South Africa to United Kingdom visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders need a visa to visit the UK. You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa online before you travel; the ETA route is not available to South African nationals. South Africa is on the UK's visa national list (entry #90 in Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor), and GOV.UK's South Africa tourism check result says to apply for a Standard Visitor visa. Ordinary passport holders cannot enter the UK visa-free or use an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA); the ETA eligibility page does not list South Africa and says other nationalities cannot get an ETA. For tourism, visiting family or friends, short business activities, short study or other Standard Visitor purposes, apply online before travel. The 6-month Standard Visitor visa costs £135 from 8 April 2026; long-term 2-year, 5-year and 10-year visitor visas cost £506, £903 and £1,128, but each visit is still limited to 6 months. The process is online: complete the application, pay the fee, then book a visa application centre appointment to prove identity, give fingerprints and a photo, and provide supporting documents. GOV.UK lists Standard Visitor processing outside the UK as 3 weeks, with optional faster-decision services where available. The UK is not in the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 rules and ETIAS do not apply.