South Africa
Visa Information
Cape Town International Convention Centre
Convention Square, 1 Lower Long St, Cape Town City Centre
Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Visa Invitation Letter
Please use the fillable 2026 ISMRM & ISMRT Annual Meeting invitation letter PDF below to assist with attaining a visa to travel to Cape Town, South Africa. Fill out the blank fields using information listed on your passport.
Make sure all the fillable fields listed below are completed so that the invitation letter remains valid:
- Date
- Full name as listed on passport and credentials (if applicable)
- Name of institution
- Address
- Passport number
- Country of issuance
- Expiration date of passport
Once completed, bring a copy of the letter with you along with your passport and visa application confirmation to your interview appointment at your local South African Embassy or Consulate.
PLEASE NOTE: ISMRM & ISMRT do not have any influence over the visa application process and cannot contact the embassy or government agency on your behalf.
Most countries will not require a visa for a short-term stay (90 days or less, depending on the country) in South Africa. Attendees can view the list of countries exempt from visa requirements in South Africa on the Republic of South Africa Home Affairs website. If an attendee’s country is not listed, then they must apply for a visa to visit Cape Town. Some countries listed are exempt from paying a visa fee. Attendees are encouraged to refer to the list in the web link to see if their country is exempt.
All attendees are advised that if they are the holder of a national passport of a country whose passport holders are exempt from visa requirements, but their individual visa exemption has been officially withdrawn, a port-of-entry visa application must be submitted through the South African Embassy / High Commission / Consulate General in their country of origin or of long-term residence.
Requirements To Visit South Africa
- 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.
Applying for a Visa
eVisas
See the eVisas column for more information.
Visa Processing Times & Fees
eVisas usually take 5-10 business days for processing. The standard visa processing time can take from 6-12 weeks. It’s highly advisable to submit applications as early as 3 months to allow for longer than normal processing times should unexpected events occur.
Checking Status of Visa Application
If an eVisa was application was submitted, status updates can be viewed on the South Africa e-Visa online Portal.
Arriving in South Africa
As of March 2025, all attendees need to complete a traveler declaration form prior to arriving in South Africa. The declaration form can be completed and submitted online on the South Africa Revenue Service website here.
Information about declarations, such as prohibited/restricted goods, duty-free allowances, etc. can be viewed here.