Categories: NSFAS Application

What Do I Need To Apply For NSFAS 2025-2026

Applying for Financial Aid can be a hectic task, especially when it comes to ensuring you have all the necessary documents and information. For South African students seeking to fund their tertiary education, The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is a vital resource. As the application period for the 2025-2026 Academic year approaches, it is good to be well-prepared.

Whether you’re a first-year applicant or reapplying for continued support, knowing exactly what documents and information you need is essential to ensure a smooth application process. Preparing to apply for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for the upcoming academic year but don’t know the documents required to apply? We are here to give a clear understanding of the necessary documentation and qualifications needed to apply for NSFAS 2025-2026.

The following lists the requirements for submitting an NSFAS application in 2025-2026:

Documents Needed for NSFAS Application 2025-2026

please attach certified copies of the following documents

If either of your parents is deceased, please provide a certified copy of the death certificate.
If your parents are divorced, please provide a certified copy of the divorce decree.
If either of your parents does not live at home, please provide an affidavit explaining the reasons.
If you are supported by someone who is not your parent or legal guardian, please provide an affidavit explaining the reasons.
Certified copy of a SASSA letter if any of your family members are receiving a social grant and are also contributing to your household income. This also applies to your legal guardian.
If you have indicated that a dependent in your household is a student, please provide proof of registration or acceptance at the TVET college or university for each dependent

(All the certified copies must not be older than 3 months) Your documents can be certified at the South African Police Service or the South African Post Office.* If you are under the age of 18 or if you are 18 and older and are STILL DEPENDENT on the household income of your parent or legal guardian, then this also applies to you.
Certified copy of your Identity Document. If you are younger than 16 years of age and do not have a green bar-coded ID or smart ID card, you must submit a certified copy of your unabridged birth certificate
Certified copy of the Identity Document of each household member including parents or legal guardian.
Certified copy of your latest academic transcript or exam results. If you are currently in Grade 12, you do not need to submit this.
If you have been exempted from paying school fees, please provide a letter from the school informing NSFAS that you have been exempted.
Certified or official copy of recent payslip, letter of employment, not older than three months, for each parent, or the person who supports you, or your guardian, or yourself if you are employed. This is for all types of employment or all forms of income for all members of the household. This includes any income received from SASSA grants, Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), or any retirement, life, disability
or other benefits paid as a lump sum or in monthly payments

Requirements To Qualify For NSFAS 2025-2026

To qualify for NSFAS 2025, applicants typically need to meet the following criteria:

South African citizens or permanent residents
SASSA grant recipients
Applicants whose combined gross household income is not more than R350 000 per year
Persons with disabilities whose combined gross household income is not more than R600 000 per year.
Must have an email account and cell phone number.

Who is not qualified to apply for NSFAS

Students who have completed a previous qualification.
Students with a combined household income of more than R350 000 per annum.
Students who have already applied, qualified, and received funding. They are automatically funded for the duration of their studies provided they pass their modules and meet the academic requirements.

How to apply online to NSFAS 2025-2026

Follow the process below to apply online for the NSFAS bursaries for 2025-2026:

Create a profile:

Use this link to register for a myNSFAS account: https://my.nsfas.org.za/ or get the NSFAS App from the App Store or Google Play. Your username will be your ID number.

Apply now:

To amend your personal information and upload the supporting documents for your application, click the “Apply” option.

Complete:

Submit your application

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 Africa

Note that fulfilling these prerequisites does not ensure NSFAS funding. On the other hand, thorough planning and precise application greatly increase your chances of getting funding. For details, go to https://www.nsfas.org.za

OTHER USEFUL LINKS