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South Africa · Youth mobility

South Africa Exchange Visa — cultural, economic, social or educational programme

9 facts quoted from the official source

A foreigner may participate in an approved exchange programme organised by an organ of state or learning institution with a foreign counterpart.

Income required
—
Means required · no figure published
Can bring
—
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
4
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

4 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Admission or enrolment requirementThe responsible institutions must confirm the programme, the applicant's participation or enrolment, the activities, terms and duration.
  • Financial means and return travelA return ticket or an institutional undertaking covering return or deportation costs is required.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Health insuranceMedical cover with a registered South African medical scheme is required for the exchange period.
  • Passport, travel document and visa classPassport or travel document must remain valid for at least 30 days after the intended visit and have an unused endorsement page.
What rules you out

1 exclusion quoted from the official source.

  • Material restrictions or case-specific conditionsFor prescribed programmes, the participant may have to remain outside South Africa for one year before applying for a different visa.
Also stated by the source
  • Possible Outside South Africa Period YearsFor prescribed programmes, the participant may have to remain outside South Africa for one year before applying for a different visa.
Family

Who you can bring

— Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Validity
2 proven from the official source.
  • Duration and validityThe visa cannot exceed the exchange programme.
  • Valid Beyond Intended Visit DaysPassport or travel document must remain valid for at least 30 days after the intended visit and have an unused endorsement page.
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every South Africa route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to South Africa?
The official source states: A foreigner may participate in an approved exchange programme organised by an organ of state or learning institution with a foreign counterpart.
02How much money do I need?
The official source states: A return ticket or an institutional undertaking covering return or deportation costs is required. It does not publish a fixed amount — no minimum figure is stated.
03Do I need health insurance?
The official source states: Medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme is required for the exchange period.

Every answer is quoted from the official dha.gov.za page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 9 points against the official source; 9 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source dha.gov.zaLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this South Africa government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other youth mobility routes to South Africa

1 other youth mobility route to South Africa.

Exchange Visa — under-25 work placement
Same category, elsewhere

Youth mobility routes in other countries

53 other countries publish at least one youth mobility route. Nearest first.

New Zealand45 youth mobility routes Japan32 youth mobility routes Ireland11 youth mobility routes Netherlands11 youth mobility routes Hungary10 youth mobility routes Portugal10 youth mobility routes

Does this route fit your numbers?

That depends on your income, savings and family — the parts of the story only you know. The free 3-minute check scores your profile against every South Africa route at once, this one included. Then the full South Africa report takes you the rest of the way.

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