Visa requirements for South African citizens


Visa requirements for South African citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of South Africa. As of 1 Oct 2019, South African citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 100 countries and territories, ranking the South African passport 53rd in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
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.
Travel Alert: Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South African citizens are prohibited from entering many countries.
In addition, since the 27th March 2020 at 00:00 South African Citizens are prohibited from leaving South Africa unless it is for an essential reason. International flights for leisure are expected to resume under level 1. This enforcement essentially prevents citizens from leaving South Africa or travelling within its borders under the direction of Cyril Rhamaposa in an effort to reduce the spread of the highly infectious virus. Most international airlines are expected to not fly with the exemption of a few repatriation flights. Note: Most land borders are also closed.
Note: South African citizens with residence permits in another country which have expired or are about to expire should consult with the Embassy/ High Commission/ Consulate of the country that issued the visa or directly with the immigration authorities of the country which issues the visa to discuss what to do next. E.g. A South African citizen whose UK Residence Permit is about to expire should take the necessary action as soon as possible.

Visa requirements map

Visa requirements

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.
CountryVisa requirementAllowed stayNotes Reciprocity

  • Holders of a valid, multiple entry and previously used visa issued by a Schengen area country, United States, or the United Kingdom can enter Albania without a visa for 90 days.
  • Andorra has no visa regime, but is only accessible through France and Spain. Multiple Entry Schengen Visa required.
    • 30 days
  • 30 days per visit, up to 90 days per year.
    • 1 month
    90 days
    120 days
    and territories
  • May apply online.
  • Transit visa is not required.
  • Biometric Collection is mandatory upon request for the Online Visitor e600 Visa.
  • Visas can be issued within a matter of seconds depending on the length of queue once all the appropriate information is provided including Biometrics.
  • Departing Passengers may use SmartGate for a faster entry into the passenger area, this is not applicable to arriving passengers for entry into Australia.
    • 30 days
    3 months
  • Extendable up to 8 months.
    • 14 days
    6 months
    90 Days
    90 days
  • Valid multiple entry visa holders and residents of the European Union, Schengen Area member states, and United States of America can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days.
    • 90 days
    90 days
  • Holders of a valid multiple entry visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state, Monaco, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania may also travel to Bulgaria without an additional visa, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period or until visa expiry date
    • 30 days
  • Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
  • Holders of the Right of Abode to the UK with a Certificate of Entitlement as proof of authenticity do not require Visa.
    • 90 days
  • 24-Hour Transit Visa obtainable at the airport.
  • 5 day Schenzen Visa available at the Shenzhen border if travelling from Hong Kong or Macao. Visa holders must stay within the Shenzhen City and surrounds, not travel to other cities and leave at the end of the 5 day permission. Travelling to Guangzhou would be in violation of the conditions.
  • Transit visa is not required.
    • 90 days
    3 months
  • eVisa holders must arrive via Port Bouet Airport.
  • Valid multiple entry schengen visa or valid multiple entry visa of Bulgaria, Cyprus or Romania is valid for Croatia
  • Holders of a visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state, Monaco, Bulgaria, Croatia or Romania may also travel to Cyprus, without an additional visa, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period or until visa expiry date
    • 31 days
    6 months
    90 days
  • Holders of a residence permit issued by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman or the United Arab Emirates, can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days. The residence permit must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date. Must enter Egypt by air.
    • 90 days
  • Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
    • 30 days
    up to 90 days
    4 months
    30 days.

    • In addition to a visa, an entry clearance must be obtained from the Gambian Immigration prior to travel.
    1 year
    30 days
    3 months
    90 days
    90 days
    90 days
    3 months
    3 months
    90 days
    60 days
    30 days
    • Select ports of entry only.
    • Visa on Arrival is an alternative to the 30 day Visa Exemption, Visa on Arrival is issued for 30 days which is extendable however the exemption is not.
    30 days
    3 months
  • Entry into the UK from Ireland is not permitted if the South African passport holder does not have a valid UK Visa.
  • There are some requirements to fulfil for entry such as evidence of sufficient funds, proof of accommodation and character requirements.
  • Visa checks may be carried out if travelling by land between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Further checks are implied when travelling by boat or from Northern Ireland to mainland UK.
  • UK direct-airside transit and transit by land visas cannot be used for travel to Ireland by transiting the UK, this is because entry in the first country is considered entry to the entire Common Travel Area. Standard Visitor Visa required for the purpose of any transit.
    • 90 days
    180 Days
    30 days
    90 days
    30 days
  • Extendable up to 90 days.
  • Holders of residence permit's issued by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates may apply for an eVisa if the main applicant works in a specific profession. Dependents holding residence permits may also obtain an eVisa, on the conditional they will enter Kuwait with the main applicant.
    • 1 month
  • Visa on arrival available at Manas International Airport.
  • Electronic visa holders must arrive via Manas International Airport or Osh Airport or through land crossings with China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
    • 30 days

