Visa requirements for South African citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Republic of South Africa.
As of 2024, South African citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 106 countries and territories, ranking the South African passport 47th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[1]
Where visa-free access is permitted, such access is not necessarily a right, and admission is at the discretion of border enforcement officers. Visitors engaging in activities other than tourism, including unpaid work, may require a visa or work permit.
It does not provide for where certain people under the assumption remained British Subjects without Citizenship, then later became British Overseas Citizens or British Subjects in 1983, there are different requirements. See Visa requirements for British Overseas citizens or South African nationality law.
This list provides for the period of stay under "Allowed Stay" generally for short stay activities where a Visa is not required in sovereign states.
Country | Visa requirement | Allowed stay | Notes (excluding departure fees) | Reciprocity | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | |||||
Albania | [2] |
| |||
Algeria | |||||
Andorra |
| ||||
Angola | 90 days | ||||
Antigua and Barbuda | 6 months | ||||
Argentina | 90 days | ||||
Armenia | [3] | 120 days | |||
Australia and territories | [4] |
| |||
Austria | |||||
Azerbaijan | [6] | 30 days | |||
Bahamas | 3 months | ||||
Bahrain | 14 days | ||||
Bangladesh | |||||
Barbados | 6 months | ||||
Belarus | |||||
Belgium | |||||
Belize | |||||
90 Days | |||||
Bhutan | [7] |
| |||
90 days[8] | |||||
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| ||||
Botswana | 90 days | ||||
Brazil | 90 days | ||||
Bulgaria | |||||
Burkina Faso | [9] | ||||
Burundi | 1 month | ||||
Cambodia | 30 days | ||||
Cameroon | [10] | ||||
Canada |
| ||||
Cape Verde | |||||
Central African Republic | |||||
Chad | |||||
Chile | 90 days | ||||
| |||||
Colombia | [12] |
| |||
Comoros | 45 days | ||||
[13] | 7 days | ||||
Costa Rica | 90 days | ||||
Cote d'Ivoire | [14] | 3 months |
| ||
Croatia | |||||
Cuba | [15] | 90 days |
| ||
Cyprus |
| ||||
Czech Republic | |||||
Djibouti | [16] | 90 days | |||
Dominica | 6 months | ||||
Dominican Republic | 90 days | ||||
Ecuador | 90 days | ||||
Egypt | [17] | 30 days | |||
El Salvador | 90 days | ||||
Equatorial Guinea | [18] |
| |||
Eritrea | |||||
Estonia | |||||
30 days | |||||
Ethiopia | [19] | up to 90 days | |||
Fiji | 4 months | ||||
Finland | |||||
Gabon | 30 days. | ||||
Gambia | 90 days |
| |||
Georgia | 1 year | ||||
Germany | |||||
Ghana | 90 days | ||||
Greece | |||||
Grenada | 3 months | ||||
Guatemala | 90 days | ||||
Guinea | [21] | 90 days | |||
Guinea-Bissau | 90 days | ||||
Guyana | 3 months | ||||
Haiti | 3 months | ||||
Honduras | 90 days | ||||
Hungary | |||||
Iceland | |||||
India | 30 days | ||||
Indonesia | 30 days[22] | ||||
[23] | 30 days | ||||
Iraq | [24] | ||||
Ireland | [25] | ||||
Israel | 90 days | ||||
Italy | |||||
Jamaica | |||||
Japan | [26] | 90 days |
| ||
Jordan | [27] | 30 days |
| ||
Kazakhstan | [28] | ||||
Kenya | [29] | 90 days |
| ||
Kiribati | 90 days |
| |||
[30] | 30 days |
| |||
Kuwait |
| ||||
Kyrgyzstan | [33] | 60 days / 1 month |
| ||
30 days | |||||
Latvia | |||||
Lebanon |
| ||||
Lesotho | 90 days | ||||
Liberia | |||||
Libya | [34] | ||||
Liechtenstein | |||||
Lithuania |
| ||||
Luxembourg | |||||
Madagascar | 60 days | ||||
Malawi | 90 days | ||||
Malaysia | 90 days | ||||
Maldives | 30 days | ||||
Mali | |||||
Malta | |||||
Marshall Islands | 90 days | ||||
Mauritania |
| ||||
Mauritius | 180 days |
| |||
Mexico |
| ||||
30 days | |||||
| |||||
Monaco |
| ||||
Mongolia | [35] | 30 days | |||
Montenegro |
| ||||
Morocco | |||||
Mozambique | 3 months | ||||
Myanmar | [36] | 28 days |
| ||
Namibia | 3 months | ||||
Nauru | |||||
Nepal | 90 days[37] | ||||
New Zealand |
| ||||
Nicaragua | 90 days | ||||
Niger | |||||
Nigeria | [39] | ||||
| |||||
Norway | |||||
Oman | [40] | 14 days |
| ||
Pakistan | [42] | 90 days |
| ||
Palau | 30 days | ||||
Panama | 90 days | ||||
Papua New Guinea | [43] | 30 days | |||
