The Embassy of South Africa in the United States is located in Washington, D.C., and represents South Africa in the United States, serving South African citizens who live in or visit the country.
Contact Details
| Address | 3051 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, United States |
| Telephone | +1 240-937-5760 |
| Fax | +1 202-413-1953 |
| Website | saembassy.org |
| Head of Mission | Roelof Petrus Meyer, Ambassador |
Opening Hours
No opening hours are published in the Congressional Directory. Call or e-mail the embassy before visiting.
Location of the Embassy
Before your visit
- Location: The embassy is in the Woodland-Normanstone area of Washington, D.C., about 3.2 km in a straight line from the White House; the nearest large airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), about 7.8 km away. The nearest Metro station is Woodley Park (less than 1 km). (distances: OpenStreetMap, airports: FAA passenger boarding data CY 2025)
About the Embassy of South Africa in the United States
The ambassador is Roelof Petrus Meyer, who presented the credentials on 21 May 2026, according to the State Department’s Order of Precedence. The Congressional Directory also lists 3 consular offices of South Africa in the United States – career or honorary – in Los Angeles (California), Chicago (Illinois) and New York (New York); these will get their own pages in this directory. In South Africa, the United States is represented by the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria (za.usembassy.gov), according to the Congressional Directory.
Do South African citizens need a visa for the United States?
South Africa is not one of the 42 countries in the US Visa Waiver Program (Department of Homeland Security), so South African citizens normally need a US visa before travelling to the United States, also for short visits; visas are issued by US embassies and consulates abroad, not by the South African embassy in the United States.
Documents checklist
Prepare these documents before your appointment. The lists are taken from official South African sources:
South African passport (application abroad)
- Passport application form BI-73 (DHA-73), completed in black ink
- Form BI-529 (citizenship), required for all South African citizens abroad
- Fingerprints for applicants aged 16 and over – taken at the mission
- Certified copies of your passport and ID or birth certificate (the passport alone is not enough)
- Colour photos as specified by the mission; documents in other languages need a sworn English translation
- Apply 6–12 months before expiry; collection only in person. Emergency: an Emergency Travel Certificate for the direct return to South Africa
Sources: South African High Commission in Canberra – South African passports (dirco.gov.za), South African Embassy in Bern – civic services (dirco.gov.za) (checked October 2026). Requirements and fees can change and individual posts may ask for more – confirm the current list with the embassy before your visit.
Other embassies in Washington, D.C.
175 other countries are represented in Washington, D.C., among them: South Sudan (embassy), Spain (embassy), Sri Lanka (embassy), Sudan (embassy), Suriname (embassy), Sweden (embassy), Switzerland (embassy), Tajikistan (embassy), Tanzania (embassy), Thailand (embassy), Timor-Leste (embassy), Togo (embassy), Trinidad and Tobago (embassy), Tunisia (embassy), Turkmenistan (embassy), Türkiye (embassy), Uganda (embassy), Ukraine (embassy), United Arab Emirates (embassy), United Kingdom (embassy). The full list of all 176 missions is on the overview page for the United States.
Closing days
The eleven US federal holidays are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Washington’s Birthday (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth (19 June), Independence Day (4 July), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Columbus Day (second Monday in October), Veterans Day (11 November), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Day. A holiday that falls on a Saturday is observed on the Friday before, one that falls on a Sunday on the Monday after – in 2027, for example, on 18 June, 5 July and 24 December. The embassy may also close on public holidays of South Africa.
Emergency assistance
In an emergency, South African citizens should call the embassy on +1 240-937-5760. In the United States, dial 911 for an ambulance, the fire service or the police (GOV.UK travel advice). US citizens who need consular help in South Africa can contact the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria.
Diplomatic missions of South Africa in the United States
South Africa in the United States
- Washington – Embassy of South Africa in the United States (this page)
- Los Angeles (CA) – consular office (page in preparation)
- Chicago (IL) – consular office (page in preparation)
- New York (NY) – consular office (page in preparation)
Frequently asked questions about the Embassy of South Africa in the United States
Does South Africa have consulates in the United States?
Yes. The Congressional Directory lists consular offices in 3 US cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
Have you visited this office recently? Share your experience – for example the waiting time, how you got an appointment or which documents were asked for. Your tips help the next visitors and are published after review.
Details checked on 21 October 2026. Sources: Congressional Directory, 119th Congress – Diplomatic Offices (20 February 2026), U.S. Department of State – Diplomatic Corps Order of Precedence (as of 5 October 2026), U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Visa Waiver Program, U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Federal Holidays, GOV.UK foreign travel advice: USA (getting help), saembassy.org.
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