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Every country has the sovereign right to decide who may or may not enter its territory. Possession of a visa does not guarantee automatic admission to the Republic. It only authorizes the holder to proceed to the Republic to report to an immigration officer at a port of entry for the purpose of being examined as to his/her ability or otherwise, to comply with the (entry) requirements of the Act.

The purpose of a visa on the one hand is to ensure proper screening of applicants so that undesirable persons are not admitted to the Republic and on the other hand to facilitate the entry of approved applicants at South African ports of entry. Visas provide immigration officers with the necessary information to ensure that applicants are admitted for the correct purpose and period into the RSA.

Any queries relating to visas are handled by the South African missions or representative office in your country or the nearest one situated to you. Visas are considered by the South African missions abroad and must be affixed in the applicants' passports before departing to the RSA. Visas are not issued on arrival at South African ports of entry. Applicants arriving without visas will be refused entry into the RSA and placed on return flights in terms of legislation.

FINNISH PASSPORT HOLDERS are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic of South Africa for transits, bona fide holiday and business visits (if the duration of the visit is less than 90 days). A return ticket is needed.

LATVIAN PASSPORT HOLDERS should send their visa applications to the following address: South African Embassy, Linnégatan 76, 11523 Stockholm, Sweden, tel: +468243950, fax: +4686607136, www.southafricanemb.se, e-mail: saemb.swe@telia.com

LITHUANIAN PASSPORT HOLDERS should send their visa applications to the following address: South African Embassy, Gammel Vartov Vej 8, DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark, tel: +4539180155, fax: +4539184006, www.southafrica.dk, e-mail: sa.embassy@southafrica.dk

ESTONIAN PASSPORT HOLDERS do need visas when visiting the Republic of South Africa. Visas can be applied for at this Embassy.

BANK ACCOUNT
As of March 2010, the Embassy has a separate bank account for Consular and Visa matters. The details of the account number for transferring and paying of funds is as follows:

South African Embassy/DHA
Nordea Bank
Helsinki, Finland
Account number: 182030-25809
IBAN CODE: FI41 1820 3000 0258 09