Paraguay | 90 days | ||||
Peru | 90 days | ||||
Philippines | 30 days | ||||
Poland | |||||
Portugal | |||||
Qatar | 30 days |
| |||
Romania | |||||
90 days |
| ||||
Rwanda | 30 days | ||||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3 months | ||||
Saint Lucia | 6 weeks | ||||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3 month | ||||
Samoa | 60 days | ||||
San Marino |
| ||||
[46] | |||||
Saudi Arabia | [47] | 90 days | |||
Senegal | [48] | 1 month | |||
Serbia |
| ||||
Seychelles | [49] | 3 months | |||
Sierra Leone | [50] | 3 months / 30 days | |||
Singapore | 30 days | ||||
Slovakia | |||||
Slovenia | |||||
Solomon Islands | |||||
Somalia | 30 days | ||||
[51] |
| ||||
Spain | |||||
Sri Lanka | [52] | 60 days / 30 days | |||
Sudan | |||||
Suriname | [53] | ||||
Sweden | |||||
Switzerland | |||||
Tajikistan | [54] | 60 days / 45 days |
| ||
90 days | |||||
60 days |
| ||||
Timor-Leste | 30 days | ||||
Togo |
| ||||
Tonga | |||||
Trinidad and Tobago | 90 days | ||||
Tunisia | 3 months | ||||
Turkey | [56] | 30 days | |||
Turkmenistan | |||||
Tuvalu | 1 month | ||||
Uganda | [57] | 3 months | |||
Ukraine |
| ||||
United Arab Emirates |
| ||||
| |||||
United States |
| ||||
Uruguay | 90 days | ||||
Uzbekistan | |||||
Vanuatu | 30 days | ||||
| |||||
90 days | |||||
[60] | 90 days |
| |||
Yemen | |||||
Zambia | 90 days | ||||
Zimbabwe | 3 months |
Territory | Conditions of access | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
[61] | |||
[62] | 90 days | ||
[63] | 3 months | ||
Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.[64] | |||
Undefined visa regime in the Western Sahara controlled territory. | |||
30 days for 30 US dollars, payable on arrival.[65] [66] | |||
[67] | Multiple entry visa to Russia and three day prior notification are required to enter South Ossetia.[68] [69] | ||
[70] | |||
[71] | Registration required after 24h.[72] [73] |
Territory | Conditions of access | Notes |
---|---|---|
China | ||
Hong Kong | 30 days. Landing slip with stay conditions issued upon arrival in place of entry stamp. This is not a permit, however it is used to classify South African citizens as being visa exempted. | |
30 days | ||
Denmark | ||
Faroe Islands | [74] | |
Greenland | [75] | |
France | ||
French Guiana | ||
French Polynesia | ||
French West Indies | Includes overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique and overseas collectivities of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin. | |
Mayotte | ||
New Caledonia | ||
Reunion | 3 months. Travel to mainland France is prohibited unless in possession of a Valid Schengen Visa, Identity and Visa checks are conducted between Reunion and mainland France/ EU or EEA countries and Switzerland. | |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | ||
Wallis and Futuna | [76] | |
Netherlands | ||
Aruba | ||
Caribbean Netherlands | Includes Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. | |
New Zealand | ||
Cook Islands | 31 days | |
Niue | 30 days | |
Tokelau | [77] | |
United Kingdom | ||
[78] | ||
Anguilla | [79] | You do NOT need to apply for a visa if: You have a valid visa to enter the UK, US or Canada. A valid UK, US or Canada visa can be used to enter Anguilla.[80] |
Bermuda | Visa not required for holders of Canadian, US or UK multiple-entry visa valid for at least 45 days beyond the period of intended stay in Bermuda for a maximum stay of 3 months | |
British Indian Ocean Territory | Special permit required.[81] | |
30 days, extensions possible | ||
Cayman Islands | 6 months | |
Gibraltar | Gibraltar is the only British Overseas Territory which falls under the UK's Visa Policy. UK Visa Required for Entry. | |
Montserrat | 6 months | |
14 days visa free and landing fee US$35 or tax of US$5 if not going ashore.[82] [83] [84] | ||
[85] [86] | 3 months within any year period | |
Visitor's Pass granted on arrival valid for 4/10/21/60/90 days for 12/14/16/20/25 pound sterling.[87] | ||
Permission to land required for 15/30 pounds sterling (yacht/ship passenger) for Tristan da Cunha Island or 20 pounds sterling for Gough Island, Inaccessible Island or Nightingale Islands.[88] | ||
