FAQs   VISA Q 1. I am not a resident of South Africa, but be visiting the country. Can I apply for a visa while I am in South Africa instead in my home country? Ans: Yes, you can. However, you have to pay reference fee of R120/ in addition to the visa fee. It normally takes at least 5 working days to process the visa. Q 2. How do I track my visa application? Ans: Applications which are filed in person or through travel agents can not be tracked on line. However, the visa is normally ready by the date mentioned on the receipt issued by the Consulate. The visa can be thus collected on that date or any day thereafter during 2-4 PM. However, applications which are filed with the Consulate through a courier or postal mail can be tracked online. Go to the Visa/Passport status section on the home page of our website. Log in as General Public Users. You can then track status of your visa using your passport number. The Consulate discourages applicants to make calls to the Consulate to check status of their applications. If the consular officer needs any additional information, you will be contacted on the number indicated on the application. PASSPORT AND OTHER CONSULAR SERVICES Q.1 How long at takes to renew a passport or get an additional booklet? Ans: The passport booklets are now printed in India. Therefore it normally takes one month to render this service. Q2. Is Indian driving license valid in South Africa. Can this be converted into South African license. Ans: The Indian driving license is normally valid in this country, on the basis of a certificate of validity issued by the consulate. For obtaining this certificate, fill in the form titled "Driving License Application Form", along with a copy of your passport and the copy of the original driving license. The certificate is normally issued after one week of filing of the application. Q.3 I need a police clearance certificate which is required for submission to South African Home Department in connection with my work permit/resident permit. Ans: Apply on the passport application form available on the website. It normally takes 10 days to issue the document. Q.4 How do I track the status of my passport application? Ans: Applications which are filed in person or through travel agents can not be tracked on line. However, the passport is normally ready by the date mentioned on the receipt issued by the Consulate. The passport can be thus collected on that date or any day thereafter. However, applications which are filed with the Consulate through a courier or postal mail can be tracked online. Go to the Visa/Passport status section on the main page of our website. Log in as General Public User. You can then track status of your passport using your old passport number. The Consulate discourages applicants to make calls to the Consulate to check status of their applications. If the consular officer needs any additional information, you will be contacted on the number indicated on the application. OCI/PIO cards OCI/PIO Card does not entitle the card holder to undertake any missionary work, mountaineering and research work without prior permission of the Government of India. Any card holder seeking to undertake such activity in India should make a proper application to the Consular Officer. Q (1) What is the longest duration a PIO/OCI card holder can stay in India. Ans. The card holder can stay in India for any length of period in India till the validity of the card. However if the continues period of stay exceeds 180 days, the card holder is required to register with the nearest Foreigners registration Office (FRO). Q2. What is the validity period of the two cards? Ans: The PIO card is valid for 15 years while the OCI card remains valid for the whole life of the card holder. Q 3. What is the difference between OCI/PIO cards? Ans. Except for the period of their validity, both the cards bestow similar benefits to the card holder. Also the fee for OCI card is less than that of PIO card. Q.4. What type of documents would be necessary to obtain OCI/PIO card? Ans. Any document that establishes that the applicant or his/her parents or grand parents were born in India would be required. Documents such as the birth certificate, school or college leaving certificate, property document or the ship document, on which he traveled to South Africa, would be acceptable documents.