Long-Term Study Visa Verified 2026-06-09South Africa Study Visa (Long Term)
Long-term study visa for Indian students enrolled at a South African school or higher-education institution. Applied on Form BI-1738; processing is a minimum of 90 days. Apply via VFS Global India.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the South Africa visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Processing
Minimum 90 days from the day of submission at the VFS centre
Stay Duration
Duration of the course — up to 4 years for higher education; up to 8 years (primary) / 5 years (secondary) for school
Starting Fee
₹2,342
Apply At
9 VFS centres
Your whole South Africa Student Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong South Africa file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
4.9★ · 90+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee.
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, justified
₹24,999–₹34,999 fee — what exactly is included?
Our professional fee isn't just form-filling. It covers complete South Africa visitor visa preparation, document & refusal-risk review, financial-proof structuring, submission support and post-filing guidance. Tap any item to see what's inside.
Before we prepare your South Africa visitor visa file, we understand your complete profile — every applicant is different, so no two files are built the same way.
- Purpose of travel
- Employment or business background
- Monthly income & savings
- Funds available for the trip
- Family ties in India
- Property / assets, if any
- Previous travel history
- Relatives, friends or a sponsor in South Africa, if any
- Previous visa refusals, if any
- Planned trip duration
- Who is paying for the trip
- Whether the trip is realistic for your profile
A visitor visa isn't approved just because documents are attached — the purpose, funds, travel plan and return ties all have to support each other.
We don't hand everyone the same checklist. After understanding your profile, we build one for your exact case type:
- Salaried
- Business owner
- Self-employed
- Farmer / agriculture income
- Student or minor
- Retired parent
- Housewife / dependent
- Family visit
- Tourist visit
- Business visitor
- Previous refusal
- Sponsor-supported
- First-time traveller
This avoids missing key documents — and avoids piling on documents that aren't explained properly.
We review your documents before preparing and submitting, checking they're complete, readable, consistent and well-arranged:
- Passport & photographs
- Bank statements
- Salary slips
- ITR / Form 16
- Employment & leave-approval letters
- Business / GST / registration proof
- Income proof
- Property documents, if any
- Family & marriage documents, if applicable
- Invitation & sponsor documents, if applicable
- Previous refusal letter, if any
- Travel history, itinerary & stay proof
Funds are one of the most common refusal triggers. A high balance alone isn't enough if the money doesn't look genuine, stable, and tied to your income. We check:
- Whether the balance is reasonable for the trip
- Average balance vs trip cost
- Sudden large deposits that need explaining
- Salary / business income vs bank statement
- ITR vs income profile
- Whether you can afford the trip without leaning entirely on a sponsor
- Whether sponsor support is properly explained
- Whether funds look genuine and traceable
We help structure the financial side professionally so it reads as genuine, not borrowed for the application.
We help present a clear, realistic purpose — tourism, a holiday, a family/relative visit, an event, a business meeting, or parents visiting children — and make sure it lines up with your dates, funds, itinerary and documents.
A weak or vague purpose makes a file look doubtful. We keep it clear, simple and professional.
We prepare or structure the main explanation letter — a professional summary that makes your case easy for the officer to understand. It covers:
- Who you are and why you want to visit
- How long you'll stay and where
- Who is paying for the trip
- What you do in India
- Which financial documents are attached
- Your family ties in India
- Why you'll return after the visit
- If previously refused — what has changed since
This is not a guarantee letter — it's a clear, professional explanation of your case.
The officer must be satisfied you'll leave South Africa after your authorized stay. We identify and present your reasons to return:
- Job continuity or business ownership
- Regular income source
- Spouse / children / parents in India
- Dependents and family responsibilities
- Property or assets in India
- Education or business commitments
- Previous travel compliance, if any
If someone in South Africa is inviting you, we guide the sponsor-side documents:
- Invitation letter
- Sponsor status proof (passport / PR / citizenship)
- Sponsor employment & income proof
- Sponsor bank statement, if needed
- Relationship & communication proof
- Who bears expenses & stay arrangement
A sponsor supports the case but never guarantees approval — your own purpose, funds and ties must still be strong. We also flag if a file is leaning too heavily on the sponsor.
