sOUTH aFRICA vISITOR viSA FOR mEXICAN PASSPORT HOLDERS

– Government officials and non-Mexican applicants, please refer to Sections 9 and 10 below – Eligible Mexican citizens, who meet the requirements to apply for an electronic visa or new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), please refer to Section 11 below

– Visas are Free of Charge (GRATIS) only for Mexican Passport Holders

– Citizens of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, please refer to Section 9 and 9.1 below

  1. Purpose, Validity and Processing Times

1.1 What the Visitor Visa Allows

  • Tourism, Business meetings, Conferences and events, Transit through South Africa
  • Not valid for study, volunteering, or stays longer than 90 days.

1.2 Validity

  • A Visitor Visa may be issued up to 3 months before travel.
  • Valid only for the dates and accommodation proof provided (not necessarily prepaid).

1.3 Processing Time

  • 10 working days (2 weeks)
    • Week 1: Background verification
    • Week 2: Visa issuance and attachment
      Applicants who cannot wait two weeks should adjust their travel dates.

 

  1. Key Announcements

2.1 End-of-Year Processing (2025)

  • Last day to submit visa applications: Thursday, 4 December 2025
  • Last day for visa collection: Tuesday, 23 December 2025
  • Processing for 2026 resumes: 5 January 2026 (same days and hours)

 

  1. How to Apply for a Visitor Visa

3.1 Visa Submission Hours (WITHOUT APPOINTMENT)

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – 09:00 to 12:00
  • No exceptions.

3.2 In Person (WITHOUT APPOINTMENT)

  • Applications are received only on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday – 09:00 to 12:00.
  • A representative (family member, colleague, messenger) may submit on your behalf.
  • A receipt indicating the visa collection date will be issued at submission and must be presented when collecting the passport and visa.

3.3 By Courier (Applicants outside Mexico City)

Send your complete application, including passport, supporting documents, and a prepaid return label, to:

Embassy of South Africa in Mexico
VISAS / CONSULAR
Andrés Bello No. 10, 9th Floor, Edificio FORUM
Polanco IV Sección, 11560, Mexico City

 

  1. Language and Required Translations
  • Any document not issued in English must be submitted together with an English translation.
  • Automatic/computer-generated translations are acceptable for most documents (e.g., letters of invitation, letters of financial support, bank statements, etc.).
  • For bank statements, only the first page of each of the three monthly statements must be translated.

Documents that must not be automatically translated:

These require a certified/sworn translator:

  • Marriage certificates
  • Birth certificates

 

  1. Checking Your Visa

When collecting your passport and visa:

  • Confirm that names and initials appear in the South African format.
  • Verify that all details are accurate.

Any discrepancies must be reported immediately to the Visa Section (contacts listed below).

 

  1. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

(For a complete description of all requirements, please refer to bilingual PDF: Requisitos Visa de Visitante RSA)

 

6.1 Do I need an appointment to submit my visa application?

No. Visa applications are received without appointment on:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday — 09:00 to 12:00
    Applications by courier are accepted from outside Mexico City.

 

6.2 Can someone else submit my application?

Yes. A representative—such as a family member, colleague, or messenger—may submit your documents on your behalf.
A receipt with the visa collection date will be issued at the time of submission and must be presented when collecting your passport and visa.

 

6.4 How much money do I need to show for financial solvency?

You must demonstrate:

  • MXN 20,000 or USD 1,100 available each month for the last three months, as final balance or as available credit.
  • For each applicant and each dependent.

Solvency must appear in each statement, not as averages.

Accepted accounts:

  • Debit
  • Savings
  • Credit card (VISA/MasterCard only; American Express is not accepted)

 

6.5 Do my bank statements need to be translated?

Yes, but ONLY the first page of each of the three monthly statements must be translated.
AI-generated translations are acceptable.
Please highlight the name of the account holder and available balance on both the original and the translation.

 

6.6 What documents do dependants need?

Minors

  • Birth certificate (sworn translation required)
  • Parental authorisation (if travelling with one parent or relatives), also sworn translated
  • School letter on official letterhead + simple English translation

Spouses travelling together

  • Marriage certificate (sworn translation required)

Sponsor letter

A single sponsor letter may list multiple dependants; a copy must be attached to each individual application.

Applicants may only sponsor their parents, minor children, and spouses. Financial sponsorship is not permitted for fiancés or unmarried partners.

 

6.7 What are the passport requirements?

  • Original passport, 4 blank pages (single entry) or 6 blank pages (multiple entry) plus one photocopy of the passport

 

6.8 What documents do I need if staying with a private host?

  1. Letter of invitation
  2. Certified copy of the host’s South African ID (certified by local police)
  3. Municipal service bill showing the host’s name and address

 

6.9 When do I need a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate?

Only if, within the past 3 months, you:

  • Visited Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania, or any other Yellow Fever belt country, or
  • Transit through these countries en route to South Africa

Not required for travellers arriving via the USA, Europe, Dubai, or non-endemic regions.

