The Republic of Eswatini is located in the east of South Africa. Tourists from all over the world visit the beautiful country of Eswatini each year. They get to see the beautiful and unique places of Eswatini from up close. One thing unique about Eswatini is that the country is a lockdown country known for being the only absolute monarchy country left in Africa and one of the few left in the world.
If you, too, want to visit the Republic of Eswatini, read the article below; here, you will find everything you need to know regarding the Eswatini visa policy.
Who Needs a Visa for Eswatini?
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter and stay in Eswatini for 30 days:
- EU countries*
- Kuwait
- Sierra Leone
- Andorra
- Lesotho
- Singapore
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Madagascar
- Solomon Islands
- Argentina
- Malawi
- South Africa
- Australia
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- Bahamas
- Maldives
- Switzerland
- Barbados
- Mauritius
- Taiwan
- Belize
- Monaco
- Tanzania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- Tonga
- Botswana
- Mozambique
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Brazil
- Namibia
- Turkey
- Brunei
- Nauru
- Tuvalu
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Uganda
- Chile
- Norway
- Ukraine
- Dominica
- Palestine
- United Arab Emirates
- Timor-Leste
- Papua New Guinea
- United Kingdom
- Gambia
- Qatar
- United States
- Ghana
- Russia
- Uruguay
- Grenada
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Vanuatu
- Guyana
- Saint Lucia
- Vatican City
- Israel
- Samoa
- Zambia
- Jamaica
- San Marino
- Zimbabwe
- Japan
- Serbia
- Kenya
- Seychelles
*All EU countries except for Bulgaria and Romania.
How to Apply for an Eswatini Visa
Applicants who want to apply for an Eswatini visa must send their application directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters or at the Eswatini embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country. However, the applicant must submit all the required documents and fill out the application form with sincere and correct personal information.
Remember: Any missing, incomplete, or incorrect information can lead to Eswatini’s visa being denied.
Eswatini Visa Requirements
Applicants who wish to apply for an Eswatini visa must submit the following documents:
- A passport with at least two blank pages; the passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of return.
- A fully completed and signed Eswatini visa application form.
- A fee payment receipt (if applicable).
- Passport photos. Two photos in compliance with Eswatini visa photo requirements.
- A signed travel itinerary.
- A bank statement document proving that you are financially stable and can financially support yourself while in Eswatini.
- A return or ongoing flight ticket.
Note: The Ministry of Home Affairs may request other documents to support your visa application, depending on your visa type.
Processing Time for an Eswatini Visa
The processing time for an Eswatini visa is between one to five business days. The processing time can sometimes be longer since the application form must be sent to the Royal Eswatini Police Service for vetting. After the Police Service, the application is taken to the Chief Immigration Officer for approval.
Duration of an Eswatini Visa
The duration of an Eswatini visa is one to three months. However, keep in mind that applicants who want to enter Eswatini for study or work must apply for a Temporary Eswatini Permit instead of an entry visa. The temporary residence permit will allow applicants to stay longer than three months in the country.
Eswatini Visa Fees
Here are the visa fees you need to pay depending on the type of Eswatini visa you apply for:
| Visa Types | Duration | Fee Amount |
| Single entry | Three months | $83 |
| Multiple entries | Three months | $112 |
| Multiple entries | Six months | $168 |
| Multiple entries | Nine months | $251 |
| Multiple entries | One year | $335 |
| Penalty | N/A | |
| Overstay | $56 |
Eswatini Visa Types
There are different types of Eswatini visa types the applicants can apply for depending on the purpose and the duration of their stay. Applicants can apply for tourist, transit, family reunification, and business visa. Each of these categories has its specific requirements, so applicants must contact the Embassy or consulate of Eswatini in their home country and ask them about their visa type requirements.
Eswatini Residence Permit
A residence permit is issued to applicants who want to stay longer than three months in Eswatini. Applicants who intend to enter the country for study, work, or investment purposes must apply for an Eswatini temporary residence permit. To apply for an Eswatini temporary residence permit, applicants must submit their residence permit application at the Chief Immigration Office in Eswatini.
Here are all the residence permits the applicant can apply for and their requirements:
Business
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- A completed application form (Form 3).
- A memorandum of association.
- A passport-sized photo.
- A cover letter.
- A criminal record from the applicant’s home country authorities.
- A lease agreement.
- A medical certificate.
- A Certificate of Incorporation.
Employees
Here are the document that employees must submit:
- A completed application form (Form 3).
- A passport-size photograph.
- A cover letter.
- A medical certificate.
- A passport copy.
- A qualification certificate.
- A criminal record from the applicant’s home country authorities.
- A proof of advert of the post.
Special pass
Applicants who want to apply for a special pass must submit the following documents:
- A completed application form (Form 6).
- A copy of their recent appeal.
- An application letter
- A passport-sized photograph.
- A copy of their passport.
Dependants
Applicants who want to apply for family reunification (dependants) must submit the following documents:
- A completed application form (Form 6).
- A copy of the dependant’s residence status.
- A cover letter.
- A criminal record from the applicant’s home country authorities.
- A medical certificate.
- A passport copy.
- A pin if a guardian is a resident of Eswatini.
Students
Applicants who want to enter Eswatini for study purposes must submit the following documents:
- A completed application form (Form 8).
- A passport-sized photograph.
- A letter of acceptance from a University in Eswatini.
- A support letter from the Ministry of Education.
- A criminal record from the applicant’s home country authorities.
- A medical certificate.
- A passport copy.
- A documented proof of the host residence status.
Interesting Facts About Eswatini?
Here are a few interesting facts about the Republic of Eswatini:
- The Republic of Eswatini is one of the last African countries in an absolute monarchy.
- One of the second largest rocks was found in Eswatini on the outskirts of Mbabane.
- The oldest mine in the world is located in Eswatini. The mine is called ‘Ngwenya Mine.’
- The Republic of Eswatini has two capital cities. Mbabane is the administrative capital, and Lobamba is the traditional capital.
- The oldest mountains in the world are located in Eswatini. The mountains are over 3.6 billion years old.
- Some of the most known festivals are created in Eswatini, including the BBC’s Top African Festival and the MTN bushfire fest.
- The Republic of Eswatini was once called Swaziland.
- The country does not have any access to the sea.
- The people in Eswatini eat meat only on special occasions.
- The karoo roast ostrich steak is one of the most famous dishes in Eswatini.