 1-year, and 5-year) are multiple-entry visas. On the 30-day visa, the 30 days run from your first arrival, however many times you enter.
- Ports of entry
- India Tourist eVisa holders can enter through any of the 88 designated gateways: 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land borders, following the government's August 2026 expansion.
- Delivery format
- The approved eVisa is electronically linked to your passport, but travelers must carry a printed copy of the approval PDF when entering India.
- Validity
- 30 days
- Length of stay
- 30 days in total
- Entry
- Multiple entry
- Processing time
- Get it in as fast as 24 hours
India Tourist eVisa — 1 yeareVisa
- When to apply
- It's recommended to apply at least a week in advance.
- Duration and extensions
- The 30-day Tourist eVisa allows a total stay of 30 days from your first arrival; the 1-year and 5-year options allow longer stays per visit (depending on the option you choose and your nationality). All are generally non-extendable.
- Entries
- All three options (30-day, 1-year, and 5-year) are multiple-entry visas. On the 30-day visa, the 30 days run from your first arrival, however many times you enter.
- Ports of entry
- India Tourist eVisa holders can enter through any of the 88 designated gateways: 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land borders, following the government's August 2026 expansion.
- Delivery format
- The approved eVisa is electronically linked to your passport, but travelers must carry a printed copy of the approval PDF when entering India.
- Validity
- 1 year
- Length of stay
- 6 months per entry
- Entry
- Multiple entry
- Processing time
- Get it in as fast as 2 days
India Tourist eVisa — 5 yearseVisa
- When to apply
- It's recommended to apply at least a week in advance.
- Duration and extensions
- The 30-day Tourist eVisa allows a total stay of 30 days from your first arrival; the 1-year and 5-year options allow longer stays per visit (depending on the option you choose and your nationality). All are generally non-extendable.
- Entries
- All three options (30-day, 1-year, and 5-year) are multiple-entry visas. On the 30-day visa, the 30 days run from your first arrival, however many times you enter.
- Ports of entry
- India Tourist eVisa holders can enter through any of the 88 designated gateways: 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land borders, following the government's August 2026 expansion.
- Delivery format
- The approved eVisa is electronically linked to your passport, but travelers must carry a printed copy of the approval PDF when entering India.
- Validity
- 5 years
- Length of stay
- 6 months per entry
- Entry
- Multiple entry
- Processing time
- Get it in as fast as 4 days
India Business eVisaeVisa
- When to apply
- It's recommended to apply at least a week in advance.
- Duration and extensions
- The Business eVisa is generally valid for 1 year from the date of issue, allowing stays of up to 180 days per visit.
- Entries
- The visa is issued as a multiple-entry visa within its validity period.
- Ports of entry
- India Business eVisa holders can enter through any of the 88 designated gateways: 37 airports (including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Goa, and Kolkata), 38 seaports, and 13 land borders.
- Delivery format
- Your approved eVisa is electronically linked to your passport, but travelers are required to carry a printed copy of the approval PDF when entering India.
- Validity
- 1 year
- Length of stay
- 6 months in total
- Entry
- Multiple entry
- Processing time
- Get it in as fast as 6 days
India Medical eVisaeVisa
- When to apply
- It's recommended to apply at least a week before departure, and to get your medical documents ready for the application well in advance (e.g., a hospital letter).
- Duration and extensions
- The Medical eVisa is typically valid for 2 months from your first arrival in India, not from the date it's issued. It allows stays of up to 60 days and is generally non-extendable and non-convertible.
- Entries
- The visa is issued as a triple-entry visa within its validity period.
- Ports of entry
- India Medical eVisa holders can enter through the same 88 designated gateways as every India eVisa: 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land borders.
- Delivery format
- An approved eVisa is electronically linked to your passport, but travelers must carry a printed copy of the approval PDF and the accompanying medical documentation when entering India.
- Validity
- 1 year
- Length of stay
- 60 days in total
- Entry
- Triple entry
- Processing time
- Get it in as fast as 6 days
India e-Arrival CardArrival card
- When to complete
- The online India e-Arrival Card must be completed within 72 hours before arrival in India. With iVisa, you can apply earlier for added convenience.
- Validity and use
- The Arrival Card is valid for a single entry and is linked to the traveler's passport and trip details. It does not replace a visa.
- Delivery format
- Travelers will receive a QR code by email. It is recommended to carry a printed or digital copy to present to immigration authorities when entering India.
- Validity
- 30 days
- Length of stay
- 30 days per entry
- Entry
- Single entry
- Processing time
- Get it in as fast as 15 minutes
How South African citizens can apply for an India visa
Three simple steps — iVisa prepares, reviews, and files your India document for your trip from South Africa.
