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  1. US Visa Statistics
  2. South Africa
  3. F-1

Official US State Department data

F-1 visa statistics for South Africa

How many F-1 visas nationals of South Africa are issued, and what each US consulate in South Africa issues, month by month.

Data through February 2026

F-1 visas issued to nationals of South Africa

Every F-1 visa issued to a national of South Africa, at any US consulate in the world.

Visas issued to nationals of South Africa, last 12 months

Mar 2025 – Feb 2026

1,0591,059

Down 21%vs 1,348 in the 12 months before

Down 21% on the previous 12 months.

Monthly average
88
Busiest month
209
Jul 2025
Latest month
20
Feb 2026Up 11%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 1.3k

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 1.1k

0100200300400
Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26

The long view

State Dept publishes its annual totals by US government fiscal year, which runs October to September.

Point at a year for its exact count.

05001k1.5k2k
728
779
789
806
901
894
1.1k
1.1k
Pre-COVID peak1.1k
531
1.3k
Highest1.5k
1.3k
1.3k
1.1k
256
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Striped: the current year so far.

FY2011: 728 visas; FY2012: 779 visas; FY2013: 789 visas; FY2014: 806 visas; FY2015: 901 visas; FY2016: 894 visas; FY2017: 1,058 visas; FY2018: 1,062 visas; FY2019: 1,150 visas; FY2020: 531 visas; FY2021: 1,326 visas; FY2022: 1,480 visas; FY2023: 1,267 visas; FY2024: 1,346 visas; FY2025: 1,144 visas; FY2026: 256 visas so far.

FY2025 had 1,144 visas (−15% on FY2024). FY2026 so far (Oct–Feb) is running 25% behind the same months of FY2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, to nationals of South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 20262018Up 11%
January 202673100Down 27%
December 2025128137Down 6.6%
November 20251852Down 65%
October 20251734Down 50%
September 20251933Down 42%
August 202515487Up 77%
July 2025209312Down 33%
June 2025123252Down 51%
May 2025186173Up 7.5%
April 202569108Down 36%
March 20254342About flat, 2.4%
February 202518–
January 2025100–
December 2024137–
November 202452–
October 202434–
September 202433–
August 202487–
July 2024312–
June 2024252–
May 2024173–
April 2024108–
March 202442–

Source: US Department of State monthly reports of nonimmigrant visas issued by nationality, and its annual Report of the Visa Office for earlier years. Nationals of South Africa who interview at a US consulate in another country are counted here, so these totals run higher than the consulate figures for South Africa.

F-1 visas issued in South Africa

How many F-1 visas the US consulates in South Africa issue each month, whether that's rising or falling, and where it's moving.

Visas issued in South Africa, last 12 months

Mar 2025 – Feb 2026

1,4281,428

Down 32%vs 2,104 in the 12 months before

Down 32% on the previous 12 months.

Monthly average
119
Busiest month
269
May 2025
Latest month
24
Feb 2026Down 56%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 2.1k

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 1.4k

0100200300400500
Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26

Where visas are issued

Each consulate's last 12 months, against the 12 months before.

Last 12 monthsThe 12 months before
  • Johannesburg53% of total
    755Down 33%
    755 visas in the last 12 months, 1,130 in the 12 months before
  • Cape Town36% of total
    509Down 29%
    509 visas in the last 12 months, 721 in the 12 months before
  • Durban11% of total
    164Down 35%
    164 visas in the last 12 months, 253 in the 12 months before

Johannesburg issues the most: 53% of the total. Durban issued 35% fewer.

When visas are issued

Visas issued in South Africa each month. Darker means more.

JJanFFebMMarAAprMMayJJunJJulAAugSSepOOctNNovDDec
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Typical
2.3%
18%

Typical: each month's share of a year's visas, averaged over 2023–2025.

Busiest: July 2024: 445 visas

FewerMoreNo data

In 2023–2025, July was typically the busiest month and February the quietest.

Year by year

Calendar years, January to December.

  1. 2023

    1.7k

    Jan – Dec 2023

    First full year in this data
  2. 2024

    2k

    Jan – Dec 2024

    Up 18%vs 2023
  3. 2025

    1.6k

    Jan – Dec 2025

    Down 22%vs 2024
  4. 2026So far

    103

    Jan–Feb · 2 of 12 months

    Down 60%vs same months a year earlier

2025 had 1,584 visas (−22% on 2024). 2026 so far (Jan–Feb) is running 60% behind the same months of 2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, in South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 20262455Down 56%
January 202679204Down 61%
December 2025170210Down 19%
November 202536135Down 73%
October 20252781Down 67%
September 20253073Down 59%
August 2025183168Up 8.9%
July 2025231445Down 48%
June 2025195295Down 34%
May 2025269240Up 12%
April 2025104145Down 28%
March 20258053Up 51%
February 20255543Up 28%
January 2025204149Up 37%
December 2024210206About flat, 1.9%
November 2024135131Up 3.1%
October 20248159Up 37%
September 20247347Up 55%
August 2024168178Down 5.6%
July 2024445299Up 49%
June 2024295295About flat, 0%
May 2024240260Down 7.7%
April 202414593Up 56%
March 20245336Up 47%

Source: US Department of State monthly reports of nonimmigrant visas issued at each US consulate. These count visas issued, not interview appointments available.

F-1 approval rate: 59.0%Worldwide, FY2024. How it has moved since FY2019.All visa types for South AfricaEvery US visa issued to nationals of South Africa, by visa type, and each consulate's total.Worldwide statisticsWhich countries and visa types get the most US visas.