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    Visa Guide · 🇿🇦 South Africa

    South Africa Dependant Visa from Bangladesh

    Long Term Visitor’s Visa for spouses and dependant children accompanying or joining an eligible foreign visa holder in South Africa.

    Last Updated: 30 August 2026

    The South Africa Dependant Visa is a South Africa visitor-visa category for the spouse and dependent minor children of a foreign national who holds an eligible South African visa and needs family members to accompany or join them in South Africa. The application is based on the principal visa holder’s lawful status, the family relationship, and clear evidence of financial support for the dependant.

    For New Delhi applications, VFS currently lists Form DHA-1738 for this category. Bangladeshi nationals and eligible residents submit through VFS Global New Delhi under the South African High Commission. The requested family stay should remain consistent with the principal visa holder’s valid status; visa validity, entries and conditions are decided by the South African authorities. 

    Document Checklist

    1. Passport (Original): Original passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure from South Africa, with at least two unused/blank visa pages. Submit the current passport together with the required copies.
    2. Previous Passport(s) & Travel History: Full clear copies of previous passports, including relevant visa and immigration pages, where available. Travel history should be disclosed consistently with the application and supporting records.
    3. Photograph (South Africa Visa Format): Provide 2 recent colour passport photographs, 35mm x 45mm, taken within the last 30 days against a plain white background and meeting the current South Africa VFS photo specifications.
    4. DHA-1738 Visa Application Form: Fully completed Form DHA-1738 in black ink and block letters for the New Delhi Dependant Visa application, signed by the applicant or by the parent where applicable, with details consistent across the supporting documents.
    5. Cover Letter: Applicant’s signed letter explaining the dependant purpose, relationship to the principal visa holder, intended stay, accommodation and funding arrangements. It should clearly state who will bear the expenses and include the applicant’s address and contact details.
    6. Principal Visa Holder’s Passport & Valid South African Visa: Copies of the principal family member’s passport and valid South African visa, together with clear evidence showing that the dependant is accompanying or joining that visa holder. Copies should be attested by commissioner of OATHS or South African Police.
    7. Marriage / Birth Relationship Evidence: For a spouse, provide the marriage certificate or other officially recognised relationship evidence where applicable. For a dependant child, provide the full or unabridged birth certificate or equivalent document establishing parentage.
    8. Financial Responsibility & Bank Evidence: Provide the principal visa holder’s or sponsor’s written undertaking of financial responsibility together with the last 6 months of bank evidence. South African bank statements should be attested by South African bank and South African Police Service.
    9. Proof of Occupation / Study: Documents confirming current professional, study, family, business, or property ties to the country of residence. For employed applicants, this commonly includes 3 recent payslips and an employer letter confirming leave and return to work.
    10. Police Clearance Certificate: Applicants aged 18 or over should provide police clearance certificates for the countries required under the current Relative Visa requirements, including countries where the applicant has resided for 12 months or longer since turning 18.
    11. Medical & Radiological Reports: Submit the prescribed medical report and the required radiological report in original. The medical report should reflect the applicant’s general state of health and meet the current validity requirements.
    12. Flight Reservation: Valid flight ticket or provisional reservation showing the intended travel dates and consistent with the application. Applicants should avoid purchasing non-refundable travel tickets before a visa decision.
    13. Hotel Reservation / Accommodation Booking: Hotel booking or other accommodation evidence covering the intended stay, showing the relevant address and dates and remaining consistent with the invitation and travel plan.
    14. Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate (where applicable): Required if the applicant will travel through or stay in a yellow-fever-risk area before entering South Africa. Check the current South African yellow fever policy against the planned itinerary.
    15. Proof of Legal Residence in Bangladesh (where applicable): Applicants who are not Bangladeshi nationals should provide evidence of lawful residence in Bangladesh.
    16. Minor Applicant Documents (where applicable): For applicants under 18, provide the required birth, parental consent form, parent/legal guardian identification, custody or guardianship documents, and other supporting records required under the current minor-travel rules. 

    Process Roadmap

    Step 1

    Establish the Family Basis

    Confirm that the applicant is the spouse or eligible dependant child of a foreign national who already holds the South African visa on which the family stay will be based.

    Step 2

    Complete DHA-1738 for the Dependant

    Prepare the New Delhi DHA-1738 carefully and keep the personal details, relationship, intended stay and South African address consistent with the principal visa holder’s records.

    Step 3

    Prove the Relationship Clearly

    Arrange the marriage, birth, parental-responsibility, custody or other civil-status evidence needed to show the family relationship without gaps or conflicting details.

    Step 4

    Align Support, Funds & Dependant Documents

    Prepare the principal visa copy, financial undertaking, bank and accommodation evidence, together with the applicable police clearance or child-specific birth, consent, custody and guardianship documents.

    Step 5

    Prepare for New Delhi Submission

    Bangladeshi applicants must submit through VFS Global New Delhi under the jurisdiction of the South African High Commission in New Delhi.

    Step 6

    Lodge the Family Application in New Delhi

    A prior VFS appointment is currently not required. Submit the complete Dependant Visa file at VFS New Delhi and pay the applicable visa and VFS charges.

    Step 7

    Track the Decision & Check the Conditions

    Follow available VFS updates and, after passport return, review the approved validity, entries and conditions alongside the principal visa holder’s status before travel.

    Common Rejection Pitfalls

    The dependant is not clearly linked to the principal visa holder

    How UnivEase helps

    We help identify the principal passport, valid visa and support records needed to establish the family-based application clearly.

    Skills evidence is incomplete

    How UnivEase helps

    We help align marriage, birth, consent and civil-status evidence so the family relationship is documented consistently.

    Financial responsibility is unclear

    How UnivEase helps

    We help organise the sponsor undertaking and bank evidence so the source of the dependant’s support is easy to verify.

    Minor-child or adult compliance documents are missing

    How UnivEase helps

    We provide checklist-based guidance on parental consent, custody, police clearance, translations and other age-specific New Delhi requirements.

    VFS & Embassy

    Embassy

    South African High Commission, New Delhi
    Address: B-18 Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057, India.
    Telephone: +91-11-2614 9411-14
    Immigration Queries: Infoza.india@vfshelpline.com
    Website: Click Here
    Working Hours: Monday to Thursday, 08:30-17:00; Friday, 08:30-14:15.
    Consular & Immigration Section: Monday to Friday, 08:30-12:30. 

    Visa Application Centre

    South Africa Visa Application Centre, New Delhi
    Address: Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mezzanine Level, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001, India.
    Helpline: 02267866066 (Monday to Friday, 08:00-17:00)
    Website: Click Here
    Submission Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00-16:00. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Plan your South Africa Dependant Visa around a clear and credible travel file.

    Get clear guidance on principal visa evidence, relationship documents, financial responsibility, dependant-child records, fees, VFS New Delhi submission and passport-return steps before you apply.

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