Visa Requirements For South Africans Traveling To Belarus

If you are a South African citizen, you will need to apply for a visa before travelling to Belarus. To obtain a visa, you must submit a visa application and provide the necessary documents, including a valid passport, proof of onward travel, passport photographs, accommodation vouchers, a detailed itinerary, medical insurance, and an invitation letter from your host or the relevant Belarusian company/organisation.

• Proof of onward travel from Belarus.
• Completed application form.
• Passport photographs.
• Accommodation voucher from a Belarusian tourist company.
• Detailed itinerary.
• Medical insurance.
• Invitation letter from the host or a Belarusian company. |

Visa requirements for South African citizens travelling to Belarus

South African citizens require a visa to enter Belarus. This can be obtained by submitting the following documents to a Belarusian embassy or consulate:

• A completed visa application form
• A passport photograph
• A valid South African passport (valid for at least six months after the intended date of return from Belarus)
• Proof of onward travel (departure) from Belarus
• A copy of your accommodation voucher, including a tourist reference number and confirmation of your hotel booking
• A detailed itinerary, preferably from a travel agent
• Proof of medical insurance
• An invitation letter from your host in Belarus, made out through a local immigration office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The process typically takes five working days, but urgent visas can be processed in two days for double the standard price.

Additional Requirements for Minors (Under 18s)

Minors travelling to Belarus must provide:

• A return ticket
• A copy of their full flight itinerary
• An original unabridged birth certificate

Long-Term Visas

Long-term visas are available for stays exceeding 90 days, with the right to stay in Belarus for up to 90 days unless otherwise stipulated by international agreements.

Visa requirements for Belarusian citizens travelling to South Africa

Belarusian citizens are required to have a visa to enter South Africa for tourism and business purposes. The type of visa required will depend on the purpose of travel.

South African Visitor Visa

The South African visitor visa allows Belarusian citizens to enter South Africa for short-term tourism purposes. The passport must be valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in South Africa. Proof of onward travel from South Africa is also required.

South African Work Visa

There are three types of South African work visas:

• General Work Visa
• Critical Skills Work Visa
• Intra-Company Transfer Visa

South African Business Visa

The South African business visa allows foreign nationals to reside in South Africa and establish or invest in a business.

South African Corporate Visa

The South African corporate visa allows a corporate entity or farm to employ a prescribed number of foreign nationals.

South African Study Visa

The South African study visa allows foreign nationals to reside in South Africa while studying at a South African institution of primary, secondary, or tertiary education.

South African Life Partner Visa

The South African life partner visa allows foreign nationals to reside in South Africa with their South African citizen or permanent resident partner.

South African Spouse Visa

The South African spouse visa allows foreign nationals to live in South Africa with their South African permanent resident or spouse.

South African Retired Person Visa

The South African retired person visa allows foreign nationals to live and retire in South Africa.

South African Exchange Visa

The South African exchange visa allows foreign nationals participating in a programme of cultural, economic, or social exchange to temporarily reside in South Africa.

South African Treaty Visa

The South African treaty visa allows foreign nationals to enter South Africa to participate in programmes agreed upon by South Africa and their respective countries.

South African Relative's Visa

The South African relative's visa is available to the biological or adoptive children or biological or step-parents of South African citizens or permanent residents.

South African Medical Treatment Visa

The South African medical treatment visa allows foreign nationals to undergo specialised medical care in South Africa.

South African Volunteer Visa

The South African volunteer visa may be issued to foreign nationals involved in unpaid volunteer or charity work within the country.

South African Crew Visa

The South African crew visa may be issued to members of the crew of any transport conveyance.

South African Permits

Belarusian citizens looking to travel to South Africa for permanent residence may apply for a South African permit. The type of permit required will depend on the reason for the permanent stay.

Application process for South African citizens

To enter Belarus, South African citizens require a visa. Here is a step-by-step application process for South African citizens:

• Determine the Type of Visa: The type of visa required depends on the purpose of your visit. For instance, if you are travelling for tourism or business purposes, you will need a short-term tourist visa. However, if you are travelling for business, you may need a business visa. Other types of visas include work visas, student visas, life partner visas, retired person visas, exchange visas, and volunteer visas. Each type of visa has specific requirements that must be met.
• Obtain the Necessary Documents: The required documents for a Belarusian visa include a passport with at least six months' validity beyond the intended stay, a completed application form, passport photographs, proof of onward travel or return ticket, and medical insurance. For business applications, an official letter of invitation from a Belarusian company or organisation is also needed.
• Submit the Visa Application: The visa application should be submitted to a Belarusian diplomatic mission or consular institution. Alternatively, you can apply through a third-party service provider, such as a travel agent or visa processing company, who can guide you through the process and submit the application on your behalf.
• Provide Additional Documentation: Depending on the type of visa and your specific circumstances, you may be required to provide additional documentation. For example, if you are travelling with minors, you will need to present their original unabridged birth certificates. Other possible documents include an invitation letter from your host and a detailed itinerary.
• Pay the Consular Fee: There is a consular fee for processing the visa application, which is set by the Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus. The fee may vary depending on your nationality and the type of visa.
• Wait for Visa Processing: The standard processing time for a Belarusian visa is 5 working days. However, urgent visas can be processed within 2 working days for an additional fee. The consular officer has the right to extend the processing time, and they are not obliged to provide a reason for visa denial.
• Receive Your Visa: Once your visa application has been approved, you will receive your entry visa. This can be a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa, depending on your needs and the discretion of the consular officer.
• Potential Visa Extension: If you need to extend your stay in Belarus beyond the validity of your visa, you can apply for a residence permit from the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior. This process must be done before your current visa expires to avoid overstaying.

Please note that the application process and requirements may change, so it is always recommended to check the official sources and websites of the diplomatic missions for the most up-to-date information.

Application process for Belarusian citizens

Belarusian citizens need a visa to enter South Africa. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of the visit and the intended duration of stay.

Temporary Stay

For a temporary stay in South Africa, Belarusian citizens can apply for a visitor visa, work visa, business visa, corporate visa, study visa, life partner visa, spouse visa, retired person visa, exchange visa, treaty visa, relative's visa, medical treatment visa, volunteer visa, or crew visa. The visitor visa is for non-visa-exempt foreign nationals who want to visit South Africa for tourism or business purposes. The work visa, business visa, and corporate visa are for those who want to work or invest in South Africa. The study visa is for those who want to study at a South African educational institution. The life partner and spouse visas are for those who want to live with their South African partner or spouse in South Africa. The retired person visa is for those who want to retire in South Africa, while the exchange visa is for those participating in cultural, economic, or social exchange programs. The treaty visa is for those participating in agreed-upon programs between South Africa and their home country, and the relative's visa is for biological or adoptive children or parents of South African citizens or permanent residents. The medical treatment visa is for specialized medical care, and the volunteer visa is for unpaid volunteer or charity work. Finally, the crew visa is for members of a transport crew.

Permanent Stay

For a permanent stay in South Africa, Belarusian citizens can apply for a permit. There are several categories under which an individual may qualify for permanent residence, including being a spouse of a South African citizen or permanent resident for five years, holding five years' worth of temporary work visas, being a parent or child of a South African citizen or permanent resident, having an irrevocable annuity or retirement account with a monthly income of at least R37,000, having a net worth of R12 million and paying the R120,000 application fee, or having a passive income of R37,000 per month from savings, investments, annuities, or pension funds. Foreign nationals who have held refugee status continuously for five years may also apply for permanent residence under the refugee category.

Application Process

The visa application process typically involves selecting the visa option that best suits the reason for the visit and then submitting the application to a team of immigration lawyers for processing. The application must be submitted prior to travelling to South Africa. The government of South Africa is currently experiencing technical issues with their system and advises travelers to apply through the nearest embassy or consulate.

Visa exemptions for South African citizens

South African citizens are required to obtain a visa before travelling to Belarus. However, there are several countries that offer visa exemptions for South African citizens. Here is a list of visa-exempt countries for South African passport holders:

• Angola (90 days per annum, visits not exceeding 30 days)
• Germany (except diplomatic staff assuming duty at the German Embassy or Consulates in South Africa)
• Namibia (only for ordinary passport holders, 90 days per annum)
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tanzania (90 days per annum)
• Trinidad and Tobago (only for ordinary passport holders)
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (only for ordinary passport holders)
• Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man (British Islands)
• Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island, and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands (British Overseas Territories)
• United States of America (for diplomatic and ordinary passport holders; diplomatic passport holders assuming duty at the US Embassy or Consulates in South Africa require visas for accreditation purposes)
• Zambia (90 days per annum)

In addition, South African citizens holding ordinary passports can stay for up to 30 days in the following countries:

• Bahamas
• Cyprus
• Hong Kong (for holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports)
• Hungary
• Macau (for holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports)
• Mozambique
• Poland
• Thailand

It is important to note that visa requirements and exemptions may change, and it is always recommended to check the latest information from official sources before planning your travel.

Frequently asked questions