    90 days
  • Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
  • Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
  • Certain travelers who are of Lithuanian Descent may be issued a long-stay Category D Visa or Permanent Residence valid if the relationship can be proved.
    • 90 days
    90 days
    90 days
    90 days
    90 days
  • Available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport.
    • 90 days
  • Residents of French overseas departments and territories, Danish territories and Dutch Caribbean territories, permanent residents or valid visa holders of the United Kingdom or countries that comprise the Schengen area, holders of Permanent Resident Cards or valid visas issued by Canada, holders of permanent residence permits issued by Chile, holders of permanent residence permits issued by Colombia, holders of Permanent Residence Card, Permanent Re-entry Permit or valid visas issued by Japan, holders of permanent residence permits issued by Peru and holders of valid US visas or Green Cards - may enter Mexico without a visa for up to 180 days.
  • Passport holders with less than six months validity may face difficulty when attempting to enter as a Business Visitor/ Tourist as they are usually permitted six months stay which might exceed the passport's validity.
    • 30 days
    90 days
  • South African nationals are allowed to visit Moldova without a Moldovan visa if they hold a valid residence permit or a valid multiple entry visa issued by a Schengen member state, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria or Romania.
  • Schengen Visa Required. Monaco is a de facto member of the Schengen Area and there are no formal immigration procedures upon exit and entry.
  • Nationals of South Africa may visit Montenegro without a visa for up to 30 days if they hold a passport with visas issued by Ireland, a Schengen Area member state, the United Kingdom or the United States or if they are permanent residents of those countries. Residents of the United Arab Emirates do not require a visa for up to 10 days, if they hold a return ticket, fly directly in and out of Tivat Airport on FlyDubai and hold proof of accommodation.
    • 3 months
    28 days
  • eVisa holders must arrive via Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports or via land border crossings with Thailand — Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung or India — Rih Khaw Dar and Tamu.
  • eVisa available for both tourism or business purposes.
    • 3 months
    90 days
  • Visa not required if the holder of an Australian permanent resident visa or resident return visa endorsed in, or electronically linked to a South African passport, pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement; a Visa for Australian Visa holders may be granted on arrival if the traveller is of good character. As of 1 October 2019, a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority is required prior to departure for Australian Permanent Residents with a valid visa.
    • 90 days
  • Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
  • Holders of a valid multiple entry visa or Residence Permit for the Schengen Area may enter North Macedonia for up to 15 days visa free. A temporary residence permit of a Schengen member state is accepted since February 27th 2019. Holders of a valid UK, Canada or USA visa may enter North Macedonia for up to 15 days visa free.
    • 30 days
  • Online Visa eligible.
  • Electronic Travel Authorization to obtain a visa on arrival for business purposes.
    • 30 days
    180 days
    30 days
    90 days
    180 days
    30 days
    30 days
  • Available at Hamad International Airport. The Visa Waiver Facility cannot be facilitated if stay is less than 1 night, a Transit Visa should be applied for instead. Label is put in the passport in addition to a stamp upon arrival after satisfying the entry requirements.
  • eVisa, Transit Visa from Qatar Airways and ETA are also available. eVisa refers to a Tourist Visa. These three methods are all acceptable alternatives for tourism should the South African passport holder wish not to use the Visa Waiver Facility available upon arrival.
  • Male travelers who are ordinarily a resident in Qatar require an Exit Visa/ Permit.
  • Holders of a visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state, Monaco, Bulgaria, Croatia or Cyprus, may also travel to Romania, without an additional visa, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period or until visa expiry date
    • 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180 day period
    • 30 days
    3 months
    6 weeks
    1 month
    60 days
    90 days
  • Visa free for a maximum stay of 90 days for valid visa holders or residents of the European Union member states and the United States.
    • 3 months
    30 days
    30 days
    30 days
    45 days
    • E-visa holders can enter through all border points.
    90 days
    30 days
  • Maximum two visits annually if not arriving by air. Extendable by 30 days at any Immigration Office within Thailand.
    • 30 days
  • Information from the Togo Embassy in the United Kingdom that is not found in the IATA database which states that visa is obtainable on arrival.
    • 90 days
    3 months
    30 Days
  • Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
    • 1 month
  • May apply online.
  • May apply online. Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways routinely provide this service. Entry is only valid on condition that travel is made with the airline where the online visa is applied for and ticket is issued.
  • Visa not required in advance if in possession of the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom with a Certificate of Entitlement in Commonwealth passport, may enter the Emirate of Dubai in the same way as a British Citizen.
    • and Crown dependencies
  • Right of Abode holders with a Certificate of Entitlement in their Commonwealth passport may enter the United Kingdom and remain indefinitely.
  • Temporary Visa holders can only enter for 3 months if entering from the Republic of Ireland.
  • The Crown dependencies include the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey as well as the Isle of Man. The same Visa Policy applies mainly to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, therefore a United Kingdom Visa can be used.
  • Transit Visa Required unless in possession of an exemption document; Australian, New Zealand and all other Visas with confirmation slips/ electronically granted Visas with a paper print-out as confirmation are not permitted as an exemption document unless endorsed by the airline. Note: Schengen Visa type "C" is not an approved exemption document. Entry must be refused or denied boarding on vessel. Direct Airside or Transit Visa required depending on type of transit.
  • Entering the United Kingdom by land, sea or air from the Republic of Ireland is not permitted unless in possession of a valid U.K. Visa or Immigration Document. UK Land or Transit Visa cannot be used to transit the UK from Ireland or from Ireland to the UK, a Standard Visa is required.
  • Holders of a B1/ B2 Visa, Permanent Resident Card, D Visa who have entered the United States at least once since 2008 may use the Automated Passport Control Kiosk for faster processing at selected airports, before proceeding to a US Customs and Border Protection officer for finalization of entry into the United States.
  • Available locations include some United States border preclearance facilities as well.
    • 90 days
  • Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
    • 30 days
  • Schengen Visa Required. Entry can be made from Italy exclusively. Vatican City is a de facto member of the Schengen Area and there are no formal immigration procedures upon entry and exit.
    • 90 days
  • Pre-arranged visa obtained online through travel agencies available at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, or Da Nang airports.
    • 90 days
    3 months