We guide or assist with the application form and details (online portal or the VFS/embassy form, depending on South Africa), and check consistency between the form and your documents:
- Personal, passport & travel-history details
- Employment & education history
- Family information
- Purpose of visit & funding details
- Sponsor information, if applicable
- Previous-refusal declarations
- Background questions
- Correct document categories
Wrong, incomplete or inconsistent information can hurt this application — and future ones too.
How a file is lodged depends on the country — some are fully online, while others (most Schengen states) need you to complete the form first, then book a VFS appointment and submit a physical file in person. We guide the exact South Africa process:
- Completing the application form first, where required, to unlock the appointment
- Booking the VFS / embassy appointment
- Arranging documents in the right order — for upload or the VFS counter
- Guiding the visa-fee payment
- Final review before submission or your VFS visit
- What to carry to the appointment (originals, photos, forms)
- Submitting / lodging and saving the confirmation
- What happens after submission
After submission, if biometrics are required, we guide you through:
- Biometrics Instruction Letter
- VFS appointment booking
- Documents to carry
- What to expect at the VFS centre
- How biometrics update in your application
- What to do once biometrics are done
Biometrics fee is separate, paid to the authority / VFS as applicable.
Our support doesn't stop at submission. We stay connected and guide you on:
- How to check application updates
- What official messages mean
- What to do if more documents are requested
- What to do after a Passport Request
- VFS passport submission & courier return
- Decision-update explanation
- Next steps after approval
- Basic guidance if refused
What's not included (paid direct, at actual cost)
- Government / embassy visa fee
- Biometrics fee
- VFS service charges
- VFS courier & SMS charges
- VFS premium-lounge charges
- Travel insurance
- Flight tickets
- Hotel bookings
- Translation charges
- Notary / attestation
- Medical exam, if ever required
- Any other third-party charges
No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision is always the visa officer's. Our role is to prepare, review, structure and present your file professionally from the documents and profile you provide.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every South Africa visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1The study visa uses Form BI-1738 (DHA-1738) — NOT the visitor Form 11 (DHA-84).
- 2Processing takes a minimum of 90 days — apply well before the course start date.
- 3Medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme must be renewed annually for the full study period.
- 4A Police Clearance Certificate is required for every country where an applicant aged 18+ resided for 12 months or longer since turning 18.
- 5Higher-education study visas are issued for the course duration up to 4 years; school visas up to 8 years (primary) / 5 years (secondary).
Who Can Apply
- Indian students with provisional acceptance or acceptance at a South African school or higher-education/training institution
- Students who can show sufficient funds (about ₹13,650 per month of living means) and full tuition payment
- Applicants with valid medical cover (registered SA medical scheme) for the study period
- Minors under 18 with a designated guardian in South Africa and consent from both parents
Not eligible under this visa:
- Short courses or study trips of 3 months or less — apply under the short-term visitor (study purpose) category instead
- Applicants without provisional acceptance / acceptance from a recognised SA institution
- Anyone primarily intending to work rather than study (work requires a separate work visa, which SureshotVisa does not process)
Previously refused?
Same feeWe rebuild refused South Africa cases the right way.
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to South Africa / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| South Africa Study Visa fee | ₹2,342 |
| VFS Global logistic fee — New Delhi / Mumbai | ₹2,040 |
| VFS Global logistic fee — other centres | ₹2,301 |
| Convenience fee (multiple payment modes) | ₹160 |
The study visa carries a visa fee of ₹2,342 per applicant (unlike the gratis visitor visa), plus the VFS logistic charge (₹2,040 at Delhi/Mumbai, ₹2,301 elsewhere) and a ₹160 convenience fee for multiple payment modes. Optional services (SMS ₹55, courier ₹885, premium lounge ₹2,000) are extra. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The INR visa fee is set at the current exchange rate and can change without notice — confirm live amounts on the VFS Global South Africa India page before applying.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Core Documents
5 items- Form BI-1738 (DHA-1738) — completed in full and signedRequired
In BLACK ink, signed by the applicant. For minors (below 18), a parent signs.
