How To Apply For A Study Permit To South Africa

How To Apply For A Study Permit To South Africa – South Africa is obviously one of the best destinations in Africa many international students would love to further their education.

South Africa harbors good and competent world-class universities that are recognized globally. With those universities in South Africa, prospective applicants with the aim of applying for a student visa to study in South Africa need to choose any of the best universities in the country before enabling the application process.

Students who are able to have their studies in South Africa come out to fill the job market without passing through any hectic means of the job market.

Prospective applicants are to make all the necessary documents in connection to the student visa application ready in other to avoid delay and rejection during and after the application process.

Applying for a student visa seems tedious to many applicants, but that isn’t the case as speculated out there.

In this post, prospective applicants would be taken through the steps involved in applying for a student visa to South Africa and other requisite documents.

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How to Apply for A South African Study Permit

To apply for a student visa to study in South Africa, you will have to either confirm your place at a university registered with the department of higher education or download the BI-1738 form and apply through the paper application.

Applications can be made from outside South Africa at a South African embassy. Applicants are to follow the steps by steps process below to apply for a South African student visa.

Confirm your place at a university registered with the Department of Higher Education
Download the BI-1738 form and complete it
Schedule an appointment with a local South African embassy, mission, or consulate in your home country
Present your relevant documents and pay the application fee
Wait to receive a decision on your application

Applicants, before beginning the application process are required to produce certain documents. That is, some vital documents you must attach to your application, etc.

In the next paragraph, we are going to look at the various stages of the South African student visa application process and what applicants are required to do at each stage as well.

What Documents are Required for South Africa Study Permit Application

The first step in applying for a study permit in South Africa is to gather all necessary documents. Below are the necessary documents needed;

A Valid passport with an expiry date at least 30 days beyond the end of your course
Complete BI-1738 form
An official letter of acceptance from your college or university on headed paper
Money to pay the visa application fee
Two additional passport photos in color
A vaccination certificate (if required)
A cover letter detailing the purpose and length of your visit
The details of your arriving and departing flights, including your return ticket
Proof of adequate financial resources
Health insurance policy documents
Medical records

South Africa Study Permit Application Process

Once applicants gather all the necessary documents needed for the application process, applicants must complete the online application form. The online application form demands applicants to provide personal information that includes their name, address, and date of birth.

That notwithstanding, applicants are required to give information about their intended studies in South Africa, such as the name of the school they intend to have their studies in and the duration of their program.

Once the form has been completed, applicants must add up all necessary documents for submission and processing of their study permit.

How Much Does South Africa Study Permit Application Cost?

The cost of applying for a South African study permit is around R 1,775 with is equivalent to $107. Aside from the application fee, applicants might be required to pay a processing fee depending on the country from which they are applying for the study permit.

What is the Processing Time for South Africa Study Permit Application?

The processing time for a South African study permit is between 4 and 8 weeks once submitted. Applicants are to note that the application process might be longer than what is stated above if additional documents are required.

How do I Extend my South Africa Study Permit?

To extend your South African Permit beyond the initial period of validity, you must submit your study visa in South Africa only. All applications are to be applied online & supporting documents are to be submitted in person at the VFS Office. The application MUST be submitted 60 days before the current visa expires.

How do I Renew my South Africa Study Permit after it Expires?

To renew your study permit for South Africa after it expires, you must submit a new application along with all the necessary documents and fees.

Complete the correct form: DHA-1739
Pay the VFS service or R 1350.00 to secure your appointment after completing the form.
Pay the different service fees which can be paid via EFT, online payment, or paid at a standard bank branch.
Check the required documents are 100% correct.

Once applicants provide the required documents above, they will get their study permit renewed.

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With careful preparation and attention to detail, applicants can ensure that their study permit application is successful. We believe that this article on how to apply for a South African study permit has been helpful.