    Dependent, Disputed, or Restricted territories

    ;Unrecognized or partially recognized countries
    TerritoryConditions of accessNotes
    90 days
    3 months
    Travellers with Nagorno-Karabakh visa or evidence of travel to Nagorno-Karabakh will be permanently denied entry to Azerbaijan.
    Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.
    Undefined visa regime in the Western Sahara controlled territory.
    30 days for 30 US dollars, payable on arrival.
    Multiple entry visa to Russia and three day prior notification are required to enter South Ossetia.
    Registration required after 24h.

    ;Dependent and autonomous territories
    ;Other territories
    TerritoryConditions of accessNotes

    Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park    		3 days; must first obtain an electronic pass

    Hainan    		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

    Tibet Autonomous Region    		Tibet Travel Permit required.
    CrimeaVisa issued by Russia is required.

    Galápagos    		Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure.
    outside AsmaraTo travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required.

    Mount Athos    		Special permit required. There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed.
    PAP/RAPProtected Area Permit 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 required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year.

    Kish Island    		Visitors to Kish Island do not require a visa.
    Visa on arrival for 15 days is available at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports.

    Lau Province    		Special permission required.

    Clipperton Island    		Special permit required.
    Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty.
    outside PyongyangPeople are not allowed to leave the capital city, tourists can only leave the capital with a governmental tourist guide
    Sabah and SarawakThese states have their own immigration authorities and passport is required to travel to them, however the same visa applies.
    outside MaléWith the exception of the capital Malé, tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives.

