Visiting South Africa twice for 90 days while I wait for my study permit?
I am a student in South Africa but I am not from there, in fact, I am from The Netherlands. I would like to know if I can get a visitor's visa twice for 90 days, having the first one expired I want to know if I can just enter the country again without applying for another one which takes a long time. I have been waiting for my study permit for ages and can't just be out of the country without attending classes.
Best Answer
I can't seem to find anything that says you can't, and it would be highly unusual if you couldn't. The exemption you get as a Dutch citizen allows you to enter SA without a visa as you know, though the rules of your stay seem to be the same as if you got a 90 day visitors permit under section 31(3)(b)[Accredited in SA] - (for the record, I can't actually seem to find the text of this section anywhere). Thus, you should have no issues simply leaving the country (most countries require you leave for at least 24 hours) and then returning to get a new visa.
To double check I think your best bet is to either call the Dutch embassy in SA, or the SA embassy in The Netherlands. Either should be able to give you a solid answer.
Please also note, that while you might legally be allowed to re-enter for another 90 days, an SA immigration officer could well question you about your past entry and why you are entering again so soon. Your visa exemption is also valid for most business purposed though, so you'll probably be alright.
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Can I re enter South Africa after 90 days?
Note: If your visit would exceed ninety days or if you want to travel to South Africa to study or to work, you will need to apply for a temporary residence visa instead of a visitor's visa. Requirements for a temporary residence visa are not the same with visitor's visa.How many times can you visit South Africa in a year?
A foreign national is only allowed in to South Africa as a tourist for a total of 180 days in any one year period.How long does a study permit take to process in South Africa?
The processing time for a study visa application submitted in South Africa is between 4 and 8 weeks.What is the penalty for overstaying in South Africa?
If the overstayed duration is Less than 30 days, then a person will ban for 12 months. If the overstayed duration is more than 30 days, then a person will face the penalty ban, not less than 5 years.Can I Apply for a Visa if I Was Refused Before?
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