Visa FAQ’s

Frequently asked questions

Most frequent questions and answers

How long will my study visa be valid for?

Study permits are only valid for the duration of the course for which your university has issued you with. For example, applying for a study visa to do your BA will give you a three year visa. If you then re-apply for a study visa to do your honours year, it will only be valid for that year. If your passport is close to expiring they will only issue you with a visa until the date of expiration of your passport.

Can I apply for a renewal of my study visa through Rhodes?

VFS Mobile visits Rhodes University every year for renewals. They require documents to be submitted in person. You can pay them there too and it is usually less expensive than at their offices. Because their nearest office is in Port Elizabeth you will save on transport costs. Send an email to the Rhodes international office (internationaloffice@ru.ac.za) to find out when Mobile VFS visits the campus.

Do I need a Police Clearance certificate (PCC)

Students are no longer required to apply for a paper copy of a South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in advance of the application submission at the center (in fact these are no longer accepted for in-country renewals) but you still need a document PCC when applying for a new visa outside South Africa

Who decides if I get a visa or not?

The Department of Home Affairs does. VFS is not involved in the decision-making process and cannot influence the outcome of your visa application. It only facilitates the process. The Department of Home Affairs will make the decision on your application after assessing your application form and supporting documents.

How do I track my study visa application?

For an extra R25.00 you can receive SMS tracking, otherwise you can just go online and track it for free. The tracker is super useful and very efficient so you will know exactly where in the process your application is. 

Can I register for university without a study visa?

Students are allowed to register without a study visa provided that they have a receipt that shows they have applied for one within South Africa. This is not the case, even if you have a receipt, if the application was done outside South Africa.

What if I am missing a document when I get to my appoinment?

If a VFS official tells you that you are missing a document, they have been known to allow you to seek out the document and come back before the end of the day so you don’t lose your appointment. The laws and regulations change all the time, and the VFS website isn’t always updated, so unfortunately you might only find out that you need a certain document ON THAT DAY.