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Pre-arrival permit from the Commissioner required (72 hours/1 month for 110/160 pounds sterling).[89] [90] | |
Turks and Caicos Islands | 90 days | |
United States | ||
American Samoa | ||
Guam | ||
Northern Mariana Islands | ||
Puerto Rico | US visa is required to visit Puerto Rico | |
Antarctica and adjacent islands | ||
Territory | Conditions of access | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Belarus Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park | 3 days;[91] must first obtain an electronic pass[92] | ||
China Hainan | [93] | 15 days. Available at Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Visa not required for 15 days for traveling as part of a tourist group (5 or more people)[94] | |
China Tibet Autonomous Region | Tibet Travel Permit required (10 US Dollars).[95] [96] | ||
Crimea | Visa issued by Russia is required.[97] | ||
Ecuador Galápagos | Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure.[98] | ||
Eritrea outside Asmara | To travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required (20 Eritrean nakfa).[99] | ||
Greece Mount Athos | Special permit required (4 days: 25 euro for Orthodox visitors, 35 euro for non-Orthodox visitors, 18 euro for students). There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed.[100] [101] | ||
India PAP/RAP | Protected Area Permit (PAP) required for whole states of Nagaland and Sikkim and parts of states Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year.[102] [103] [104] [105] [106] [107] | ||
Kish Island | Visitors to Kish Island do not require a visa.[108] | ||
Fiji Lau Province | Special permission required.[109] | ||
France Clipperton Island | Special permit required.[110] | ||
Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty.[111] | |||
outside Pyongyang | People are not allowed to leave the capital city, tourists can only leave the capital with a governmental tourist guide (no independent moving) | ||
Malaysia Sabah and Sarawak | These states have their own immigration authorities and passport is required to travel to them, however the same visa applies.[112] | ||
Maldives outside Malé | With the exception of the capital Malé, tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives.[113] | ||
Norway Jan Mayen | Permit issued by the local police required for staying for less than 24 hours[114] and permit issued by the Norwegian police for staying for more than 24 hours.[115] | ||
| |||
Crossing from Ukraine requires visit purpose to be explained to Ukrainian passport control on exit and those who entered from Russia are not allowed to proceed further into Ukraine.[116] | |||
Several closed cities and regions in Russia require special authorization.[117] | |||
Sudan outside Khartoum | All foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit. | ||
Sudan Darfur | Separate travel permit is required.[118] | ||
Tajikistan Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | OIVR permit required (15+5 Tajikistani Somoni) and another special permit (free of charge) is required for Lake Sarez.[119] [120] [121] | ||
UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus | [122] | Access Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas. | |
Korean Demilitarized Zone | Restricted zone. | ||
UNDOF Zone and Ghajar | Restricted zone. | ||
United States Minor Outlying Islands | Special permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island.[123] [124] [125] [126] [127] [128] [129] | ||
Margarita Island | All visitors are fingerprinted.[130] | ||
Phú Quốc | 30 days | ||
Yemen outside Sana’a or Aden | Special permission needed for travel outside Sana’a or Aden.[131] |
List of Changes
Visa Requirements Abolished/ Imposed (agreement conferred) | Abolished | Imposed | Date of Effect | Reciprocity (at time of agreement and subsequent implementation) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | Yes | 1969-1972 | No | ||
Switzerland (12 Dec 2008)[132] | Yes | 12 Dec 2008 | No | ||
United Kingdom (July 2009) | Yes | July 2009 | No | ||
Colombia (September 2016) | Yes | Yes | |||
New Zealand (November 2016) | Yes | 21 November 2016 | No | ||
