Where can South Africa passport holders travel with a Schengen residence permit?
With a valid Schengen residence permit, South Africa passport holders can enter 8 more countries without applying at an embassy, on top of the 123 they can already visit, plus the 29 countries the Schengen residence permit itself covers. That makes 160 countries in all.
Every rule below links to its official government or embassy source (last checked 9 October 2026). Page built 26 October 2026. Report an error
8 extra countries a Schengen residence permit opens
FlightsAndorra does not issue or require a visa of its own, but it can only be reached through France or Spain. A Schengen visa must be double-entry or multiple-entry, because leaving Andorra means entering the Schengen area again. An EU/Schengen residence permit also lets you re-enter.
Source: Government of Andorra: Travel to Andorra
FlightsMultiple-entry US or Schengen/EU visa, or US/Schengen/EU residence permit. Max 30 days per stay and 90 days in 180. UK visas are NOT accepted.
Source: Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington
FlightsDouble- or multiple-entry Schengen C visa or Schengen residence permit; up to 90 days in 180. Bulgarian, Croatian and Romanian national visas also accepted. Not for Turkish or Azerbaijani nationals.
Source: High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in the UK
FlightsValid multiple-entry Schengen visa or biometric Schengen residence permit; up to 15 days.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo
FlightsUp to 30 days, and never beyond the visa or permit expiry. Also accepted: Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Romania.
Source: Government of Montenegro
FlightsTemporary or permanent residence in an EU or Schengen country, or a multiple-entry Schengen visa (type C) valid at least 5 days beyond the stay; max 15 days per entry and 90 days in 180. Residence in an EU country outside Schengen (e.g. Cyprus, Ireland) also counts.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia
FlightsSan Marino issues no visas and has no border checks with Italy. Foreigners need a valid Schengen visa where one is required, and a valid entry into the Schengen area (Law 118/2010, art. 5(2), as amended by Law 118 of 30 July 2015).
Source: Great and General Council of San Marino: Law of 30 July 2015 no. 118 (entry and stay of foreigners), art. 4
FlightsUp to 90 days in any 180-day period; visa or permit must be valid for the whole stay. EU member-state visas also accepted.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
The conditions matter: some countries only accept a multiple-entry visa, a visa that has already been used, or a visa that stays valid for your whole trip. Read each rule before you book.
The Schengen residence permit itself
A Schengen residence permit lets you travel within the 29 countries it covers: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. They are counted in the 160 countries above, not in the extra list.
See all 160 countries on the map
The South Africa passport page with your Schengen residence permit switched on, plus daily costs and flight links.
Other visas and permits for South Africa passport holders
South Africa passport with a Schengen residence permit: common questions
Which countries can South Africa passport holders visit with a Schengen residence permit?
With a valid Schengen residence permit, South Africa passport holders can enter 8 more countries without an embassy visa: Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino and Serbia. Together with the countries they can already visit, that makes 160.
Where does a Schengen residence permit give South Africa passport holders visa-free entry?
Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino and Serbia let South Africa passport holders in without a visa if they hold a valid Schengen residence permit. Conditions apply to each rule, such as the type of visa and how long it must stay valid.
Where do these rules come from?
Each rule on this page is published only with an official government or embassy source, linked next to it. Rules were last checked on 9 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the destination's official website before you travel.