Complete the application
Answer a few simple questions and upload your documents, choose your processing speed, and pay securely. Most travelers finish in minutes.
We review and submit your application
Our experts check your application for the errors that cause government rejections, fix them with you, then submit it directly to the India government on your behalf.
Receive your India travel document
Once approved, your India travel document arrives by email — ready to travel, with clear instructions on how to use it.
Why South African citizens choose iVisa
Applying for a visa on your own can be confusing and time-consuming. iVisa simplifies the process, reviews errors, and gives you peace of mind — so you just show up and travel.
Start my application- 3M+happy customers
- 24/7customer support
- 13+years of experience
- 99%approval rate across all destinations
FANTASTIC, We started doing the application on our own ran in to problems and in "2"!!!! days you had it cleared up!!!
Application was very easy to follow & visa was delivered very quickly, will definitely be using iVisa again.
I had tried for weeks on the Indian government website for me and my 5 family members. It was so tedious and fraught with so many glitches, I gave up as I had to start over so many times. I-VISA is expensive but the data entry and user friendly nature made it so much easier. Only the made this 4-stars vs 5-stars. Expect to pay about $90/visa more than what the Indian government charges. It's worth the time if you have the money.
I had my Indian friend help me with the visa, she said it was so much better than anything she had used before, and was going to tell all her friends to use it in future! My visa was ready the day after I submitted it! Amazing!
After multiple attempts to to complete the official India e-portal visa application, I was well beyond frustrated. No matter how I resized and reshot the required photos, I could not get the Indian site to accept them. I thought I might have to cancel my trip to India for want of a visa. Worse still the site will not tell you the photo is unacceptable until after you have paid the visa fee. The I-Visa site was literally a trip-saver in this regard. It was simple to complete their forms and not particularly time-consuming. And while the site quoted a 4 day turn-around time for my visa, I actually got it in 2 days. True the fee is not cheap. But after you have wasted money and energy on the official India visa site, you will find that the cost is actually a bargain. After all, would you rather be planning your vacation/trip or wrangling the a recalcitrant website?
relatively easy to apply and they kept me in touch with what was happening with the process
Would recommend ivisa as it is a better service than the Indian Embassy
Easy to fill up the form and some errors are corrected right away by your team.
It is a more expensive option but it is an uncomplicated and completely stress free process and for that reason I thoroughly recommend this service. Thank you.
This was super easy to use, and I received status updates every day.
India visa FAQs
Quick answers for South African citizens traveling to India.
Still have questions?
Our visa experts are available 24/7 on chat, email, and WhatsApp.
Do South African citizens need a visa for India?
Yes. South African citizens need an Indian eVisa to enter India. In addition, they should complete the India e-Arrival Card before they go, which replaces the paper disembarkation form. All air arrivals must also complete the India Air Suvidha health declaration. When applying for an India arrival card and/or eVisa through iVisa, we'll submit this form at the same time, for free.
What is the processing time for an Indian visa for South African citizens?
India eVisas are generally processed within 1 to 4 days, depending on the option selected. With iVisa, you can choose a faster processing option for the Tourist eVisa — each speed and its timing are shown on this page and at checkout.
How do validity and stay duration work for India eVisas?
This is one of the most important things to understand before applying. Your visa validity refers to how long the visa remains usable (for example, 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years from issue), while your stay duration refers to how long you can remain in India per visit. For example, a 1-year Tourist eVisa allows multiple entries over one year, but each stay is usually limited to up to 90 days per visit. A 30-day Tourist eVisa allows a stay of 30 days from arrival. You must adhere to both limits to avoid overstaying.
What should South African travelers expect when arriving in India?
Even with an approved eVisa, entry is not automatic. You must enter through an approved airport or seaport, present a printed copy of your eVisa, e-Arrival Card, and Air Suvidha health form, and be prepared to answer questions about your trip. Immigration officers may also request proof of accommodation, a return ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds, so it’s important to have these ready.
What if a South African citizen is of Indian origin or holds OCI/PIO status?
If you hold a OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card, you do not need a visa to enter India. OCI holders can travel to India multiple times and stay for long periods without applying for an eVisa. If you do not have OCI status but are eligible, it may be worth applying for it instead of repeatedly applying for visas. Travelers without OCI or similar status must apply for an India eVisa as usual. However, note that air travelers with an OCI Card still need to submit both the e-Arrival Card and Air Suvidha health form before traveling.
Can South African citizens extend their stay in India?
India eVisas are generally not extendable or convertible. If you need to stay longer, you must leave India before your permitted stay expires and apply for a new visa or a different visa type if eligible. Planning your stay carefully is essential to avoid penalties.
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