South Africa flag Visa guide

Countries that Require a Visa for South Africa Passport Holders

Destinations where South African must obtain a visa from an embassy or consulate before travelling.

234Destinations
123Visa-free
41Visa on arrival
24eVisa
111Visa required
All destinations Visa-free Visa required Embassies
All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
Visa required
Albania flag
Albania
Visa required
Algeria flag
Algeria
Visa required
Algeria flag
Algeria
Visa required
Andorra flag
Andorra
Visa required
Angola flag
Angola
Visa required
Anguilla flag
Anguilla
Visa required
Australia flag
Australia
Visa required
Austria flag
Austria
Visa required
Austria flag
Austria
Visa required
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
Visa required
Belarus flag
Belarus
Visa required
Belarus flag
Belarus
Visa required
Belarus flag
Belarus
Visa required
Belarus flag
Belarus
Visa required
Belarus flag
Belarus
Visa required
Belgium flag
Belgium
Visa required
Bhutan flag
Bhutan
Visa required
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
Visa required
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
Visa required
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
Visa required
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
Visa required
Burundi flag
Burundi
Visa required
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
Visa required
Canada flag
Canada
Visa required
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
Visa required
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
Visa required
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
Visa required
Chad flag
Chad
Visa required
China flag
China
Visa required
China flag
China
Visa required
Colombia flag
Colombia
Visa required
Congo flag
Congo
Visa required
Croatia flag
Croatia
Visa required
Cuba flag
Cuba
Visa required
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
Visa required
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
Visa required
Denmark flag
Denmark
Visa required
DR Congo flag
DR Congo
Visa required
Egypt flag
Egypt
Visa required
Eritrea flag
Eritrea
Visa required
Estonia flag
Estonia
Visa required
Finland flag
Finland
Visa required
France flag
France
Visa required
Germany flag
Germany
Visa required
Greece flag
Greece
Visa required
Guinea flag
Guinea
Visa required
Hungary flag
Hungary
Visa required
Iceland flag
Iceland
Visa required
Iran flag
Iran
Visa required
Iraq flag
Iraq
Visa required
Italy flag
Italy
Visa required
Japan flag
Japan
Visa required
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
Visa required
Kiribati flag
Kiribati
Visa required
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
Visa required
Latvia flag
Latvia
Visa required
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
Visa required
Liberia flag
Liberia
Visa required
Libya flag
Libya
Visa required
Liechtenstein flag
Liechtenstein
Visa required
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
Visa required
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
Visa required
Macedonia flag
Macedonia
Visa required
Mali flag
Mali
Visa required
Malta flag
Malta
Visa required
Mexico flag
Mexico
Visa required
Moldova flag
Moldova
Visa required
Monaco flag
Monaco
Visa required
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
Visa required
Morocco flag
Morocco
Visa required
Nauru flag
Nauru
Visa required
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
Visa required
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
Visa required
Niger flag
Niger
Visa required
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
Visa required
Norway flag
Norway
Visa required
Oman flag
Oman
Visa required
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
Visa required
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
Visa required
Poland flag
Poland
Visa required
Portugal flag
Portugal
Visa required
Romania flag
Romania
Visa required
San Marino flag
San Marino
Visa required
San Marino flag
San Marino
Visa required
San Marino flag
San Marino
Visa required
San Marino flag
San Marino
Visa required
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Sao Tome and Principe
Visa required
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
Visa required
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
Visa required
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
Visa required
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
Visa required
Solomon Islands flag
Solomon Islands
Visa required
Spain flag
Spain
Visa required
Sudan flag
Sudan
Visa required
Sweden flag
Sweden
Visa required
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
Visa required
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
Visa required
Syria flag
Syria
Visa required
Taiwan flag
Taiwan
Visa required
Tonga flag
Tonga
Visa required
Turkey flag
Turkey
Visa required
Turkmenistan flag
Turkmenistan
Visa required
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
Visa required
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
Visa required
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
Visa required
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
Visa required
United States of America flag
United States of America
Visa required
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
Visa required
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
Visa required
Yemen flag
Yemen
Visa required

General visa requirements & things to know before you travel

A general checklist of what most countries ask for when South African apply for a visa.

