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

Official US State Department data

L-2 visa statistics for South Africa

How many L-2 visas nationals of South Africa are issued, and what each US consulate in South Africa issues, month by month.

Data through February 2026

L-2 visas issued to nationals of South Africa

Every L-2 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

580580

Down 14%vs 671 in the 12 months before

Down 14% on the previous 12 months. But the last 3 months ran 12% above the same months a year earlier.

Monthly average
48
Busiest month
75
Dec 2025
Latest month
47
Feb 2026Down 7.8%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 671

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 580

0255075100
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.

02505007501k1.3k
370
464
471
507
605
718
657
761
Pre-COVID peak954
446
242
Highest988
866
740
590
245
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Striped: the current year so far.

FY2011: 370 visas; FY2012: 464 visas; FY2013: 471 visas; FY2014: 507 visas; FY2015: 605 visas; FY2016: 718 visas; FY2017: 657 visas; FY2018: 761 visas; FY2019: 954 visas; FY2020: 446 visas; FY2021: 242 visas; FY2022: 988 visas; FY2023: 866 visas; FY2024: 740 visas; FY2025: 590 visas; FY2026: 245 visas so far.

FY2025 had 590 visas (−20% on FY2024). That's 38% below the pre-pandemic peak (FY2019). FY2026 so far (Oct–Feb) is running 3.9% behind the same months of FY2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, to nationals of South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 20264751Down 7.8%
January 20265051About flat, 2%
December 20257551Up 47%
November 20253145Down 31%
October 20254257Down 26%
September 20254249Down 14%
August 20256578Down 17%
July 20254279Down 47%
June 20255660Down 6.7%
May 20254541Up 9.8%
April 20253750Down 26%
March 20254859Down 19%
February 202551–
January 202551–
December 202451–
November 202445–
October 202457–
September 202449–
August 202478–
July 202479–
June 202460–
May 202441–
April 202450–
March 202459–

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.

L-2 visas issued in South Africa

How many L-2 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

561561

Down 7.7%vs 608 in the 12 months before

Down 7.7% on the previous 12 months.

Monthly average
47
Busiest month
75
Dec 2025
Latest month
42
Feb 2026Up 7.7%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 608

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 561

020406080
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
  • Johannesburg57% of total
    320Down 13%
    320 visas in the last 12 months, 369 in the 12 months before
  • Cape Town32% of total
    180Down 4.8%
    180 visas in the last 12 months, 189 in the 12 months before
  • Durban11% of total
    61Up 22%
    61 visas in the last 12 months, 50 in the 12 months before

Johannesburg issues the most: 57% of the total. Durban grew the most (+22%); Johannesburg issued 13% fewer.

When visas are issued

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

JJanFFebMMarAAprMMayJJunJJulAAugSSepOOctNNovDDec
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Typical
5.8%
12%

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

Busiest: July 2023: 147 visas

FewerMoreNo data

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

Year by year

Calendar years, January to December.

  1. 2023

    770

    Jan – Dec 2023

    First full year in this data
  2. 2024

    641

    Jan – Dec 2024

    Down 17%vs 2023
  3. 2025

    562

    Jan – Dec 2025

    Down 12%vs 2024
  4. 2026So far

    91

    Jan–Feb · 2 of 12 months

    About flat, 1.1%vs same months a year earlier

2025 had 562 visas (−12% on 2024). 2026 so far (Jan–Feb) is level with the same months of 2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, in South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 20264239Up 7.7%
January 20264953Down 7.5%
December 20257561Up 23%
November 20254146Down 11%
October 20254451Down 14%
September 20254346Down 6.5%
August 20255267Down 22%
July 20253666Down 45%
June 20255662Down 9.7%
May 20254721Up 124%
April 20253148Down 35%
March 20254548Down 6.3%
February 20253958Down 33%
January 20255367Down 21%
December 20246155Up 11%
November 20244665Down 29%
October 20245168Down 25%
September 20244646About flat, 0%
August 20246759Up 14%
July 202466147Down 55%
June 20246256Up 11%
May 20242167Down 69%
April 20244835Up 37%
March 20244849About flat, 2%

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

L-2 approval rate: 97.4%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.