Requirements Needed To Apply For NSFAS 2025-2026

Applying for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a vital first step for students looking for financial aid to pay for their higher education in South Africa. It is important to send requirements with your application for the academic year 2025-2026 to ensure its success. Understanding these requirements is essential for ensuring a smooth application process and maximizing the chances of receiving funding.

This guide will outline the key criteria that students need to fulfil, including academic prerequisites, financial needs and documentation to successfully apply for NSFAS and take the first step towards their educational goals. We will include all of the requirements needed for your NSFAS application in this extensive post, so you can get ready to submit an accurate and thorough application.

Requirements Needed To Apply For NSFAS Application

SASSA grant recipients
South African citizens or permanent residents
Candidates whose annual gross household income combined is not greater than R350 000
individuals with disabilities whose gross yearly family income is not greater than R600,000.
Both a cell phone number and email address are required.

NSFAS 2025-2026 Required Documents For Application

You will need the following support for your NSFAS online application 2025:

You must provide a copy of your student ID / Birth certificate
A copy of the parent/s or guardian/spouse’s ID
A Smart card: both sides of the card required
Proof of income (where applicable)
Persons living with disability (Disability Annexure A form)
A vulnerable child must provide a completed Vulnerable Child Declaration form completed by a social worker
An applicant who has indicated that he/she has no family member details and or abridged birth certificate must complete the Declaration: Non-SASSA

SEE ALSO: Requirements For NSFAS Bursary 2025-2026

NSFAS 2025-2026 Application Process

The application process for provisionally funded NSFAS involves the following steps:

Create a profile:

Create a myNSFAS account via this link: https://my.nsfas.org.za/ or download the NSFAS App on Google Play or App Store. Your ID number will be your username.

Apply now:

Click on the “Apply’ tab to update your personal information and upload your application supporting documents, as indicated.

Complete:

Submit your application.

Other documents that may be required, if applicable

Retrenchment letter
Death certificate/s
Divorce Decree
Proof of legal guardianship
Marriage certificate
other documents may be required for appeal purposes,….eg retrenchment letter

What does the NSFAS bursary cover?

NSFAS will cover your costs for the following:

Accommodation
Living allowance
Learning material allowance
Personal care allowance

UNISA students will receive funding for the following:

Tuition
Books (subject to the number of modules registered)
Personal care allowance

Eligible students with a disability will receive funding for:

Assistive Devices
Meals
Tuition
Transport
Tuition
Human Support
Accommodation

Contact Details Of Nsfas

NSFAS Contact Center:

Phone: 08000 67327 (toll-free)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 5 PM (South African Standard Time)

Nsfas Email:

General inquiries: info@nsfas.org.za
Application inquiries: apply@nsfas.org.za

Nsfas Postal Address:

Private Bag X1
Plumstead
7801
South Africa

Physical Address:

10 Brodie Road
House Vincent, 2nd Floor
Wynberg
Cape Town
7700
South Afric

Students can improve their chances of getting financial aid from NSFAS by fulfilling the qualifying requirements and completing the required paperwork correctly and on time. For details, go to https://www.nsfas.org.za

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