  • A valid international travel passport
  • A completed visa application form
  • The applicable visa fee
  • Evidence of permission to enter the destination country
  • A photocopy of your passport data page
  • Financial proof β€” an original bank statement
  • A letter of invitation, where one is required

Exact requirements vary by destination and visa type β€” always confirm what your destination needs before you apply.

Schengen visa for South African

Visa requirements for the 29 Schengen Area countries β€” one Schengen visa covers them all.

Visa information for other nationalities

Visa requirements for travellers from other countries visiting South Africa.

About South Africa

South Africa is officially divided into three capitals namely Pretoria(Executive), Bloemfontein(Judicial) and Cape Town(Legislative). South Africa plays hosts to quite a number a number of tourist attractions and it is highly recommended for tourists to visit during the hot, summer months which falls between November to February. However, for those keen on whale watching, the periods between July to November is recommended for them and the winter months of May to September for big game lovers.


There are about 10 major tribes in South Africa with the Zulu tribe consisting of about 22.7% of the South African population. They are closely followed by the Xhosa tribe. Other major tribes include Sotho, Tswana, Pedi, Venda, Ndebele, Tsonga, Pondo, Swati. Officially there are 11 languages being spoken in South Africa. Each tribe mentioned above has a language peculiar to their group. With the addition of English and Afrikaans, the languages spoken in South Africa are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Sesotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda, Ndebele.

South Africa is mainly dominated by Christians with other minority faith such as Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, and Judaism. Popular delicacies such as Biltong, Bobotie, Sosaties, Frikkadel, Bredie, and Mealie are a must for tourists when visiting.

With a good road network and a functional rail system, travellers can enjoy a smooth commute through trains, coaches, taxis and car hire. However, tourist attractions in South Africa are spread all over the country in large distances and could be seen as constraints by travellers who don’t appreciate long road travels. Air travel would ease the burden of a long journey. South Africa has three major airports which are the Cape Town International Airport, Oliver Tambo International Airport, and King Shaka International Airport.


Crime rate, as well as xenophobic rates, are extremely high in South Africa, so tourists are advised to take precautionary measures while avoiding slum neighbourhoods.
South Africans never shy away from having a good time and that is reflected by their plethora of festivals and activities. From the Cape Town Fringe festival to the Port Elizabeth wine show, OppiKoppi Festival, AfrikaBurn, Footprints Festival, WordFest, Apollo Annual Film Festival e.t.c.
South Africans surely know how to have fun.


Asides from festivities, it’s notable tourist attractions are The National Botanical Gardens, The Game, and Nature Reserves, Kruger National Park, Drakensberg Mountains, The Wine Estates and it’s prestigious World Heritage Sites. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Soweto are the major cities in South Africa and play host to some of the priciest hotels and apartments in the country. Other cities are Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Kimberley, Upington, Polokwane, and Bloemfontein. Some notable facts about South Africa are:
- It is the home to the largest themed resort in the world called The Palace of the Lost City.
- It is the home to two noble prize winners, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- It is the second largest producer of fruits in the world.
- It is the only country to have hosted Soccer, Cricket, and Rugby world cup.
- It is the home to the highest commercial bungee jump in the world.
- It encloses two landlocked countries which are Swaziland and Lesotho.
Wth over 8000 hotels in South Africa, there are endless choices for accommodation in the Rainbow Nation.
When Visiting South Africa it is important that you dress appropriately for the weather. If you are visiting during the summer then you would want to wear something light and airy. However, if you happen to be travelling to South Africa in winter (though the winters are usually mild) more layered clothing will be appropriate.

Visa rules change often. Always confirm the latest requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.