- Valid passportRequired
Valid at least 30 days beyond intended departure, with at least 2 unused/blank visa pages.
- Passport-size colour photographs (35×45mm)Required
One photo for North & East India; two for South & West India. 35mm × 45mm (3.5cm × 4.5cm), colour, white background, no border, face 70–80% of frame, looking directly at the camera, ≤1 month old. No headgear (except on religious grounds with face fully visible), no hat/cap, no staple marks. Scanned/photocopied photos are NOT accepted.
- Copies of passport bio-data pages (photo + address/parents page)Required
Indian passports.
- Original covering letter signed by the applicantRequired
Stating the purpose of visit and the applicant's home address and contact details.
Admission & Institution
4 items- Official letter confirming provisional acceptance or acceptance and the course durationRequired
From the learning institution where you intend to study.
- Undertaking by the Registrar/Principal of the institutionRequired
To provide proof of registration within 60 days, notify Home Affairs of failure to register within 7 days, of de-registration within 30 days, and of completion/extension of study.
- Proof of total tuition fees paid to the institutionRequired
- Educational qualification certificates (notarised)Required
Financial Means & Medical
4 items- Proof of sufficient financial means — bank-certified statements for the last 3 monthsRequired
To the value of about ₹13,650 per month (South & West India). If a sponsor bears costs, a notarised sponsorship letter + the sponsor's bank statement (SA statements certified by SA bank and SA police; Indian statements with bank stamp and signature).
- Proof of medical cover with a registered SA medical scheme, renewed annually for the study periodRequired
Plus an undertaking by parents/guardian (for minors) to maintain cover for the full study period.
- Medical report on prescribed form BI-811Required
Issued by a registered medical practitioner on letterhead, not older than 6 months at submission.
- Proof of insurance for the entire study duration or proof it is renewableRequired
Police Clearance, Civil Status & Minors
4 items- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) for applicants 18 and olderRequired
From each country where you resided 12 months or longer since turning 18 (Indian PCC from the Regional Passport Office).
- Marriage certificate / proof of spousal relationship, where applicable
- Divorce decree, court order on parental rights, or death certificate of a parent — where applicable
- For learners under 18: unabridged birth certificate + consent from both parents + guardian details in SA
Proof of physical address and contact of the SA-resident guardian, with a confirmatory letter from that guardian; consent from both parents or the parent/guardian holding a court order.
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
5 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Secure admission
Obtain a provisional acceptance or acceptance letter from a recognised South African learning institution, confirming the course duration.
- 02
Arrange funds, medical cover & PCC
Pay tuition, arrange annually-renewable SA medical-scheme cover, complete the BI-811 medical report, and obtain your Police Clearance Certificate (if 18+).
- 03
Complete Form BI-1738
Fill the study-visa form in BLACK ink and sign it. For minors, a parent signs and the guardian/consent documents are prepared.
- 04
Book a VFS appointment
Book at your jurisdiction's VFS Global South Africa VAC at visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/zaf.
- 05
Submit at VFS
Submit the file and pay the ₹2,342 study-visa fee + VFS logistic fee + ₹160 convenience fee. Processing is a minimum of 90 days.
What works
5 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Start early — study-visa processing takes a minimum of 90 days, far longer than the visitor visa.
- Pay tuition in full and keep the institution's acceptance letter + Registrar's undertaking ready — both are mandatory.
- Arrange SA-registered medical-scheme cover that renews annually; generic travel insurance alone is not sufficient.
- Get your Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the Regional Passport Office well in advance — it is required for applicants 18 and older.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1No provisional acceptance/acceptance letter or missing Registrar's undertaking
- 2Insufficient proof of funds (below the ~₹13,650/month benchmark) or unpaid tuition
- 3Missing or expired BI-811 medical report (older than 6 months), or no registered SA medical-scheme cover
Download official forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens the official VFS Global page for South Africa
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Form BI-1738 (DHA-1738) — Application for a Study Visa / Temporary Residence Visa
Completed in full in BLACK ink and signed by the applicant (a parent signs for minors). Download the current form and the study-visa checklist from the VFS Global South Africa India page.
