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South Africa visa requirements 2026

Do you need a visa for South Africa? Entry rules for every passport, grouped by visa category.

Visa data last updated 2026-01-09

Region: Southern Africa | Continent: Africa

South Africa flag
86Visa-free
32eVisa
0Visa on arrival
80Visa required

South Africa entry rules at a glance

Of the 198 passports we track, 86 can enter South Africa visa-free (most commonly for up to 90 days) and 0 can get a visa on arrival. Of the rest, 32 need an eVisa or electronic travel authorisation before departure and 80 need a visa issued in advance by an embassy or consulate.

86 of 198 passports can travel to South Africa without arranging anything before departure.

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South Africa entry rules for common passports

PassportEntry rule for South Africa
United States of AmericaVisa-free (90 days)
United KingdomVisa-free (90 days)
CanadaVisa-free (90 days)
AustraliaVisa-free (90 days)
GermanyVisa-free (90 days)
FranceVisa-free (90 days)
IndiaeVisa
ChinaeVisa
NigeriaeVisa
BrazilVisa-free (90 days)
PhilippineseVisa

South Africa visa requirements by region of passport

Number of passports from each region in each entry category for South Africa.

Passport regionVisa-freeVisa on arrivaleVisaVisa required
Africa2001617
Asia160728
Europe270711
North America110210
Oceania20012
South America10002

Entry rules for every passport

Visa-free 86
eVisa 32
Visa required 80

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit South Africa?

It depends on your passport. Of 198 passports, 86 can enter visa-free, 32 need an eVisa and 80 need a visa before travel. Find your passport in the lists on this page.

Which passports can enter South Africa without a visa?

86 passports have visa-free access to South Africa, including Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and others. The most common visa-free stay is 90 days.

Does South Africa offer visa on arrival?

Our data shows no passports eligible for a visa on arrival in South Africa. Travellers who are not visa-exempt should arrange an eVisa or visa before departure.

Can I apply for a South Africa eVisa online?

32 passports are eligible for an eVisa or electronic travel authorisation for South Africa. Apply only through the official government portal and allow time for processing before you fly.

Do African passport holders need a visa for South Africa?

Of 53 passports from Africa, 20 can enter South Africa visa-free or with a visa on arrival. The region table on this page breaks this down by category.

Visa rules for nearby destinations

About this data

Entry categories come from our passport-by-destination matrix, last updated 2026-01-09. Visa policies change, and special rules can apply to diplomatic passports, residents of third countries or travellers arriving by land. Always confirm with the destination's official immigration website or your airline before you travel.

Connecting through a third country? Read when a layover needs a transit visa.