 

6.10 Where can I find the full list of required documents?

See full list of requirements and descriptions in the PDF: Requisitos Visa de Visitante RSA

IMPORTANT NOTICE for Visa Applicants:
All applicants are respectfully invited to carefully review the complete description of the requirements and their definitions, as it contains essential information that must not be overlooked when preparing your application. Among the points that require special attention are the following:

  • The DHA-84 form must be completed by hand and in black ink.
    • All documents must be submitted in photocopy form, except for the original passport, which is indispensable.
    • Do not send photographs of passports or other requirements by email to any address, as visas are not processed by email.
    • The financial responsibility letter must include an official identification of the sponsor. There are specific financial amounts when visas are requested for multiple dependants.
    • Only the following may be considered dependants: spouses, parents, and minor or student children; boyfriends/girlfriends, domestic partners, and adult children of working age do not qualify.
    • School letters must confirm the student’s status.
    • Each applicant must submit a complete and individual file.
    • It is essential to submit all documentation in full to avoid delays or returns.

All this information, along with details on translations, financial solvency, accommodation documents, processing times, applicable costs, and courier procedures, is explained in the full requirements section.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to verify all requirements carefully before submitting their application.

 

  1. Sending Documents & Communication Protocols for Official and Government events in South Africa and visas for relatives of South African Citizens:

7.1 Official Visa Section Contacts (Only Valid Contacts)

For visa matters, communicate only in English with:

  • Ms Lusanda Dube – dubel@dirco.gov.za – Tel: +52 55 1100 4974
  • Ms Veronica Choma – chomav@dirco.gov.za – Tel: +52 55 1100 4975
  • Mr Eduardo Navas – navase@dirco.gov.za – Tel: +52 55 1100 4970 (Spanish, 13:30–16:00)

For visa-related matters, do not copy other Embassy staff found online.

 

8.2 For South African Citizens (Only) +52 55 9197 6002- Emergency Consular matters

This is a consular emergency line available on call and WhatsApp: all visa related issues   must be directed to:

  • Ms Lusanda Dube – dubel@dirco.gov.za – Tel: +52 55 1100 4974
  • Ms Veronica Choma – chomav@dirco.gov.za – Tel: +52 55 1100 4975
  • Mr Eduardo Navas – navase@dirco.gov.za – Tel: +52 55 1100 4970 (Spanish, 13:30–16:00)

 

  1. Information for Non-Mexican Applicants (Countries of Accreditation)

This section applies to citizens of Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, as well as foreign nationals who hold permanent residency in Mexico or in any of these accredited countries. Applicants must review this section carefully, as requirements and fees differ from those applicable to Mexican passport holders.

 

9.1 Visa Fees

The Visitor Visa fee is USD 47, with an additional approximate USD 20 banking commission for international transfers made from outside Mexico.

As an alternative, applicants may pay MXN 570 via an interbank transfer from any Mexican bank, without commission, ensuring that the payment reference includes the applicant’s full name, either entered manually or automatically by the bank.

Banking information is provided in the attached documents:

  • HSBC Banking Details (US Dollars)        
  • HSBC Banking Details (Mexican Pesos) 

 

For DHL prepaid return labels, the Embassy’s RFC is:ESU9402013I0
(read as: 3 – i – zero)

9.2 Applicability of Requirements

All general rules described in the previous sections—translations, financial requirements, processing timelines, accommodation documents, and the Embassy’s address—also apply to non-Mexican passport holders.

9.3 Countries of Accreditation

The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Mexico City is the only authority authorised to process visa applications for citizens of:

  • Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama

Honorary Consulates in these countries do not process visas or passports.

9.4 Eligibility for Foreign Passport Holders

Foreign nationals may apply for a South African Visitor Visa at this Embassy only if they can present a valid permanent residency card from:

  • Mexico, or
  • Any of the accredited Central American countries listed above.

Applicants who are visiting Mexico or who hold temporary residency without a valid, verifiable permanent residence card are not eligible to apply for a visa in Mexico.
They must submit their application:

  • In their country of nationality, or
  • In the country where they hold permanent residency.
  1. Visa Exemptions for Holders of Official Passports

The following non-ordinary passport categories are exempt from obtaining a South African Visitor Visa:

  • Diplomatic passports
  • Official / Government passports
  • United Nations (UN) passports
  • Service passports

Source: South African Department of Home Affairs – Official Visa Exemptions List: https://www.dirco.gov.za/paris/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/COUNTRIES-EXEMPT-FROM-VISAS.pdf

  1. Important Notice for Mexican Citizens: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital permit that allows eligible Mexican travellers to visit South Africa for tourism or short-term purposes without obtaining a traditional Visitor’s Visa. The ETA is electronically linked to the applicant’s passport and allows multiple entries during its validity period.
It does not permit work in South Africa, nor repeated or extended stays for purposes other than tourism or short visits.

 

Who Can Apply for an ETA? (Mexican Citizens Only)

Mexican citizens holding a valid ordinary passport may apply for an ETA only if their arrival in South Africa will take place through one of the following international airports:

  • O. R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg)
  • Cape Town International Airport
  • Lanseria International Airport

 

Who CANNOT Apply for an ETA?

The following travellers are not eligible to apply for an ETA and must obtain a traditional Visitor’s Visa:

  • Non-Mexican citizens
  • Mexican citizens arriving by cruise ship
  • Mexican citizens entering South Africa by land from neighbouring countries
  • Any applicant whose point of entry is not one of the authorised airports listed above

How to Apply for an ETA

Eligible Mexican citizens may apply online through the official South African Department of Home Affairs ETA portal:

👉 https://eta.dha.gov.za/

Important:

  • You must create an account before starting your application.
  • If you already have an account, you may log in and proceed with your submission.

⚠️ Important Warning:


Applicants who choose to apply online through this portal will NOT be allowed by the system to apply again for a traditional visa at the South African Embassy in Mexico City. Duplicate applications will be automatically blocked.