About 5% of South Africa’s immigrants are found in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), showing how popular the UAE is to South Africans.
Most of them relocated to look for better opportunities and escape the high crime rate in South Africa. It is estimated that about 90,000 South Africans currently reside in the UAE.
Do South Africans Need a Visa for the UAE?
Very few African countries are eligible for a visa on arrival and unfortunately, South Africa is not one of them.
So, South Africans do need to apply for a visa before getting into the UAE or Dubai.
Types of UAE Visas for South Africans
There are a variety of visas that you can get when traveling to the UAE. They include:
- Tourist Visa – Tourist visas come in two types: single-entry and multiple-entry. They are available for either 30 or 60 days, depending on the traveler’s needs.
- Transit Visa: If you are using a UAE-based airline and you are passing through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah, you can get a transit visa that allows you to enter UAE for 48 hours for free and for 96 hours for a fee of AED 50 ($15).
- Visit Visa – If invited by a relative or friend residing in the UAE.
- Business Visa – For South Africans traveling for work or professional activities.
- Freelance/Remote Work Visa – This is for digital nomads or remote workers planning to stay long-term and work from anywhere in the UAE.
- There are other visa types including the UAE Golden Visa as well as the Blue Residency Visa.
If you are however looking to relocate to Dubai and set up a business or company, you would need to get residency through company setup process.
Extending Your Stay in the UAE
If you wish to stay longer, you can apply for a 30-day extension while in the UAE.
- Extension Fee: Approx. AED 600 ($180) per renewal.
- Overstaying fine: AED 50 ($14) per day and you may still pay an exit permit fee.
Applying for a UAE Visa Before Traveling
Let us now look at how you can apply for your visa:
- Airlines – Only UAE-based airlines, that is, Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia offer visa services for their passengers.
- Travel Agencies & Hotels – When not using an airline, most people use travel agencies to get their visas. In South Africa, some of them include Dubai Visas, One Visa World, Travelstart, and Visa Pro among others.
- Visa Centers – You can also apply through accredited visa centers such as VFS Global. Note that this might cost a bit more.
Required Documents for a Visa Application
The requirements include:
- A valid South African passport with at least six months’ validity
- A passport-sized photograph
- Flight ticket
- Hotel booking or invitation letter (for visit visas)
Related: What is The Best Time to Visit Dubai if You Are on a Budget?
