There are no visas issued at South African ports of entry and airline officials are obliged to insist on visas before allowing passengers to board. Immigration officials will not hesitate to send travellers without valid visas to their home countries. Visa fees may be different for different nationalities or depending on where the visa is issued from.

Any traveller wishing to travel to South Africa must ensure he/she has a valid and acceptable passport or travel document for your intended stay, at least one blank page in your passport for endorsements, a valid visa if required, sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses during your stay, a return or onward ticket, yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

The required documents when applying for a visa include; a passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of your intended visit, your passport must have at least TWO unused page for entry / departure endorsements, a completed Form BI-84 (application for a visa), payment of the prescribed fee, a yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required), statement and/or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit, two color passport photographs, a return or onward ticket if you are travelling by air, if you have children (minors) travelling with you or joining in South Africa, you will need to provide the following additional documents, proof of guardianship or custody or, consent from the guardian in the case of an unaccompanied minor, proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa in the form of: bank statements, salary advances, undertakings by the host(s) in South Africa, bursary, medical cover or, cash available (including credit cards and travelers’ cheques)

Visitor's visas are for International travellers having permanent residence outside South Africa and wishing to visit the Republic temporarily for either tourism or business purposes for 90 days or less. Here are the visa-exempt countries in South Africa http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries

Certain goods are not permitted to enter South Africa and for others on which duties need to be paid, please check http://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/Travellers/Pages/Arrival-in-SA.aspx and http://www.daff.gov.za/daffweb3/Services/Imports.