Visa Guide · 🇿🇦 South Africa
South Africa Medical (Only Private Hospitals/Clinics) Visa from Bangladesh
Short Term Visitor’s Visa for medical treatment at private hospitals, clinics, or medical practitioners in South Africa.
Last Updated: 30 August 2026
Document Checklist
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- DHA-84 Visa Application Form: Fully completed Form 11 (DHA-84) in black ink and block letters, signed by the applicant with a signature matching the passport.
- Cover Letter: Applicant’s signed letter explaining the medical purpose, intended treatment and travel dates, private medical facility/practitioner details, accommodation and funding arrangements. It should clearly state who will bear the medical and travel expenses and include the applicant’s physical address and contact details.
- Private Medical Appointment / Treatment Confirmation: Confirmation from the South African private medical institution or practitioner showing the medical appointment or planned treatment. The letter should include the facility or practitioner’s physical/street address and contact details, together with the authorised name, designation and signature.
- Proof of Occupation: 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.
- Medical Expense Responsibility / Funding Confirmation: Supporting evidence should identify the person or institution responsible for the applicant’s medical, travel and day-to-day expenses. Where a sponsor, employer, insurer or another party is paying, the relevant letter should clearly state the costs it will cover.
- Personal Bank Statements & Solvency Certificate: Original bank statements (personal and/or salary account) for the last 6 months, issued by the bank and showing the bank name and contact details. Statements must be stamped and signed by an authorized bank officer (e-statements not accepted), and accompanied by a bank solvency/financial standing certificate where required.
- Sponsor / Company / South African Funding Evidence (where applicable): If another person or company bears the expenses, provide the relevant bank evidence and a supporting letter confirming responsibility. Where South African bank statements are relied upon, they should be stamped/certified by the South African bank and the South African Police Service.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Proof of Legal Residence in Bangladesh (where applicable): Applicants who are not Bangladeshi nationals should provide evidence of lawful residence in Bangladesh.
- 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
Confirm the Short-Term Medical Category
Check that the purpose is planned medical treatment at a private hospital, clinic, or practitioner in South Africa for less than three months. If treatment is expected to extend beyond this period, review the long-term Medical Treatment Visa instead.
Step 2
Secure the Private Medical Appointment
Obtain written confirmation from the South African private medical institution or practitioner. The document should clearly identify the treatment appointment and include the facility or doctor’s physical address, contact details, and authorised name, designation and signature.
Step 3
Complete DHA-84 Carefully
Complete Form 11 (DHA-84) in black ink and block letters, then check that the medical purpose, intended dates, treatment location, funding and return arrangements remain consistent throughout the application.
Step 4
Prepare Supporting & Submission Evidence
Arrange the medical confirmation, financial and funding evidence, passport, travel records, and any other applicable supporting documents for VFS New Delhi submission
Step 5
Prepare for VFS New Delhi Submission
Bangladeshi applicants must submit their South Africa visa applications through VFS Global New Delhi, under the jurisdiction of the South African High Commission in New Delhi.
Step 6
Lodge the Application & Pay the Fees
Submit the complete Short Term Medical Visa file through VFS Global New Delhi and pay the applicable visa and VFS charges through the current VFS process. Keep the submission receipt and reference safely.
Step 7
Track the Decision & Recheck Travel Details
Follow available VFS updates after submission. Once the passport is returned, verify the visa validity, entries and permitted stay against the treatment and travel plan before departure.
Common Rejection Pitfalls
The medical appointment evidence is too vague
How UnivEase helps
We help clarify the treatment confirmation and supporting details needed to show a genuine appointment with a private South African medical institution or practitioner.
The treatment period does not fit the short-term category
How UnivEase helps
We help distinguish treatment of less than three months from cases that may require the separate long-term Medical Treatment Visa.
Medical and travel funding is not clearly demonstrated
How UnivEase helps
We explain how the applicant, sponsor, employer, insurer, or other responsible party should be reflected consistently across financial records and supporting letters.
Treatment dates, travel plans and supporting documents conflict
How UnivEase helps
We provide checklist-based guidance to align DHA-84, the medical appointment, return travel, funding and other supporting records before New Delhi submission.
VFS & Embassy
Visa Application Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare your South Africa Medical (Only Private Hospitals/Clinics) Visa application around a clear treatment plan.
Get clear guidance on DHA-84, private medical appointment evidence, funding documents, fees, VFS New Delhi submission and passport-return steps before you apply.
