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

Official US State Department data

M-1 visa statistics for South Africa

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

Data through February 2026

M-1 visas issued to nationals of South Africa

Every M-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

5050

Up 19%vs 42 in the 12 months before

Up 19% on the previous 12 months. The last 3 months ran 100% above the same months a year earlier.

Monthly average
4
Busiest month
19
Aug 2025
Latest month
1
Feb 2026About flat, 0%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 42

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 50

05101520
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.

0255075100125
48
64
65
Pre-COVID peak87
70
75
87
75
85
24
50
44
53
50
50
9
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Striped: the current year so far.

FY2011: 48 visas; FY2012: 64 visas; FY2013: 65 visas; FY2014: 87 visas; FY2015: 70 visas; FY2016: 75 visas; FY2017: 87 visas; FY2018: 75 visas; FY2019: 85 visas; FY2020: 24 visas; FY2021: 50 visas; FY2022: 44 visas; FY2023: 53 visas; FY2024: 50 visas; FY2025: 50 visas; FY2026: 9 visas so far.

FY2025 had 50 visas (0% on FY2024). That's 43% below the pre-pandemic peak (FY2014). FY2026 so far (Oct–Feb) is level with the same months of FY2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, to nationals of South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 202611About flat, 0%
January 202621Up 100%
December 202531Up 200%
November 202515Down 80%
October 202521Up 100%
September 202526Down 67%
August 2025194Up 375%
July 2025611Down 45%
June 202549Down 56%
May 202541Up 300%
April 202531Up 200%
March 202531Up 200%
February 20251–
January 20251–
December 20241–
November 20245–
October 20241–
September 20246–
August 20244–
July 202411–
June 20249–
May 20241–
April 20241–
March 20241–

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.

M-1 visas issued in South Africa

How many M-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

5050

Up 25%vs 40 in the 12 months before

Up 25% on the previous 12 months. The last 3 months ran 200% above the same months a year earlier.

Monthly average
4
Busiest month
18
Aug 2025
Latest month
1
Feb 2026About flat, 0%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 40

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 50

05101520
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
  • Cape Town46% of total
    23Up 130%
    23 visas in the last 12 months, 10 in the 12 months before
  • Johannesburg36% of total
    18Down 31%
    18 visas in the last 12 months, 26 in the 12 months before
  • Durban18% of total
    9Up 125%
    9 visas in the last 12 months, 4 in the 12 months before

Cape Town issues the most: 46% of the total. Cape Town grew the most (+130%); Johannesburg issued 31% fewer.

When visas are issued

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

JJanFFebMMarAAprMMayJJunJJulAAugSSepOOctNNovDDec
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Typical
20%
2%

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

Busiest: August 2025: 18 visas

FewerMoreNo data

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

Year by year

Calendar years, January to December.

  1. 2023

    63

    Jan – Dec 2023

    First full year in this data
  2. 2024

    45

    Jan – Dec 2024

    Down 29%vs 2023
  3. 2025

    49

    Jan – Dec 2025

    Up 8.9%vs 2024
  4. 2026So far

    3

    Jan–Feb · 2 of 12 months

    Up 50%vs same months a year earlier

2025 had 49 visas (+8.9% on 2024). 2026 so far (Jan–Feb) is running 50% ahead of the same months of 2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, in South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 202611About flat, 0%
January 202621Up 100%
December 202530
November 202514Down 75%
October 202532Up 50%
September 202537Down 57%
August 2025184Up 350%
July 2025510Down 50%
June 202539Down 67%
May 202550
April 202530
March 202532Up 50%
February 202512Down 50%
January 202515Down 80%
December 202400
November 202445Down 20%
October 202424Down 50%
September 202474Up 75%
August 202448Down 50%
July 20241017Down 41%
June 202497Up 29%
May 202408Down 100%
April 202402Down 100%
March 202422About flat, 0%

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

M-1 approval rate: 73.9%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.