VFS Global South Africa (India) appointment booking
Book the document-submission appointment at your jurisdiction's VFS South Africa VAC. In some cases a personal appearance at the South African High Commission, New Delhi or the Consulate General, Mumbai may be required.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for South Africa Study Visa (Long Term) is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Free · No obligation · Reply in minutesFrequently asked
Questions, answered straight
The study visa is applied for on Form BI-1738 (DHA-1738), not the visitor Form 11. Unlike the gratis visitor visa, it carries a visa fee of ₹2,342 per applicant, plus the VFS logistic charge (₹2,040 at Delhi/Mumbai, ₹2,301 elsewhere) and a ₹160 convenience fee.
A minimum of 90 days from the date of submission at the VFS centre — significantly longer than the visitor visa. It can take longer at the discretion of the High Commission/Consulate, so apply well ahead of your course start date.
You must show bank-certified statements for the last 3 months demonstrating sufficient means — about ₹13,650 per month of living costs (South & West India guidance) — in addition to proof that your full tuition has been paid to the institution.
Yes. You need a medical report on the prescribed BI-811 form (issued by a registered practitioner, not older than 6 months) and proof of SA medical-scheme cover renewed annually. Applicants aged 18 and older also need a Police Clearance Certificate from every country they lived in for 12 months or more since turning 18.
Still have a question about your case? Ask us directly — we usually reply in 5 minutes.
Before you apply
Two ways to file your South Africa visa.
One quietly burns your fee, your trip and your record. The other gets it right the first time.
Do it yourself
The risky route
- You guess which papers South Africa actually wants — one missing or wrongly-framed document triggers a refusal.
- You copy a cover letter off YouTube or Google — often the exact template embassies already flag as weak.
- You apply during a known peak-rejection window without realising it.
- Embassy & VFS fees are non-refundable — refused means your money, flights and leave are gone.
- One refusal stamp follows you for life — every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.
The gamble
One mistake = fee, flights & record gone
With SureshotVisa
Professionally guided
- A licensed consultant checks your case honestly before you spend a rupee on embassy fees.
- We build your South Africa file the way the embassy approves — documents, cover letter, financials.
- We catch the weak-ties, funding and intent issues behind most Indian refusals — and fix them first.
- We've rescued hundreds of files that were already refused once and got them approved.
- Govt of Punjab licensed (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024) · 1200+ approvals.
Typical result
1200+ approvals · refused files rescued
Why DIY goes wrong
How a self-filed application turns into a refusal.
- 1
You feel ready
A few YouTube videos make the process look simple.
- 2
You file it yourself
You submit a sensitive South Africa visa file on your own.
- 3
One detail misreads
A small framing slip looks like weak ties or unclear intent.
- 4
Refusal
Now every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.
Once you've been refused, you learn the hard way how much the small details mattered. We'd rather you never collect that first stamp.
Trusted by students & parents
We've helped many students & parents get their South Africa visa — the easy way.
From first-time South Africa visa applicants to cases that were refused elsewhere, our licensed team has guided students & parents through South Africa's exact requirements — so the file is approved the first time, without the stress, guesswork or risk of a refusal.
Other South Africa Visa Types
South Africa Tourist Visa (Visitor's Visa — Holiday / Family Visit / Sports)
Visitor's visa for Indian citizens travelling to South Africa for tourism, holidays, visiting family or friends, and sports events — typically up to 90 days. Visa fee is GRATIS for Indians; you pay only the VFS logistic charge. Apply via VFS Global India.
View guideSouth Africa Business Visa (Visitor's Visa — Business Meeting / Conference)
Visitor's visa for Indian professionals visiting South Africa for business meetings, conferences and trade fairs. Visa fee is GRATIS for Indians; you pay only the VFS logistic charge. Apply via VFS Global India.
View guideSouth Africa Work Visa / Permit (Information Only)
Information only — South Africa work visas (General Work, Critical Skills, Intra-Company Transfer, Corporate) are long-term work categories. SureshotVisa does NOT process or provide South Africa work visas or work permits.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global South Africa website and Embassy of South Africa. Last verified 2026-06-09. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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