    Jan Mayen    		Permit issued by the local police required for staying for less than 24 hours and permit issued by the Norwegian police for staying for more than 24 hours.

    • Unlimited Stay.
    • Transit Visa not required when transiting Oslo, to get to Svalbard Airport, Longyear,.
    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.
    Several closed cities and regions in Russia require special authorization.
    outside KhartoumAll foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit.
    DarfurSeparate travel permit is required.

    Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province    		OIVR permit required and another special permit is required for Lake Sarez.
    UN Buffer Zone in CyprusAccess Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas.
    Korean Demilitarized ZoneRestricted zone.
    UNDOF Zone and GhajarRestricted zone.
    United States Minor Outlying IslandsSpecial permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island.

    Margarita Island    		All visitors are fingerprinted.

    Phú Quốc    		30 days
    outside Sana’a or AdenSpecial permission needed for travel outside Sana’a or Aden.

    Vaccination

    Many African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia require all incoming passengers to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination. Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area.

    Passport validity

    Many countries require passport validity of no less than 6 months and one or two blank pages.

    Changes in Visa Requirements for South African Citizens

    List of Changes
    Visa Requirements Abolished/ Imposed AbolishedImposedDate of EffectReciprocity
    CanadaYes1969-1972No
    United Kingdom YesJuly 2009No
    Colombia YesYes
    New Zealand Yes21 November 2016No
    Russia Yes1 April 2017Yes
    Qatar YesYes
    Angola Yes1 December 2017Yes

    Visa Exemptions

    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.
    Summary of Visa Exemptions
    Country of Issue where document can be used as an Exemption for entryfor entry toVisa or Residence PermitNotes

    of the
    		Both
    of the
    		Both
    #
    #
    #
    of the #    		# Holders of the Right of Abode
    of the Both Indefinite and Temporary Visas
    Australian Permanent Residence

    List of Visa Exemptions
    North America
    United States of America - South African Citizens in possession of a valid United States Multiple Entry Visa in their passport may enter the following country visa-free for the time indicated beside, this also includes the countries consisting of the former Yugoslavia:
    Canada - South African Citizens in possession of a valid Canadian Multiple Entry Visa in their passport may enter the following country visa-free for the time indicated adjacent:
    British Isles
    United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland
    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 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 :
    South African citizens in possession of Leave to Remain or Enter holders/ Ireland Biometric Visa or Permanent Residency holders:
    Holder's of a United Kingdom Visa May enter:
    of the : 3 months.
    Australasia
    Australia
    Permanent Residence in the Commonwealth of Australia - South African Citizens with any type of a Valid Australian Permanent Resident Visa electronically granted or as a label still valid may enter the following country:
    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 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 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. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/australian-resident-visa
    European Union
    European Union Family Member - South African Citizens who are travelling with or joining their EU family members in the European Union in a Country other than where their family member is a citizen of does not require a Visa to enter and enjoy the same entry rights and stay, however this would be difficult to prove and as a result, entry could be refused. Visa should be applied for in advance which is usually with no or minimal requirements to meet if the applicant is a family member of an EU Citizen. For instance, a person who wants to travel with their spouse to France where their spouse is a Citizen of the Republic of Lithuania should apply for a Schengen Visa in advance or where a person wants to join their Lithuanian spouse who resides in France should also apply for a Schengen Visa in order to prove their right and avoid misconception. In most cases, airlines will not permit travel without a visa. There is no time limit a family member can stay, they must just enter before the Visa expires if joining their family or travelling at the same time. There are no costs involved either. European Union citizens and their South African family members will need to apply for settled or pre-settled status if they wish continue residing in the UK after 31 December 2020. Settled Status can be granted when the applicant has resided in the UK for 5 years and is valid indefinitely. In order to maintain settled status, people must visit the UK every 5 years. Pre-Settled status is granted when the applicant has resided in the UK for less than 5 years and is valid for 5 years. In order to maintain pre-settled status, people must visit the UK every two years. However, applicants would have to meet continuous residence until they reach 5 years if they want to qualify for settled status after 31 December 2020. It will not be possible to be granted another pre-settled Visa.
    Schengen Visa - 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.