Russia (April 2017) | Yes | 1 April 2017 | Yes | ||
Qatar (June–August 2017) | Yes | Yes | |||
Angola (November 2017) | Yes | 1 December 2017 | Yes | ||
Egypt (November 2019) | Simplified (E-visa) | November 2019 | No | ||
Ireland (Republic of) | Yes | July 2024 | No |
In some instances, a Visa Exemption permits entry in lieu of obtaining a Visa/ Entry Visa if in possession of the following Visas or Permanent Relationships, this is not limited to entitlements or provisions laid down by the country's law, for instance, right to enter without prior authority due to background such as in the case of former Indian Citizens:
This list does not include the ability of a Visa Document Exemption/ Substitute for a Visa Application, for instance a US Visa as an exemption document for the issue of a Qatari e-Visa.
United States | Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bermuda of the United Kingdom Mexico Montenegro Serbia | Both | ||
Canada | Bermuda of the United Kingdom Mexico | Both | ||
United Kingdom | Canada # New Zealand # United Arab Emirates # United Kingdom +Indefinitely # Bermuda of the United Kingdom # |
| ||
United Kingdom | Bermuda of the United Kingdom | Both Indefinite and Temporary Visas | ||
Australia | New Zealand | Australian Permanent Residence |
Canada - South African Citizens in possession of a valid Canadian Multiple Entry Visa in their passport may enter the following country(ies) visa-free for the time indicated adjacent:
Right of Abode in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - South African Citizens who are in possession of a Valid Certificate of Entitlement substantiating their claim to the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom in their South African passport (as either a British National or South African / Commonwealth Citizen) may enter the following Commonwealth Realms / countries for the same period for as a South African Citizen who would usually a Visa but without the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom (+except the United Kingdom as right to reside is automatic):
South African citizens in possession of Leave to Remain or Enter holders(whether permanent or temporary) / Ireland Biometric Visa or Permanent Residency holders:
Holder's of a United Kingdom Visa May enter:
Bermuda of the United Kingdom - 3 months (if arriving or transiting from the United Kingdom).
Holder's must also consider that they will be able to return to Australia as a Permanent Resident should the expiry of their travel facility on their Australian Permanent Residence occur whilst they are in New Zealand. The Australian Resident Visa granted in New Zealand is indefinite if in New Zealand, however expires when leaving.
As of 1 October 2019, Australian Permanent Residents need to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) if they wish to enter New Zealand. The ETA is valid for 2 years however there is no time limit on the length of stay, this is just the time the holder must enter within. The cost is NZD 9 on the mobile app and NZD 12 on the internet per traveller and takes about 5 minutes to complete. The aim is to preauthorise travel to New Zealand. Once the Australian Permanent Resident arrives, they will be granted a New Zealand Visa for Australian Residents (Australian Resident Visa) subject to satisfying character requirements. It is very important to consider three things: Validity of Australian Permanent Residence in order to return to Australia or New Zealand, Validity of NZeTA and leaving New Zealand. Leaving New Zealand will terminate the New Zealand Visa for Australian Resident, if the Australian Permanent Resident Visa is not Valid then they will not be able to return to New Zealand or Australia. There are no other costs involved. Australian Resident Visa
Schengen Visa (Long Stay) - Holder's of a Valid Long Stay Category D Visa who arrive in the Schengen European country of their Visa and apply for a Residence Card shortly after arriving will be able to use their EU residence permit/ card for travel within the Schengen States, if granted.
See main article: List of diplomatic missions of South Africa.